The individual appears once in the canonical text as “Mattatha” (Luke 3:31). Although little is recorded about him beyond his position in the genealogy, the presence of his name in the inspired record signals lasting significance in God’s redemptive narrative.

Position in Luke’s Genealogy

Luke 3:23-38 traces Jesus Christ’s lineage through Mary (by way of Heli), moving backward from Son to father all the way to Adam. Within that list, Mattatha is placed between Melea and Nathan, making him a direct descendant of King David through David’s son Nathan rather than through Solomon (the line emphasized by Matthew). Luke 3:31 reads:

“the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David.”

This positioning accomplishes several purposes:

1. It links Jesus to the historic Davidic royal line while maintaining the prophetic declaration that Messiah would come from David’s body (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
2. It demonstrates Luke’s concern for historical exactness and universal scope, presenting Jesus as both legitimately royal and the Redeemer of all humanity (note the conclusion of the genealogy with Adam, “the son of God,” Luke 3:38).
3. It reveals that God preserved multiple branches of David’s house, a safeguard against royal lineages compromised by exile or apostasy.

Historical Background and Probable Era

The chronological span between David and the Exile contains several generations that Scripture mentions only in genealogies. While secular sources do not identify Mattatha, his placement four names after David suggests he lived during the early divided-kingdom period or shortly thereafter, perhaps late tenth or ninth century B.C. Though obscurity shrouds the details of his life, his inclusion underscores that even those hidden from public acclaim are known to God and woven into His providential plan.

Theological Significance

1. Continuity of Covenant: Every name between David and Jesus exhibits God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The appearance of lesser-known figures such as Mattatha assures believers that divine faithfulness is not contingent on notoriety but on God’s unchangeable purpose.
2. Integrity of the Incarnation: The ancestral record safeguards the confession that Jesus is both fully human and the legitimate Davidic Messiah. The Lord of glory entered real history, embracing the lineage of ordinary men like Mattatha.
3. Complementary Witness of the Gospels: Matthew’s genealogy follows the royal succession through Solomon, emphasizing legal kingship, while Luke’s record through Nathan highlights biological descent. Together they affirm that Jesus fulfills every prophetic requirement.

Ministry Implications

• Assurance of God’s Omniscience: Pastors and teachers can encourage believers who feel unseen. As God memorialized Mattatha with a single line in Scripture, He likewise sees every faithful servant (Hebrews 6:10).

• Preaching Christ from Genealogies: Genealogical passages, though often overlooked, provide fertile ground for proclaiming Christ. Each name, including Mattatha, propels the narrative toward the birth, cross, and resurrection of the Savior.

• Discipleship and Family Legacy: Parents and mentors can draw from Mattatha’s silent testimony, reminding each generation that their faithfulness may impact descendants they will never meet until eternity.

Related Scriptural Connections

2 Samuel 7:12-16 – God’s covenant with David

Psalm 89:3-4 – Promise of David’s offspring

Isaiah 11:1 – “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse”

Jeremiah 23:5 – “I will raise up to David a righteous Branch”

Romans 1:3 – “concerning His Son… a descendant of David according to the flesh”

Conclusion

Though Scripture speaks Mattatha’s name only once, that solitary mention integrates him into the sweeping panorama of redemption culminating in Jesus Christ. His quiet role reminds the Church that every life touched by grace contributes to the unfolding fulfillment of God’s eternal purposes.