" The phrase appears to assume that everyone refers to Jesus in this way, without reservation and without doubt. Although the many conflicts involving the Pharisees and Sadducees later in the book prove this not to be in fact the case, Matthew's certainty indicates the faith of Jesus' followers, and the faith required to enter the Kingdom of Christ. The word "Messiah" is also linked to the Kingdom of God, which is a further recurring theme in the discourses displayed by Matthew. Christ frequently refers to this spiritual Kingdom as the ultimate destination of the faithful, and highly desirable as a reward for living a life of faith. This spiritual Kingdom is frequently juxtaposed with earthly riches throughout the book of Matthew. Jesus uses colorful language to demonstrate the necessity for the faithful to gather treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Earthly treasure, according to Matthew and Christ, serves only to distract from a faithful life, as Jesus proves in the case of the Rich Young Man.

Symbolic of the conflict between heavenly and earthly aspirations is Jesus and his disciples as opposed to the religious officials of the time in the form of Sadducees and Pharisees. The latter and their followers expect a Messiah to free them from political oppression and physical hardship. This view as opposed to the mission of Jesus is a recurring theme throughout Christ's ministry in the Gospel of Matthew. It is also the climax of this conflict that leads to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

Various parallel instances of climax...

Returning to Matthew 1:1-17, Christ is portrayed as the climax of the genealogy starting with Abraham. He is the fulfillment of the promise and the prophesy throughout the Old Testament. He is the unifying element between the Old and New Testaments.
When moving through the book, the second climax is Christ's baptism. It begins a new section of his life, and the most important in terms of his ministry and teaching. These teachings are progressively spiritual until they reach their climax with Christ's recurring predictions of his suffering. Parallel to this progressive spirituality is the antagonism that Jesus' ideals create in both the religious and political officials of the time. The Pharisees and Sadducees become so distressed that they begin planning to murder him; a plot that comes to a climax with the death of Christ.

The final climax is then Christ's resurrection and his eventual ascension. These serve to conclude his work and his teachings, providing the book with a sense of closure and fulfillment, even as Christ fulfilled the prophesy. In conclusion, the introduction provided in Matthew 1:1-17 provides an indication of the general theme of the book. When considered in a more interpretive sense, it also serves as an indication of the level of spirituality and faith required by Christ and his Kingdom.

Sources

Christian Inconnect. An Overview of the Gospel of Matthew. 2001. http://www.christianinconnect.com/matthew.htm

The New American Standard Bible.…