Matthew 1: The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus Christ
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1 marks the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, a crucial book in the New Testament. As one of Jesus's original twelve disciples, Matthew, formerly a tax collector, presents a compelling account of Jesus's life, carefully crafted to resonate with a Jewish audience. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding Jesus as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and the rightful King of Israel. This chapter serves as a powerful introduction to the person and mission of Jesus Christ, highlighting his lineage, his miraculous birth, and his divine purpose. Let's delve into the rich details of Matthew 1 and uncover the significance of its message for us today.
Jesus's Lineage: Connecting to Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1-17)
Matthew begins his Gospel with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, meticulously tracing his lineage back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, and King David, the most revered king in Israel's history (Matthew 1:1). This genealogy is not merely a historical record; it serves as a powerful statement about Jesus's identity and his rightful claim to be the Messiah.
A Legal and Biological Right:
Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is both a son of Abraham—a true Hebrew—and the legal and legitimate heir to the throne of Israel's great King David. This was crucial because faithful Jewish people understood God's promise to David that his descendants would sit on Israel's throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12–13). The genealogy demonstrates that Jesus had a legitimate legal claim to be the Messiah—the Son of David and heir to the throne (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1-10).
The Structure of the Genealogy:
Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sets of 14 generations: from Abraham to King David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Jesus (Matthew 1:17). While this structure might not include every single ancestor, it highlights key periods in Israel's history and emphasizes God's faithfulness throughout generations.
Imperfect People, Perfect Savior:
Interestingly, Matthew's genealogy includes some unexpected and even controversial figures. There are five women mentioned, which is unusual for genealogies of that time. Some of these women, like Tamar and Rahab, had questionable backgrounds. Others, like David, committed serious sins. This inclusion of imperfect people underscores a powerful truth: God's plan of salvation is not dependent on human perfection. He accomplishes his glorious purposes in spite of difficult circumstances and the character of the people involved. Jesus came to save sinners, and his lineage reflects that reality.
A Racially Diverse Lineage:
The genealogy is also racially mixed, including both Jews and Gentiles. This indicates that Jesus's kingdom identity and rule includes all races of people. God's sovereign grace is evident in his choice to include people from various backgrounds in the lineage of the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus: A Miraculous Conception (Matthew 1:18-25)
After establishing Jesus's legal right to be Israel's king through his genealogy, Matthew transitions to the miraculous story of his birth. Unlike Luke, who focuses on Mary's perspective, Matthew tells the story primarily through the eyes of Joseph, Mary's betrothed.
Joseph's Dilemma:
Joseph finds himself in a difficult situation when he discovers that Mary is pregnant before they have lived together. In that time, betrothal was a legally binding commitment, almost as strong as marriage. Joseph, being a righteous man, decides to divorce her quietly to avoid publicly shaming her (Matthew 1:19).
Divine Intervention:
Before Joseph can proceed with his plan, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream. The angel reveals that Mary's pregnancy is the result of the Holy Spirit's work, and that the child she will bear is destined to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21). The angel instructs Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the baby Jesus, which means "The Lord saves."
Fulfillment of Prophecy:
Matthew emphasizes that Jesus's virgin birth is the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, which states that "the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (Matthew 1:22-23). Immanuel means "God with us," highlighting the profound truth that Jesus is not just a man, but God incarnate, come to dwell among his people.
Joseph's Obedience:
In a remarkable act of faith and obedience, Joseph follows the angel's instructions. He takes Mary as his wife and refrains from consummating their marriage until after Jesus is born (Matthew 1:24-25). Joseph's obedience demonstrates his trust in God's plan and his willingness to play a crucial role in the unfolding of salvation history.
Immanuel: God With Us
The essence of Christmas is that the baby in the manger was God himself in the person of his Son. He was deity in a diaper. Heaven was coming down to earth; eternity was invading time. The King of the universe had come to be with us (see John 1:14) and save sinners (Matthew 1:21).
All the problems in this world can be traced back to sin, and the Son of God came to save you from your sins because you couldn’t save yourself. Jesus Christ entered the world to identify our sins, forgive us for our sins, give us victory over our sins, and give us an eternal home free from sin.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1 marks the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, a crucial book in the New Testament. As one of Jesus's original twelve disciples, Matthew, formerly a tax collector, presents a compelling account of Jesus's life, carefully crafted to resonate with a Jewish audience. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding Jesus as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and the rightful King of Israel. This chapter serves as a powerful introduction to the person and mission of Jesus Christ, highlighting his lineage, his miraculous birth, and his divine purpose. Let's delve into the rich details of Matthew 1 and uncover the significance of its message for us today.
Jesus's Lineage: Connecting to Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1-17)
Matthew begins his Gospel with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, meticulously tracing his lineage back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, and King David, the most revered king in Israel's history (Matthew 1:1). This genealogy is not merely a historical record; it serves as a powerful statement about Jesus's identity and his rightful claim to be the Messiah.
A Legal and Biological Right:
Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is both a son of Abraham—a true Hebrew—and the legal and legitimate heir to the throne of Israel's great King David. This was crucial because faithful Jewish people understood God's promise to David that his descendants would sit on Israel's throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12–13). The genealogy demonstrates that Jesus had a legitimate legal claim to be the Messiah—the Son of David and heir to the throne (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1-10).
The Structure of the Genealogy:
Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sets of 14 generations: from Abraham to King David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Jesus (Matthew 1:17). While this structure might not include every single ancestor, it highlights key periods in Israel's history and emphasizes God's faithfulness throughout generations.
Imperfect People, Perfect Savior:
Interestingly, Matthew's genealogy includes some unexpected and even controversial figures. There are five women mentioned, which is unusual for genealogies of that time. Some of these women, like Tamar and Rahab, had questionable backgrounds. Others, like David, committed serious sins. This inclusion of imperfect people underscores a powerful truth: God's plan of salvation is not dependent on human perfection. He accomplishes his glorious purposes in spite of difficult circumstances and the character of the people involved. Jesus came to save sinners, and his lineage reflects that reality.
A Racially Diverse Lineage:
The genealogy is also racially mixed, including both Jews and Gentiles. This indicates that Jesus's kingdom identity and rule includes all races of people. God's sovereign grace is evident in his choice to include people from various backgrounds in the lineage of the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus: A Miraculous Conception (Matthew 1:18-25)
After establishing Jesus's legal right to be Israel's king through his genealogy, Matthew transitions to the miraculous story of his birth. Unlike Luke, who focuses on Mary's perspective, Matthew tells the story primarily through the eyes of Joseph, Mary's betrothed.
Joseph's Dilemma:
Joseph finds himself in a difficult situation when he discovers that Mary is pregnant before they have lived together. In that time, betrothal was a legally binding commitment, almost as strong as marriage. Joseph, being a righteous man, decides to divorce her quietly to avoid publicly shaming her (Matthew 1:19).
Divine Intervention:
Before Joseph can proceed with his plan, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream. The angel reveals that Mary's pregnancy is the result of the Holy Spirit's work, and that the child she will bear is destined to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21). The angel instructs Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the baby Jesus, which means "The Lord saves."
Fulfillment of Prophecy:
Matthew emphasizes that Jesus's virgin birth is the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, which states that "the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (Matthew 1:22-23). Immanuel means "God with us," highlighting the profound truth that Jesus is not just a man, but God incarnate, come to dwell among his people.
Joseph's Obedience:
In a remarkable act of faith and obedience, Joseph follows the angel's instructions. He takes Mary as his wife and refrains from consummating their marriage until after Jesus is born (Matthew 1:24-25). Joseph's obedience demonstrates his trust in God's plan and his willingness to play a crucial role in the unfolding of salvation history.
Immanuel: God With Us
The essence of Christmas is that the baby in the manger was God himself in the person of his Son. He was deity in a diaper. Heaven was coming down to earth; eternity was invading time. The King of the universe had come to be with us (see John 1:14) and save sinners (Matthew 1:21).
All the problems in this world can be traced back to sin, and the Son of God came to save you from your sins because you couldn’t save yourself. Jesus Christ entered the world to identify our sins, forgive us for our sins, give us victory over our sins, and give us an eternal home free from sin.