The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The son of Abraham was Isaac; and the son of Isaac was Jacob; and the sons of Jacob were Judah and his brothers;
And the sons of Judah were Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and the son of Perez was Hezron; and the son of Hezron was Ram;
And the son of Ram was Amminadab; and the son of Amminadab was Nahshon; and the son of Nahshon was Salmon;
And the son of Salmon by Rahab was Boaz; and the son of Boaz by Ruth was Obed; and the son of Obed was Jesse;
And the son of Jesse was David the king; and the son of David was Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah;
And the son of Solomon was Rehoboam; and the son of Rehoboam was Abijah; and the son of Abijah was Asa;
And the son of Asa was Jehoshaphat; and the son of Jehoshaphat was Joram; and the son of Joram was Uzziah;
And the son of Uzziah was Jotham; and the son of Jotham was Ahaz; and the son of Ahaz was Hezekiah;
And the son of Hezekiah was Manasseh; and the son of Manasseh was Amon; and the son of Amon was Josiah;
And the sons of Josiah were Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the taking away to Babylon.
And after the taking away to Babylon, Jechoniah had a son Shealtiel; and Shealtiel had Zerubbabel;
And Zerubbabel had Abiud; and Abiud had Eliakim; and Eliakim had Azor;
And Azor had Zadok; and Zadok had Achim; and Achim had Eliud;
And Eliud had Eleazar; and Eleazar had Matthan; and Matthan had Jacob;
And the son of Jacob was Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, whose name is Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the taking away to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the taking away to Babylon to the coming of Christ, fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when his mother Mary was going to be married to Joseph, before they came together the discovery was made that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.
And Joseph, her husband, being an upright man, and not desiring to make her a public example, had a mind to put her away privately.
But when he was giving thought to these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, have no fear of taking Mary as your wife; because that which is in her body is of the Holy Spirit.
And she will give birth to a son; and you will give him the name Jesus; for he will give his people salvation from their sins.
Now all this took place so that the word of the Lord by the prophet might come true,
See, the virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a son, and they will give him the name Immanuel, that is, God with us.
And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had said to him, and took her as his wife;
And he had no connection with her till she had given birth to a son; and he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew Chapter 1 serves as a crucial introduction to the New Testament, delineating the genealogy and the birth narrative of Jesus Christ. This chapter emphasizes the Messianic lineage of Jesus, providing readers with a foundation for understanding His significance within the Christian faith.
The genealogy presented in the first 17 verses of Matthew is structured to highlight Jesus' royal lineage, tracing His ancestry back to Abraham through David. The chapter begins with the declaration, "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). This introduction immediately connects Jesus to two pivotal figures in Jewish history: Abraham, the father of the nation, and David, the ideal king.
Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sets of 14 generations:
This structure not only emphasizes the significance of each era but also serves to fulfill the prophetic expectations surrounding the Messiah. The use of the number 14 is notable; it can be seen as a numerical symbolism derived from the Hebrew letters that correspond to David's name.
An intriguing aspect of Matthew's genealogy is the inclusion of women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba). Each of these women has a unique story, often associated with scandal or social marginalization, highlighting God's grace and the unexpected ways in which His plan unfolds. This inclusion serves to illustrate the universality of Jesus’ message, as He comes to redeem not just the righteous but also those society often overlooks.
Verses 18-19 introduce the miraculous conception of Jesus through Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. The phrase "before they came together" (Matthew 1:18) emphasizes the virgin birth, a central tenet of Christian belief. Joseph's initial reaction, as described in verse 19, reflects his righteous character; he considers "putting her away secretly" to protect Mary's honor and avoid public shame.
In verses 20-21, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, affirming Mary’s purity and revealing the divine nature of her pregnancy. The angel’s declaration that the child "will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21) underscores the salvific purpose of Jesus’ mission. This moment is pivotal, marking the transition from doubt to faith for Joseph.
Matthew continues to highlight the prophetic fulfillment attributed to Jesus’ birth, referencing Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23). This messianic prophecy demonstrates Jesus as the awaited Messiah, linking His identity to the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures.
The chapter concludes with Joseph’s obedient response to the angel’s command (Matthew 1:24-25). His willingness to take Mary as his wife and to raise Jesus as his own son indicates not only his faith but also his integral role in the shaping of Jesus’ early life. Joseph’s actions exhibit the characteristics of humility and submission to God’s will, embodying the virtues that believers are encouraged to emulate.
Matthew Chapter 1 establishes a robust foundation for the narrative of Jesus Christ. By presenting the genealogy and birth of Jesus, Matthew confirms His identity as the Messiah and highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The chapter intricately weaves together historical lineage, divine revelation, and the profound themes of grace and obedience. Readers are left with a powerful message about the radical inclusivity of God’s plan for salvation, a theme that resonates throughout the Gospel.
This chapter invites all to explore the rich tapestry of Jesus' ancestry and the miraculous events surrounding His birth, encouraging deeper engagement with the Christian faith and its teachings.