Matthew 1:1-25

The Book of Matthew is one of four books that sets forth the four-fold earthly life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew emphasizes the Lord Jesus Christ being God's appointed king, and refers to God's kingdom as the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 1:1:

^1:1A book of genesis of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

Matthew begins this account by writing that this is a book of Jesus Christ's genesis (his origin, source, genealogical background of lineage, race, kind, descent). Jesus Christ is the second Adam (as opposed to the first Adam who rejected holy spirit-life and died). This is what God wanted Matthew to write about Jesus Christ's genesis.

Jesus Christ is the son of David. David was the king God appointed over God's people and God promised him that the Christ would be his son and heir to his throne. Jesus Christ is also the son of Abraham. God promised Abraham that the Christ would be his son and his heir.

The word "Christ" means the "anointed-one" or "Messiah" - in the lands and time-period of the writing of the Bible holy oil was poured on the high priest of God to begin his ministry for God, and it was also used to anoint kings. Many people and things were anointed with holy oil to signify their making holy or sanctified for a specific purpose, etc., which can be read about in many scriptures in the Bible (refer to Exodus 30:22-33; Acts 2:36, and 4:27, and 10:38).

[Reference: Genesis 1:26-3:24, 5:1-5, 12:3 and 7, 15:18, 17:18-21, 22:17 and 18; I Samuel 16:13; II Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 1:32 and 33; Acts 2:29-36, 13:22-37; Romans 1:3; Galatians 3:14-16; Revelation 5:5; 22:16. You may also read my study of Appendix to Romans – the fall of Adam to learn more about the first man.]

Verses 2-17:

^.2Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, Jacob begat Judas and his brothers, ^.3Judas begat Phares and Zara from Thamar, Phares begat Esrom, Esrom begat Aram, ^.4Aram begat Aminadab, Aminadab begat Naasson, Naasson begat Salmon, ^.5Salmon begat Boes from Rachab, Boes begat Obed from Ruth, Obed begat Jesse, ^.6Jesse begat David the king; David begat Solomon from the (wife) of Uriah, ^.7Solomon begat Roboam, Roboam begat Abia, Abia begat Asaph, ^.8Asaph begat Josaphat, Josaphat begat Joram, Joram begat Ozias, ^.9Ozias begat Joatham, Joatham begat Achaz, Achaz begat Hezekias, ^.10Hezekias begat Manasses, Manasses begat Amos, Amos begat Josias - ^.11Josias begat Jechonias and his brothers on the dwelling-change of Babylon, ^.12after the dwelling-change of Babylon - Jechonias begat Salathiel, Salathiel begat Zorobabel, ^.13Zorobabel begat Abiud, Abiud begat Eliakim, Eliakim begat Azor, ^.14Azor begat Sadok, Sadok begat Achim, Achim begat Eliud, ^.15Eliud begat Eleazar, Eleazar begat Matthan, Matthan begat Jacob, ^.16Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary from whom was begotten Jesus, the (one) being said (as) Christ. ^.17Therefore all the generations from Abraham until David fourteen generations, and from David until the dwelling-change of Babylon fourteen generations, and from the dwelling-change of Babylon until the Christ fourteen generations.

Not every ancestor is included in this genealogy but only those whom God wanted recorded. Also, the central 'fourteen generations' are those who were kings – Jesus, the Christ, being heir to the throne of King David. This is the royal or kingly descending genealogy of Jesus, beginning with Abraham and through King David and then via David's son Solomon who became king (not via a different son who was not a king).

In verse 2, "Jacob" is the same man who became known as "Israel" (Genesis 32:28 and 35:10). In verse 5, even though Rachab (Rahab, Joshua 2:1 and 6:25) and Ruth (the Book of Ruth) were of the Gentile background, they both believed and obeyed what the only true God said. In verse 8, Joram's son, grandson and great-grandson are not recorded (refer to Exodus 20:4 and 5; Deuteronomy 29:20), but the record continues with Ozias.

In verses 11 and 12, when Josias died it was the end of Israel being independent. The sons of Israel were forced to change their dwelling to Babylon for a period of time. Jehoiakim and Jechoniah are omitted from this record, but it continues with Jechonias marking the beginning of the last group of fourteen generations.

In verse 16, Mary was the mother of the Christ, but her husband Joseph was not his father. The next verse begins to tell us Who his Father was and is.

[Reference: Genesis 21:1-3, 38:11-30, 49:10; Ruth 4:11-22; I Samuel 16:13; II Samuel 5:14, 12:24; I Kings 11:43; II Kings 16:20, chapters 24 and 25; I Chronicles 2:4-15; II Chronicles chapter 36; Ezra 3:2; Romans 9:7-9.]

Verses 18-21:

^.18But the genesis of Jesus Christ was thus: (after) his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before them coming-together, she was found having in (her) womb from Holy Spirit. ^.19But Joseph, her husband being righteous and not intending to point her out, was deliberately-determined to loosen her unnoticeably from (him), ^.20but (after) his being caused-to-think these-things within - look!, an angel of (the) Lord was brought-to-light according to a dream to him saying, "Joseph, son of David, let you not be caused-fear to take Mary your wife beside (yourself), for the-thing having been begotten in her is from Holy Spirit. ^.21She will bring-forth a son and you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Details of Jesus Christ's genesis are given. Mary had already been betrothed to Joseph. In their time and culture, this means that they were already husband and wife but the scheduled time for them to consummate their marriage had not arrived yet. However, it was found out that Mary was pregnant before (sooner than) Joseph had sexual intercourse with her. But Matthew's account tells the reader exactly where the seed came from: it came out from Holy Spirit, referring to God Who is Holy Spirit.

The fact of Mary being pregnant before the consummation of their marriage indicated to Joseph that Mary had had sex with another man, for this was the usual way that any woman could get pregnant at that time. Joseph was a righteous (just) man and therefore he wanted to continue doing what the Law of Moses (God's Word at that time to God's people) commanded in a situation like this, which was that he would have to put-away an adulterous wife from him (refer to Deuteronomy 24:1).

But Joseph didn't will/want to point her out making her an example (in the sense of causing her to be a public spectacle, a public disgrace) and so he purposefully willed to loosen (release, let go of, unbind) her away from him unnoticeably (secretly by stealth so others would not notice what happened). If others were convinced that Mary was an adulteress they may have stoned her to death for breaking the law (refer to Deuteronomy 22:22). However, after Joseph had revolved or fermented these things in his mind – look! (behold, see – in the sense of calling attention), an angel of the Lord was brought to light according to a dream (a specific significant dream) to him. The word "Lord" here refers to God emphasizing His own covenant relationship with His people whom He created. The corresponding Hebrew word is Jehovah (Yahweh).

An angel is a spirit-being whose office and character is one of a messenger in official service via words and/or actions. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word aggello which means to tell or deliver a message, and therefore an angel could be called a messenger. In verse 20, God's angel was brought to light (he became evident by shining light) in accordance with a dream to Joseph, saying: Joseph, son of David (stating the truth that he was a descendant of King David), don't be afraid to take Mary your wife beside you, for the-thing that is already begotten in her is from Holy Spirit Who is God. She will bring-forth a son and you will call his name 'Jesus.' The future tense was used by the angel in this command because Joseph was to obey it at a future time (not that the angel would force him). The angel continues: in truth, emphatically he (himself, none other) will save his people from their sins. The word "he" is a separate pronoun thus giving emphasis that he is the one who will cause those people who belong to him to be made safe away-from their aberrations from God's Word, from missing the mark of what God says.

A name is a word or phrase given to a person, etc, to be called and known-by, in order to designate and describe the distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc. The word "Jesus" means "God saves / Jehovah (Yahweh) the Savior," and the Lord Jesus Christ was given that name "Jesus" because he is the one who carried-out God's will to make it available for people to be saved. It is by means of Jesus, the Christ, that people are able to be saved and thus have a true and vital spiritual relationship with the only true God.

[Reference: Luke 1:31-35, 2:4; Acts 4:12, 13:22 and 23; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 1:14, 6:6.]

Verses 22-25:

^.22But this whole-thing came-to-pass² in order that the-thing may be fulfilled having been said by (the) Lord by means of the prophet saying, ^.23"Look!, the virgin will have in (her) womb, and she will bring-forth a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel," which is being translated 'God with us'. ^.24But Joseph, having been raised-up from sleep, did as the angel of (the) Lord arranged towards him and he took his wife beside (himself), ^.25and he used-to not know her until where she brought-forth a son, and he called his name Jesus.

The whole of this happened (the truth of which has not changed) for the purpose and result that the matter which had been spoken by definite words being uttered by the power of the Lord by means of the prophet would be fulfilled (filled-up, made full, accomplished). The Lord God was the instrumental or efficient agent of the Prophet Isaiah speaking these words (refer to Isaiah 7:14, 8:8 and 10).

The Prophet Isaiah spoke the words that God have him to speak regarding something still future to Isaiah: look (see, behold) – the virgin will be pregnant, and she will bring-forth (as verse 21 above) a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel. The translation of that word is 'God with us' (God in company and association with us).

Then Joseph, having been awoken from sleep, did as the Lord's angel arranged (put or set in-order) towards/with him and he took his wife beside him and continually during that time he did not know her (sexually) until the time where she brought-forth a son. Joseph continued to do what the angel told him to do and so he called this son's name Jesus.

God's Word specifically notes again that Joseph was not the father of this son. It was only after Jesus' birth that Joseph caused Mary to become pregnant and they had their own children.

[Reference: Luke 2:21. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]