Matthew1
King James Version · Public Domain
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;
3And Judah begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5And Salmon begat Booz of Rahab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So 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.
18Now 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.
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20But 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.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, 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.
24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The genealogy of Jesus. (1–17). An angel appears to Joseph. (18–25).
vv1-17
Concerning this genealogy of our Saviour, observe the chief intention. It is not a needless genealogy. It is not a vain-glorious one, as those of great men often are. It proves that our Lord Jesus is of the nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. The promise of the blessing was made to Abraham and his seed; of the dominion, to David and his seed. It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him, Ge 12:3; 22:18; and to David that he should descend from him, 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3, etc.; 132:11; and, therefore, unless Jesus is a son of David, and a son of Abraham, he is not the Messiah. Now this is here proved from well-known records. When the Son of God was pleased to take our nature, he came near to us, in our fallen, wretched condition; but he was perfectly free from sin: and while we read the names in his genealogy, we should not forget how low the Lord of glory stooped to save the human race.
vv18-25
Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute. By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.
Key Words
βίβλος (bíblos): book
γένεσις (génesis): nativity; figuratively, nature
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
υἱός (huiós): a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Δαβίδ (Dabíd): Dabid (i.e. David), the Israelite king
Ἀβραάμ (Abraám): Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch
γεννάω (gennáō): to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
Ἰσαάκ (Isaák): Isaac (i.e. Jitschak), the son of Abraham
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
Cross References
Matthew 1Directly quoted as the prophetic fulfillment of the virgin birth of Immanuel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The foundational covenant promise to Abraham that in his seed all nations would be blessed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
God's sworn oath to David to set his descendant upon his eternal royal throne.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jacob's dying prophecy identifying the tribe of Judah as the royal line of Shiloh.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic law regarding betrothed virgins, governing Joseph's legal dilemma and righteous response.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the angelic explanation of Mary's supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit.
Supported by John Calvin
The Hebrew idiom 'book of the generation' echoes the primeval registers of Genesis.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Luke's maternal lineage of Jesus contrasts with Matthew's legal, royal line through Joseph.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The miraculous, promised birth of Isaac which begins the formal genealogical lineage.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Old Testament pedigree of Josiah's descendants during the Babylonian captivity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Highlights the preservation of Rahab the Gentile, who is surprisingly included in Jesus' lineage.
Supported by JFB
God's choice of David the king, a pivotal transition point in the genealogy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the post-exilic lineage of Zerubbabel, connecting the royal line to the return.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Messianic prophecy of ending transgression and bringing everlasting righteousness, matching Jesus' name.
Supported by Matthew Poole