1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;
7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 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.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 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.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Overview of Matthew Chapter 1
Matthew Chapter 1 serves as the introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, establishing the genealogy and the birth narrative of Jesus Christ. This chapter is crucial for understanding the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the significance of Jesus’ lineage.
Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17)
The genealogy presented in this chapter traces the lineage of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph, emphasizing His Jewish heritage and royal lineage.
- Structure: The genealogy is divided into three sections, each containing fourteen generations:
- From Abraham to David
- From David to the Babylonian Exile
- From the Babylonian Exile to Jesus
- Abraham – The father of the Jewish nation.
- David – The king whose lineage is crucial for the Messiah.
- Josiah – Represents the royal line leading to Jesus.
- Women mentioned – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, highlighting God’s grace and the inclusion of Gentiles.
The Birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-25)
This section narrates the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, focusing on the miraculous conception and the role of Joseph.
- Mary’s Conception: Mary is found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit, which emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus’ birth.
- Joseph’s Dilemma: Joseph, described as a righteous man, initially plans to divorce Mary quietly to avoid public disgrace.
- Angel’s Message: An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him and instructing him to take Mary as his wife:
- Affirmation of Mary’s purity and the divine nature of the child.
- Instruction to name the child Jesus, meaning “God saves,” which highlights His mission to save His people from their sins.
Theological Themes
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: The genealogy and birth narrative emphasize that Jesus’ life and mission were foretold in the Scriptures.
- Divine Intervention: The miraculous conception underscores the belief in Jesus’ divine nature and His role as the Son of God.
- Inclusivity: The mention of women in the genealogy highlights God’s grace and the breaking down of barriers, suggesting that Jesus’ message is for all people.
- Righteousness and Obedience: Joseph’s response to the angel’s message exemplifies faith and obedience, serving as a model for believers.
Conclusion
Matthew Chapter 1 sets the stage for the entire Gospel by establishing Jesus’ identity, lineage, and the miraculous nature of His birth. It emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and introduces key theological themes that resonate throughout the New Testament.
