About Matthew

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah and King of Israel, demonstrating through His teachings and miracles that He fulfills Old Testament prophecies.

Author: Matthew (Levi)Written: c. AD 50-70Reading time: ~3 minVerses: 25
Kingdom of HeavenJesus as MessiahFulfillment of ProphecyDiscipleshipChurch

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King James Version

Matthew 1

25 verses with commentary

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

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This opening verse establishes Jesus' legal right to David's throne and His connection to God's covenant with Abraham. The term 'generation' (Greek: genesis) means both genealogy and origin, linking Jesus to God's redemptive plan from the beginning. Matthew's presentation is deliberately messianic, emphasizing Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

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This genealogy traces Christ's legal lineage through Joseph, establishing Jesus as the rightful heir to David's throne and Abraham's covenant. The Greek 'egennesen' (begat) emphasizes the historical reality of the incarnation, refuting any notion of a merely spiritual Christ. God's sovereign providence is evident in preserving this royal line through centuries of judgment and exile.

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

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The inclusion of Judah and Tamar highlights God's grace in using flawed individuals in Christ's lineage. Tamar's account (Genesis 38) involves deception and scandal, yet God sovereignly brings redemption through this broken family line. This foreshadows the gospel truth that Christ came to save sinners, not the righteous.

And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

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The repetition of generations underscores the historical continuity of God's redemptive plan. Each name represents a real person through whom God was working out His eternal purposes. The genealogy moves deliberately toward its climax in verse 16, demonstrating that all of Israel's history points to Christ.

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

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And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse. This verse appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus, remarkably including two Gentile women—Rahab and Ruth. The Greek egennēsen (ἐγέννησεν, "begat") indicates fathering or ancestry. The phrase ek tēs Rachab (ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ, "of Rachab") explicitly names the mother, unusual in ancient genealogies which typically traced only patrilineal descent.

Rahab (Hebrew Rachav, רָחָב) was the Canaanite prostitute of Jericho who hid Israelite spies and confessed faith in Yahweh (Joshua 2:1-21, 6:22-25). Ruth was a Moabite widow who clung to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi and declared, "Your God shall be my God" (Ruth 1:16). Both women were foreigners who entered Israel's covenant community through faith, becoming ancestors of David and ultimately Jesus.

Matthew's inclusion of these women (along with Tamar and Bathsheba, vv. 3, 6) demonstrates several crucial theological truths: (1) God's grace extends beyond ethnic Israel to include believing Gentiles; (2) God's redemptive plan operates through unlikely, even scandalous, means; (3) faith, not ethnicity or moral perfection, qualifies one for participation in God's purposes; (4) the Messiah came to save sinners, foreshadowed by His genealogy including those with checkered pasts. This anticipates the gospel's universal scope (Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 2:11-22).

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

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The mention of Ruth the Moabitess emphasizes God's sovereign grace extending beyond ethnic Israel to include Gentiles in the messianic line. Ruth's inclusion prefigures the gospel going to all nations. Her account demonstrates the doctrine of adoption—she was grafted into God's covenant people through faith and covenant loyalty (hesed).

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

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The progression through Solomon rather than Nathan (Luke's genealogy) establishes Jesus' legal right to David's throne through the royal line. This fulfills the covenant promise that David's throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). God's sovereign election is evident in choosing Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, demonstrating grace triumphing over sin.

And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

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The royal genealogy continues through the divided kingdom period, showing God's preservation of the messianic line despite national apostasy. These kings often failed miserably, yet God's purposes were not thwarted. This demonstrates the distinction between God's decreed will (which always comes to pass) and His preceptive will (which humans violate).

And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

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Uzziah (also called Azariah) experienced both God's blessing and judgment. Though he began well, his pride led to presumptuous worship and God struck him with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26). Yet the messianic line continued through him, showing that God's purposes transcend individual failures. Christ would be the King who perfectly obeyed where all others failed.

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

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The mention of Manasseh is particularly striking, as he was Judah's most wicked king who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood (2 Kings 21:16). Yet even Manasseh repented in his final years (2 Chronicles 33:12-13), and the messianic line continued through him. This demonstrates God's sovereign grace reaching even the vilest sinners and His absolute sovereignty in using all things for His purposes.

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: Josias: some read, Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias

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The Babylonian exile was God's covenant judgment on Judah for persistent idolatry and covenant breaking. Yet even this catastrophic event served God's redemptive purposes—the exile preserved Jewish distinctiveness and prepared hearts for the Messiah. The phrase 'carried away to Babylon' echoes Deuteronomy's covenant curses, showing God's faithfulness even in judgment.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

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The genealogy continues even through the exile, demonstrating that God's promises are not nullified by human failure or divine judgment. These obscure names during Israel's lowest point show that God was still sovereignly working toward the Messiah. Faith clings to God's promises even when circumstances seem to contradict them.

And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

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These names represent the 'silent years' between the testaments when no prophetic word came to Israel. Yet God was still working, preserving the messianic line through obscure, faithful people. This demonstrates that God's significant work often happens in hiddenness, not in public acclaim.

And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

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The genealogy's structure moves toward this climactic name—Jacob. Though not the final generation, Jacob represents the immediate father of Joseph, bringing us to the threshold of the Incarnation. The name Jacob (meaning 'supplanter') connects to the patriarch Jacob/Israel, showing continuity with God's covenant people.

And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

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This verse completes the genealogy with specific mathematical structure: fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile, and fourteen from the exile to Christ. The number fourteen may relate to David's name in Hebrew numerology (DVD = 4+6+4=14). This structure demonstrates divine design in history, not random chance.

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

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The genealogy's structure breaks at this crucial point: Joseph is called 'the husband of Mary' rather than 'begat Jesus,' indicating the virgin birth. Jesus is born 'of' Mary, not Joseph, yet Joseph's lineage provides legal inheritance rights to David's throne. The title 'Christ' (Greek for 'Messiah') identifies Jesus as the Anointed One, God's promised King, Priest, and Prophet.

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.

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Matthew explicitly draws attention to the genealogy's three-fold structure, emphasizing God's sovereign design in salvation history. Each period represents a distinct phase of covenant administration, all culminating in Christ. This demonstrates that the Old Testament is not random history but purposeful preparation for the gospel.

The Birth of Jesus

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.

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The phrase 'birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise' introduces the supernatural conception that distinguishes Christ from all other descendants in the genealogy. The discovery that Mary was 'with child of the Holy Ghost' before consummation demonstrates that Jesus' divine nature preceded His human nature, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

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Joseph's righteousness is seen in his desire to protect Mary from public shame rather than making a spectacle of her perceived adultery. The phrase 'not willing to make her a public example' reveals covenant love (hesed) and mercy. His righteousness was not cold legalism but grace-filled obedience, foreshadowing the gospel principle that true righteousness flows from a transformed heart.

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. conceived: Gr. begotten

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Joseph is called 'son of David' to emphasize his royal lineage and legal right to pass this heritage to Jesus. The angel's command to 'fear not' addresses Joseph's righteous reluctance to proceed with the marriage. The phrase 'that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost' definitively affirms both Jesus' divine origin and Mary's purity.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. JESUS: that is, Saviour, Heb

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The name 'Jesus' (Hebrew: Yeshua) means 'Yahweh saves,' directly stating His mission. The phrase 'he shall save his people from their sins' defines salvation not as political deliverance but spiritual redemption. This is the first explicit statement in Matthew that the Messiah came to deal with sin—the root problem of humanity.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

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Matthew's formula 'that it might be fulfilled' appears repeatedly in his gospel, demonstrating that Jesus' life was the realization of Old Testament prophecy. This establishes Jesus as the true Messiah and proves that Scripture is divinely inspired. The fulfillment is not coincidental but the outworking of God's eternal decree, showing the unity of the Bible's testimony to Christ.

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. they: or, his name shall be called

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Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 7:14 emphasizes the virgin birth ('virgin' translates Hebrew 'almah' via the Septuagint's 'parthenos'). The name 'Emmanuel' (God with us) reveals Jesus' identity as divine—not merely a prophet or king, but God incarnate dwelling among His people. This is the theological foundation of the incarnation.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

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Joseph's immediate obedience 'when he arose from sleep' demonstrates the faith that justifies. He believed the angel's message and acted accordingly, despite the social cost and personal humiliation he would face. This obedience required trusting God's word over appearances and public opinion, exemplifying the principle that true faith produces obedience (James 2:26).

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

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The phrase 'knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn' affirms both the virgin birth and implies normal marital relations afterward. The term 'firstborn' indicates Mary had other children (Matthew 13:55-56), contradicting perpetual virginity doctrines. This verse safeguards Christ's unique conception while affirming the goodness of marriage as designed by God.

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