Matthew chapter 1

The ancestors of Jesus Christ include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Tamar, Ruth, David, and more. Mary becomes pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 


 

THE ANCESTORS OF JESUS CHRIST

Note. Women are included in this genealogy.

 

VERSE 1. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ). The lineage of Jesus Christ traces through the great heroes of the faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Tamar, Ruth, David, Jehoshaphat, Josiah and others.

son of David. From an earthly perspective, David is the source of Jesus Christ’s royal lineage.

 

VERSE 2. Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.

 

VERSE 3. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.

Tamar. Tamar’s father-in-law Judah was on a business trip. Tamar traveled to the location and disguised herself as a prostitute. Judah did not recognize that she was his daughter-in-law. He paid for her services.

Tamar became pregnant with twins, and gave birth to Perez and Zerah. She is a direct ancestor of the Messiah. See Genesis chapter 38.

 

VERSE 4. Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.

 

VERSE 5. Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.

Rahab. When the Children of Israel were ready cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies to scout out the land. When they were in Jericho, the king ordered their execution.

But a woman named Rahab risked her life and hid them from the king. At an opportune moment, she lowered them from the city wall by a rope.

Joshua 2:15. Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall.

Later, the city of Jericho was completely annihilated. All of it, that is, except the residence of Rahab.

Joshua 6:22. So the people shouted and the priests blew the shofars. When the people heard the sound of the shofar, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they took the city.

This very Rahab is a direct ancestor of the One Messiah.

Ruth. Ruth was a foreigner and a great hero of the faith. A whole book of the Bible is about her and her remarkable journey. Even though she was not a Hebrew, she was adapted into the Chosen People. Ruth is a direct ancestor of king David, and the Messiah:

Ruth 4:17. The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi”. They named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

 

VERSE 6. Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.

by her who had been Uriah’s wife. That is, Bathsheba.

King David used his considerable power to seduce Bathsheba. Then he had her husband Uriah murdered.

This very Bathsheba is a direct ancestor of the One Messiah. See 2 Samuel 11.

 

VERSE 7. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.

 

VERSE 8. Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.

Isaiah 6:1. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

 

VERSE 9. Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.

Isaiah 6:1. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

 

VERSE 10. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.

 

VERSE 11. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon.

 

VERSE 12. After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

 

VERSE 13. Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.

 

VERSE 14. Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.

 

VERSE 15. Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.

 

VERSE 16. Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Mary, from whom was born Jesus. Up to this point, the genealogy has been based on the patriarchal lineage. If a woman was named, her identity was subordinated to her husband’s identity.

But with Mary, it changes. The Lord Jesus Christ did not descend from Mary’s husband Joseph. The miraculous conception and birth are described in the verses that follow.

 

VERSE 17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

 

MARY BECOMES PREGNANT BY POWER OF THE THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

VERSE 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to Matthew and from the entire Bible.

by the Holy Spirit. Or “by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

VERSE 19. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to Matthew and from the entire Bible.

Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man. What does it mean to be “righteous?” The Greek word is δίκαιος (“dikaios”). It means to be just in the eyes of God. What was it about Joseph that made him righteous? We see the answer in the next phrase:

not willing to make her a public example. Joseph was unwilling to expose Mary to public shame and possibly being stoned to death:

Deuteronomy 22:20. But if this thing is true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the young lady;

Deuteronomy 22:21. then they shall bring out the young lady to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father’s house. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

put her away secretly. Joseph was merciful and compassionate. He was not willing that Mary be stoned to death. The Bible sees mercy and compassion as righteousness.

James 2:13. For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

VERSE 20. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to Matthew and from the entire Bible.

an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. In ancient times, the LORD God sometimes made his guidance known to people in their dreams. Even today, this is still possible for the all-powerful LORD God. Read more »

Joseph’s Four Dreams. In the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph has four dreams. In each, he is visited by an angel of the Lord. He receives specific instructions and warnings of impending danger.

First Dream. In Matthew 1:20-21 (this verse), Joseph is told not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because she has conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is sometimes referred to as the Annunciation to Joseph.

Second Dream. In Matthew 2:13, Joseph is warned to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt.

Third Dream. In Matthew 2:19–20, while in Egypt, Joseph is told that it is safe to go back to Israel.

Fourth dream. In Matthew 2:22, because he had been warned in a dream, Joseph awakens to depart for the region of Galilee instead of going to Judea.

don’t be afraid. Fear is a natural emotion. We can’t turn it off. Most people are held back by fear. But the Bible says “Do not be afraid.” That means to move forward anyway. Read more »

 

VERSE 21. She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

it is he who shall save his people. The angel clearly identified the mission of Jesus Christ. He is a Savior. He saves people from sin.

In our day, there are all sorts of theories as to the mission of Jesus Christ:

  • To liberate people from political oppression
  • To rescue people from poverty
  • To teach us to be nice to each other
  • To show us how to meditate

But the angel clearly identifies the mission of Jesus Christ. He is the Savior. He shall save people from their sins.

from their sins. The Greek word for “sin” is harmartia. It means “to miss the mark.”

The angel does NOT not say this: “to save his his people from Hell.” Rather, the angel says this: “to save people his from their sins.”

 

VERSE 22. Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

spoken by the Lord through the prophet. That is, Isaiah, as we see in the next verse:

 

VERSE 23. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

The Word of God leapt down from the realm of eternity. He became human and pitched his tent among us. He lived among us here on the earth. Read more »

 

VERSE 24. Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

Joseph arose … and did. Joseph took a great step of faith. He did as the angel led. He did something quite heroic.

 

VERSE 25. and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

know. The Greek word is ἐγίνωσκεν (“eginōsken”). It means to come to know, recognize, perceive.

until. The Greek word is ἕως (“heós”). It only refers to the previous situation. It does not imply anything about what happened “after.”

 


next chapter »

« previous chapter
(Malachi chapter 4)

« previous chapter
Baruch chapter 6
(Deuterocanonical)


MATTHEW

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Commands, Spirituality

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.