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Matthew 1

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1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. 7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17So 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. 18Now 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. 19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20But 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. 21She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 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.” 24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

World English Bible (public domain)

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

Summary

Matthew chapter 1 begins by outlining the genealogy of Jesus Christ, establishing His descent from Abraham and David, thus affirming His rightful place in Jewish history as the Messiah. This genealogy emphasizes Jesus' legal and royal lineage, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. The chapter progresses to recount the extraordinary circumstances of Jesus' birth, focusing on Joseph's encounter with an angel. Joseph learns of Mary’s miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and is reassured to take her as his wife. This birth narrative highlights God's intervention and the fulfillment of prophecy, underscoring the divine nature of Jesus' origins. The theological significance of this chapter is profound; it presents Jesus as both the continuation of God’s covenant promises to Israel and the divine Savior of humanity, heralding the beginning of the New Testament's emphasis on salvation through Christ.

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Chapter outline

How Matthew 1 unfolds

  1. Matthew 1:1–2 Introduction of Jesus' Genealogy

    The chapter begins with a genealogy that identifies Jesus as a descendant of David and Abraham, establishing His Messianic qualifications.

  2. Matthew 1:3–6 The Lineage of Abraham to David

    The genealogy details the lineage from Abraham through significant figures like Judah and David, emphasizing God's covenant promises.

  3. Matthew 1:7–11 Kings of Judah

    The genealogy continues through the kings of Judah, illustrating the royal lineage leading to the exile, which is crucial for understanding Jewish history.

  4. Matthew 1:12–16 The Lineage After the Exile

    This section covers the descendants from the Babylonian exile to Joseph, solidifying Jesus' legal right to the throne of David.

  5. Matthew 1:17 Generational Summary

    The chapter summarizes the genealogy into three groups of fourteen generations, highlighting the structure and significance of Jesus' lineage.

  6. Matthew 1:18–21 Announcement of Jesus' Birth

    The narrative shifts to the announcement of Jesus' miraculous conception, focusing on Joseph's role and the significance of the child's name.

  7. Matthew 1:22–25 Fulfillment of Prophecy

    The chapter concludes with the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the virgin birth, reinforcing Jesus' identity as Emmanuel, 'God with us'.

Key verses

  • Matthew 1:21Matthew 1:21 encapsulates the purpose of Jesus' birth, emphasizing His mission to save His people from their sins.

Main themes in Matthew 1

Genealogy of Jesus

The genealogy of Jesus is presented at the beginning of Matthew 1, specifically in verses 1-17. This lineage not only establishes Jesus' historical roots but also connects Him to essential figures in Jewish faith. It emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises through generations and sets the stage for Jesus as the Messiah.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

Fulfillment of prophecy is highlighted in verses 22-23, where the virgin birth of Jesus is explicitly linked to Isaiah's words. The chapter develops this theme by detailing how each aspect of Jesus' birth aligns with Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises. This theme emphasizes that the arrival of Jesus is not merely an event but the culmination of God's long-standing redemptive plan for humanity.

Divine Intervention

Divine intervention is evident in verses 18-20, where an angel communicates God's intentions directly to Joseph, guiding him through a pivotal moment. This direct communication reveals God's active role in the unfolding of Jesus' birth, highlighting the miraculous nature of His conception. The chapter presents this intervention as a significant act of divine action, illustrating how God intervenes in human affairs to bring about His purposes.

Messiahship of Jesus

The Messiahship of Jesus is established throughout Matthew 1, particularly in verses 1 and 21, which introduce His royal lineage and mission. The genealogy affirms His descent from David, while the birth narrative emphasizes His identity as the Savior of His people. This theme positions Jesus as the awaited Messiah, fulfilling both the Jewish expectations of a king and addressing the deeper spiritual needs of humanity.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Matthew 1

Study questions

Questions for studying Matthew 1

  1. Who are the significant ancestors listed in Jesus' genealogy?
  2. What role does Joseph play in the birth narrative?
  3. How does the genealogy affirm Jesus' claim to the throne?
  4. What is the significance of the name Jesus as given to Mary?
  5. How does the chapter's structure reflect Jewish history?
  6. What prophecy is fulfilled in the announcement of Jesus' birth?
  7. In what ways does this chapter reveal God's intervention in human history?

Matthew 1: frequently asked questions

What is Matthew 1 about?+
Matthew chapter 1 begins by outlining the genealogy of Jesus Christ, establishing His descent from Abraham and David, thus affirming His rightful place in Jewish history as the Messiah. This genealogy emphasizes Jesus' legal and royal lineage, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. The chapter progresses to recount the extraordinary circumstances of Jesus' birth, focusing on Joseph's encounter with an angel. Joseph learns of Mary’s miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and is reassured to take her as his wife. This birth narrative highlights God's intervention and the fulfillment of prophecy, underscoring the divine nature of Jesus' origins. The theological significance of this chapter is profound; it presents Jesus as both the continuation of God’s covenant promises to Israel and the divine Savior of humanity, heralding the beginning of the New Testament's emphasis on salvation through Christ.
What is the key verse in Matthew 1?+
Matthew 1:21: "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.”"
What are the main themes of Matthew 1?+
The main themes of Matthew 1 are Genealogy of Jesus, Fulfillment of Prophecy, Divine Intervention, Messiahship of Jesus.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Matthew 1

Study Notes