Matthew1

Matthew chapter one begins by establishing the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage through David back to Abraham, structured into three sets of fourteen generations. The chapter then details the miraculous circumstances of Jesus' birth. Mary, espoused to Joseph, was found to be with child by the Holy Ghost, leading Joseph to consider a private separation until an angel appeared to him in a dream, confirming the divine conception and instructing him to name the child Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1
This is the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, son of David, son of Avraham: ​
2
Avraham was the father of Yitz'chak, Yitz'chak was the father of Ya`akov, Ya`akov was the father of Y'hudah and his brothers,
3
Y'hudah was the father of Peretz and Zerach (their mother was Tamar), Peretz was the father of Hetzron, Hetzron was the father of Ram,
4
Ram was the father of `Amminadav, `Amminadav was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmon,
5
Salmon was the father of Bo`az (his mother was Rachav), Bo`az was the father of `Oved (his mother was Rut), `Oved was the father of Yishai, ​
6
Yishai was the father of David the king. David was the father of Shlomo (his mother was the wife of Uriyah), ​
7
Shlomo was the father of Rechav`am, Rechav`am was the father of Aviyah, Aviyah was the father of Asa,
8
Asa was the father of Y'hoshafat, Y'hoshafat was the father of Yoram, Yoram was the father of `Uziyahu,
9
`Uziyahu was the father of Yotam, Yotam was the father of Achaz, Achaz was the father of Hizkiyahu,
10
Hizkiyahu was the father of M'nasheh, M'nasheh was the father of Amon, Amon was the father of Yoshiyahu,
11
Yoshiyahu was the father of Y'khanyahu and his brothers at the time of the Exile to Bavel. ​
12
After the Babylonian Exile, Y'khanyahu was the father of Sh'altiel, Sh'altiel was the father of Z'rubavel,
13
Z'rubavel was the father of Avihud, Avihud was the father of Elyakim, Elyakim was the father of `Azur,
14
`Azur was the father of Tzadok, Tzadok was the father of Yakhin, Yakhin was the father of El'ichud,
15
El'ichud was the father of El`azar, El`azar was the father of Mattan, Mattan was the father of Ya`akov,
16
Ya`akov was the father of Yosef the husband of Miryam, from whom was born the Yeshua who was called the Messiah. ​
17
Thus there were fourteen generations from Avraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the Babylonian Exile, and fourteen generations from the Babylonian Exile to the Messiah. ​

The Birth of Jesus Announced to Joseph

18
Here is how the birth of Yeshua the Messiah took place. When his mother Miryam was engaged to Yosef, before they were married, she was found to be pregnant from the Ruach HaKodesh. ​
19
Her husband-to-be, Yosef, was a man who did what was right; so he made plans to break the engagement quietly, rather than put her to public shame. ​
20
But while he was thinking about this, an angel of ADONAI appeared to him in a dream and said, "Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. ​
21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means `ADONAI saves,'] because he will save his people from their sins." ​
22
All this happened in order to fulfill what ADONAI had said through the prophet,
23
"The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him `Immanu El."a (The name means, "God is with us.") ​
24
When Yosef awoke he did what the angel of ADONAI had told him to do -- he took Miryam home to be his wife,
25
but he did not have sexual relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Yeshua. ​

Study Notes for Matthew 1

Verse 1

The opening phrase, 'book of the generation' (biblos geneseos), establishes the work as a historical record of origins. Matthew immediately asserts Jesus's credentials as the rightful Messiah (Son of David) and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises (Son of Abraham).

Verse 5

Matthew notably includes four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and 'her that had been the wife of Urias') in this male lineage. The presence of these women, some of whom were Gentiles or associated with scandal, underscores that God works through imperfect human history.

Verse 6

David is explicitly named 'the king,' emphasizing the royal line leading to Jesus. The reference to Bathsheba as 'her that had been the wife of Urias' is a deliberate allusion to David’s great sin (2 Sam 11), reminding the reader that even the Messianic line is marked by human failure.

Verse 11

The Babylonian Exile marks a decisive historical breakpoint and judgment, serving as the division point for the second and third sets of fourteen generations.

Verse 16

This verse breaks the repetitive genealogical formula ('A begat B') to emphasize the unique, non-biological role of Joseph. Joseph is merely the legal father (husband of Mary), ensuring Jesus's legal claim to the Davidic throne, while 'Christ' is the title meaning 'Anointed One' (Messiah).

Verse 17

The division into three groups of fourteen generations is highly structured and deliberate, designed to serve as a mnemonic device. The number 14 is the numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew name David (DWD), emphasizing Jesus's identity as the ultimate Davidic King.

Verse 18

This verse begins the narrative portion, focusing on the miraculous conception. Espousal was a legally binding relationship, often lasting a year, which could only be broken by formal divorce.

Verse 19

Joseph is described as 'just' (dikaios), meaning he was committed to obeying the Law, which required divorce for suspected adultery. However, his compassion led him to seek a private divorce to protect Mary from public shame and legal penalty.

Verse 20

The angel addresses Joseph as 'son of David,' confirming his legal importance to the lineage and legitimizing Jesus's royal claim. Dreams are a primary mode of divine communication in the early chapters of Matthew.

Verse 21

Joseph is instructed to name the child, an act of adoption that legally establishes Jesus as his heir. The name Jesus (Yeshua) means 'Yahweh saves,' explicitly defining his mission as spiritual redemption from sin, not merely political liberation.

Verse 23

This is the first of Matthew’s 'fulfillment citations,' arguing that Jesus is the culmination of Old Testament prophecy (Isa 7:14). Emmanuel ('God with us') confirms the identity of Jesus as divine presence, emphasizing the reality of the Incarnation.

Verse 25

Joseph’s immediate obedience highlights his faithfulness. The phrase 'knew her not till' establishes the virgin birth but does not preclude subsequent marital relations, though church tradition later affirmed Mary's perpetual virginity.

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