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 public 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.
Chapter Overview: Matthew Chapter 1
Introduction
Matthew Chapter 1 opens the New Testament by presenting Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and King. The chapter connects Jesus directly to the history of Israel, beginning with Abraham and continuing through David to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.
Matthew establishes from the beginning that Jesus is not an isolated figure appearing without context. His birth is the continuation and fulfillment of God’s covenant promises, particularly those associated with Abraham and David.
The chapter has two major sections:
- The Genealogy of Jesus Christ — Matthew 1:1–17
- The Birth of Jesus Christ — Matthew 1:18–25
1. The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Matthew 1:1–17
Matthew begins:
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
This opening statement introduces two foundational identities of Jesus:
- Son of David — connecting Jesus to God’s promises concerning David’s royal line.
- Son of Abraham — connecting Jesus to God’s covenant with Abraham and the blessing promised through his descendants.
Matthew then traces the genealogy from Abraham through David and the kings of Judah to the Babylonian exile and ultimately to Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Three Historical Sections
Matthew organizes the genealogy into three groups of fourteen generations:
Abraham → David
This section emphasizes the formation of God’s covenant people and the rise of David.
David → Babylonian Exile
This section follows Israel’s royal history and eventually leads to national judgment and exile.
Babylonian Exile → Jesus Christ
This section leads from Israel’s restoration period toward the arrival of the Messiah.
The genealogy therefore functions as more than a family record. It presents Jesus as the culmination of Israel’s story.
2. Women in the Genealogy
Matthew’s genealogy is particularly significant because it names several women:
- Tamar
- Rahab
- Ruth
- “the wife of Uriah,” referring to Bathsheba
- Mary
These women come from different circumstances and backgrounds.
Their inclusion demonstrates that God’s redemptive purposes operate through complicated human histories. The genealogy contains stories involving sin, suffering, foreign origins, irregular family circumstances, and unexpected acts of faith.
Matthew does not present Jesus’ ancestry as a human story of perfection. Instead, he presents a history in which God works through imperfect people to accomplish His purposes.
3. Joseph and the Birth of Jesus
Matthew 1:18–25
Matthew then shifts from genealogy to the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph initially intended to end the betrothal quietly because he was a righteous man and did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace.
However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him:
“Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.”
The angel explained that the child had been conceived through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph was instructed to give the child the name Jesus, because:
“he shall save his people from their sins.”
This statement is central to Matthew’s presentation of Jesus. His name and mission are connected: Jesus comes as the Savior.
4. The Prophecy of Immanuel
Matthew identifies the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth with the prophetic words of Isaiah:
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel.”
Matthew explains that Emmanuel means:
“God with us.”
This introduces one of the central theological themes of Matthew’s Gospel: God’s presence with His people through Jesus Christ.
The Gospel begins with the announcement of “God with us” and eventually concludes with Jesus’ promise:
“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Thus, Matthew creates an important literary connection between the beginning and end of his Gospel.
5. Joseph’s Obedience
Joseph responded to God’s revelation with obedience.
He:
- Took Mary as his wife.
- Accepted the divine explanation of her pregnancy.
- Gave the child the name Jesus.
- Accepted the responsibility associated with the child.
Joseph’s role is important even though Matthew does not record many words spoken by him.
His character is demonstrated primarily through obedience.
He received God’s instruction and acted upon it.
Major Themes in Matthew Chapter 1
1. Jesus Is the Messiah
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah promised within Israel’s Scriptures and history.
2. Jesus Is the Son of David
The genealogy establishes Jesus’ connection with David’s royal line and prepares the reader to understand Jesus as the promised King.
3. Jesus Is the Son of Abraham
Jesus’ connection to Abraham places Him within God’s covenant purposes and the promise that blessing would extend to the nations.
4. Salvation From Sin
The angel explains Jesus’ mission directly:
“He shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew therefore introduces Jesus primarily as the Savior, not merely as a teacher or political ruler.
5. God Works Through Human History
The genealogy demonstrates God’s faithfulness across generations.
Kingdoms rise and fall, people succeed and fail, and Israel experiences exile, yet God’s purpose continues.
6. God With Us
The name Emmanuel presents the profound truth that God has come to dwell among His people through Christ.
7. Obedience to God
Joseph provides an example of faithful obedience when God’s direction challenges human expectations.
Biblical Interpretation Note
Matthew Chapter 1 should be interpreted within the larger biblical story of creation, covenant, Israel, prophecy, redemption, and the coming of Christ.
The genealogy is not merely intended to provide biological information. Its primary theological purpose is to establish Jesus’ identity and place Him within God’s covenant history.
Matthew deliberately connects Jesus with Abraham and David. Abraham represents God’s covenant promise and the blessing that would ultimately extend to the nations. David represents God’s royal covenant and the promise of an enduring kingdom.
Therefore, Jesus’ identification as the Son of Abraham and Son of David presents Him as both the fulfillment of covenant promise and the rightful Messianic King.
The genealogy should also be read carefully in light of Matthew’s theological presentation rather than assuming that it functions exactly like a modern genealogical database. Biblical genealogies can emphasize particular lines, relationships, and theological purposes. Matthew’s structured presentation of three groups of fourteen generations highlights the movement of Israel’s history toward Christ.
The women mentioned in the genealogy should not be treated merely as unusual additions. Their inclusion contributes to Matthew’s larger message that God’s redemptive work is not limited by human expectations concerning ethnicity, social status, personal history, or circumstances.
Matthew 1:18–25 then presents the virgin conception and birth of Jesus as a work of the Holy Spirit. The passage explicitly distinguishes Jesus’ birth from ordinary human conception and identifies His origin as part of God’s saving initiative.
The name Jesus is interpreted through His mission: He will save His people from their sins. Therefore, Matthew introduces salvation not primarily as political liberation but as deliverance from sin.
The reference to Emmanuel—“God with us” is also foundational. Matthew is presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s purposes to dwell among and save His people. This theme continues throughout the Gospel and reaches a significant conclusion in Matthew 28:20, where Jesus promises His continuing presence with His disciples.
Key Interpretive Principle
Matthew Chapter 1 should be read as an introduction to the identity, mission, and divine origin of Jesus Christ.
The chapter teaches that:
Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Savior from sin, and Emmanuel—God with us.
Key Lessons From Matthew Chapter 1
| Lesson | Biblical Meaning |
|---|---|
| God keeps His promises | God’s covenant purposes continue across generations. |
| Jesus is the promised Messiah | His identity is rooted in Israel’s biblical history. |
| Jesus is the Son of David | He is presented as the promised Messianic King. |
| Jesus saves from sin | His mission is fundamentally redemptive. |
| God works through imperfect people | Human failures do not prevent God’s purposes. |
| God is with His people | Jesus is presented as Emmanuel, “God with us.” |
| Faith requires obedience | Joseph responds to God’s instruction through action. |
| God’s plan includes the nations | Jesus’ connection to Abraham points toward the wider blessing promised through Abraham’s seed. |
Central Message
Matthew Chapter 1 establishes that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah whose coming fulfills God’s covenant promises and prophetic purposes. Through His miraculous birth, Jesus enters human history as the Savior who will save His people from their sins and as Emmanuel—“God with us.”