Matthew opens his Gospel with a genealogy tracing the lineage of Jesus Christ from Abraham through King David to Joseph, the husband of Mary. This genealogy is divided into three sets of fourteen generations: from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to Christ. The list includes several notable figures, including patriarchs, kings, and even four women, some of whom had complicated or scandalous histories, such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and “the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba).
After establishing this royal and covenantal lineage, Matthew shifts to narrate the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. Mary is found to be pregnant before her marriage to Joseph is consummated. Joseph, described as a righteous man, considers quietly divorcing her to avoid public shame, since betrothal in Jewish culture carried legal weight similar to marriage. However, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, explaining that Mary’s conception is by the Holy Spirit and that the child is to be named Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew connects this event to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, stating that a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” Joseph obeys the angel’s instruction, takes Mary as his wife, and refrains from marital relations with her until Jesus is born. He then names the child Jesus, fulfilling the angel’s command.
About the Author
Matthew is identified in Scripture as the son of Alphaeus. Before his calling by Jesus, he worked as a tax collector in Capernaum, a position that required him to collect tolls and taxes, likely for the Roman authorities or under Herod Antipas. This occupation would have given him a good education in reading, writing, and record keeping, skills that are evident in the structured and detailed nature of his Gospel.
The turning point in Matthew’s life came when Jesus called him to become a disciple. According to Matthew 9:9, Jesus saw him sitting at the tax collector’s booth and simply said, “Follow me.” Matthew’s response was immediate and complete. He left his profession behind without hesitation, demonstrating a readiness of heart to follow Christ.
Chapter 1
1 The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 The son of Abraham was Isaac; and the son of Isaac was Jacob; and the sons of Jacob were Judah and his brothers;
3 And the sons of Judah were Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and the son of Perez was Hezron; and the son of Hezron was Ram;
4 And the son of Ram was Amminadab; and the son of Amminadab was Nahshon; and the son of Nahshon was Salmon;
5 And the son of Salmon by Rahab was Boaz; and the son of Boaz by Ruth was Obed; and the son of Obed was Jesse;
6 And the son of Jesse was David the king; and the son of David was Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah;
7 And the son of Solomon was Rehoboam; and the son of Rehoboam was Abijah; and the son of Abijah was Asa;
8 And the son of Asa was Jehoshaphat; and the son of Jehoshaphat was Joram; and the son of Joram was Uzziah;
9 And the son of Uzziah was Jotham; and the son of Jotham was Ahaz; and the son of Ahaz was Hezekiah;
10 And the son of Hezekiah was Manasseh; and the son of Manasseh was Amon; and the son of Amon was Josiah;
11 And the sons of Josiah were Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the taking away to Babylon.
12 And after the taking away to Babylon, Jechoniah had a son Shealtiel; and Shealtiel had Zerubbabel;
13 And Zerubbabel had Abiud; and Abiud had Eliakim; and Eliakim had Azor;
14 And Azor had Zadok; and Zadok had Achim; and Achim had Eliud;
15 And Eliud had Eleazar; and Eleazar had Matthan; and Matthan had Jacob;
16 And the son of Jacob was Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, whose name is Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the taking away to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the taking away to Babylon to the coming of Christ, fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when his mother Mary was going to be married to Joseph, before they came together the discovery was made that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph, her husband, being an upright man, and not desiring to make her a public example, had a mind to put her away privately.
20 But when he was giving thought to these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, have no fear of taking Mary as your wife; because that which is in her body is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will give birth to a son; and you will give him the name Jesus; for he will give his people salvation from their sins.
22 Now all this took place so that the word of the Lord by the prophet might come true,
23 See, the virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a son, and they will give him the name Immanuel, that is, God with us.
24 And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had said to him, and took her as his wife;
25 And he had no connection with her till she had given birth to a son; and he gave him the name Jesus.
Important Verses
Matthew 1:1 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This verse immediately identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and David.
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” This verse reveals the purpose of Christ’s coming: salvation from sin, not merely political deliverance.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” This connects Jesus’ birth to Isaiah’s prophecy and highlights His divine nature as God incarnate.
