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In this lesson:
Introduction to "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." "Christ, the King of Kings" Jesus' genealogy (1:1-17). The birth of Jesus (1:18-25). Study Tip: It helps to study more than one Bible translation. As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. But remember, the "New Living Translation" is a paraphrase and not a word-for-word translation of the Bible. Also, check the blue "Margin Notes" and click on the links. |
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Authorship:
Biblical scholars agree that Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples (10:2-3; Mark 3:14-18; Luke 6:13-15), wrote "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." Matthew, whose Jewish name was Levi (Luke 5:27), was born in Galilee. The name Matthew means "gift of God." He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and worked as a publican (tax collector) for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27). His fellow Jews despised him for working with the Roman occupiers. Matthew left his lucrative job to follow Jesus and celebrated with "a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record-keeper, a job he was well-suited for as a former tax collector. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." Matthew's Gospel is an eyewitness account of what he heard and saw during his years with Jesus. Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is wholly credible. Written sometime between AD 57 and 65 (before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), the book of Matthew was likely composed in Hebrew and translated into Greek about fifteen years later. Matthew is last mentioned in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve apostles present in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is unclear whether Matthew died of natural causes or was martyred for his Christian faith.
Purpose and Theme:
When Jesus was born, Israel was occupied by the Roman army. The Jewish people yearned for a Savior to restore the nation of Israel and free them from their oppressors. The Old Testament promised that a Messiah would come and bring salvation. Jews believed that this Savior would be a great military and political leader who would drive their oppressors out of Israel and revive their country. Little did they know that the promised Messiah would be a different kind of Savior.
It is not an accident that the New Testament begins with Matthew's Gospel. It is the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments. Written for a Jewish audience, Matthew's Gospel is filled with Old Testament references and prophecies designed to show Jews that Jesus was the long-awaited Savior. Click on the links in each lesson to read these Old Testament references and prophecies.
Matthew is one of the three synoptic Gospels (along with Mark and Luke). The synoptic Gospels give an overview of Jesus' life and ministry, while John's Gospel is more of a portrait of Jesus. It is essential to study Matthew to understand the Bible. It is the story of Jesus' Incarnation, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension. It emphasizes Jesus' Galilean ministry and has sixty-five references to the Old Testament (forty-three quotes). Chapters 21 through 28 recap the last week of Jesus' life. Because it shows how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is frequently called the "Gospel of Fulfillment." Jesus Himself said, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (5:17).
By opening with Jesus' genealogy, Matthew shows his Jewish readers that Jesus is a descendant of King David and Abraham (as prophesied in the Old Testament) and thus the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Matthew lists five women in Jesus' genealogy; Tamar, Rahab (the harlot), and Bathsheba (Uriah's wife) are three of the more prominent. You can read more about them in Genesis 38:6-30 (Tamar), Joshua 2:1-21, Joshua 6:17-25 (Rahab), and
2 Samuel 11 (Bathsheba).
Matthew contains the Sermon on the Mount and some of Jesus' most memorable parables.
We break Matthew down into six parts:
1) Jesus' genealogy, birth, and childhood (1:1 - 2:23)
2) John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus' ministry; Jesus is baptized and tempted (3:1 - 4:11)
3) Jesus begins His ministry (4:12 - 4:25)
4) The Sermon on the Mount (5:1 - 7:29)
5) Miracles; teachings; parables (8:1 - 20:16)
6) The suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ (20:17 - 28:20)
Who was -
David -
David was a larger-than-life Jewish icon mentioned 1,118 times in the Bible. He was a prophet, poet, and the second King of Israel. He is famous for defeating a Philistine giant, winning battles and was credited with writing over 75 Psalms in "The Book of Psalms." The son of Jesse the Bethlehemite (1 Samuel 17:12; 17:58; Matthew 1:6), David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a simple shepherd and poet. He was also an accomplished lyre player, a stringed musical instrument in the lute family. His musical talent led to an invitation to play the lyre for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23), who suffered from depression. Listening to David play revived Saul, and the grateful King made him his personal musician and armor-bearer. When David was about twenty, Israel went to war with the Philistines. Young David gained fame by defeating the giant Philistine warrior Goliath of Gath in one-on-one combat (1 Samuel 17:1-58). As a reward, he was given a high-ranking position in Israel's army and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. Over time, David's popularity in Israel grew, forcing him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) and live as a fugitive for years. After the death of King Saul and his son Ishbosheth (heir to Saul's throne), David returned from exile and was made the second King of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5).
King David possessed excellent leadership skills (1 Samuel 22:2) and ushered in a golden era for Israel. He established a strong civil government and strengthened Israel's army, transforming a small, young country into a wealthy, powerful nation. He led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. David's forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness.
God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Although he sinned many times, David always repented and was forgiven by God. God gave the plans for the Jerusalem Temple to David in His own handwriting (1 Chronicles 28:19). It was to be "exceeding magnifical, of fame and glory throughout all countries" (1 Chronicles 22:5). But, God forbade David from building the Temple because he "hast shed blood abundantly" (1 Chronicles 22:8). After David died at seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon (Matthew 1:6) became Israel's third king and built the Temple (1 Chronicles 28:20).
God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through King David's family. That blessing was David's descendant, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:29-30). "The Gospel According to Matthew" opens with Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:1-1:16). It establishes that Jesus is a descendant of King David and thus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies. David's story can be found in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13, 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33, and 2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Abraham -
Abraham is the founder of Judaism, the father of all Jews (Romans 4:11-16; Galatians 3:7), the spiritual forefather of Christians (Galatians 3:29), a man of faith (Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 11:8-9), and a "friend" of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). Abraham is also called the "Father of a multitude," "exalted Father," and Abram (Genesis 15:1; 17:4-5, 1 Chronicles 1:27). Born in Ur (present-day Iraq), Abraham is perhaps the greatest of the Old Testament personalities. His story is part of almost every Eastern religion, including Islam, where he is called the father of all Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.
Abraham's father, Terah, led the family out of Ur and traveled to Haran, where they settled. Abraham, a man of tremendous faith, left his family in Haran and traveled 400 miles south to a new land, Canaan, simply because God asked him to (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4). God promised to give this land to Abraham and his descendants. But Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless and grew old waiting for God to give them an heir. Weary from waiting, Sarah offered her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so there would be an heir. Hagar gave birth to a son, Ishmael. Thirteen years later, Sarah bore Abraham a son, Isaac. Later, God tested Abraham's faith (Genesis 22:1-2), telling him to go to "the land of Moriah" and sacrifice his son Isaac. Despite misgivings, Abraham believed God knew best and trusted Him (Genesis 15:6). He was sure God would resurrect Isaac (Hebrews 11:19), so he set off for Mount Moriah, * a hill near Jerusalem, to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-10; Hebrews 11:17). When Abraham proved his faith by preparing to knife his son, God's angel intervened and saved Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13). Thanks to his unwavering faith, God promised Abraham that his descendants (the Israelites) would have a homeland (Genesis 12:7) and be a great and populous people (Genesis 17:2-7; 22:16-18; 26:4; 24), and to bless all Gentiles through him (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 18:18; 22:18; 28:14; Exodus 32:13). This promise is called the Abrahamic Covenant (agreement). God's promise was fulfilled when Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, and Joshua took them to Canaan.
Abraham sometimes disappointed God, but he never lost his righteousness because it is not our deeds that earn righteousness; it is our faith (Genesis 15:6). Abraham died at 175 (Genesis 25:7) and was buried alongside his wife Sara in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9; 25:7-10) on the western slope of Mount Hebron. Centuries later, a Christian church was built over the cave. Later, the church was converted into an Islamic Mosque. It is considered hallowed ground to Christians, Jews, and Moslems. Jesus' roots date back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16), proving that the Messiah's lineage goes back to the beginning of the Jewish nation. You can read more about Abraham in Genesis 11:26-25:34.
* Some Bible scholars believe Mount Moriah is where Jesus was crucified centuries later. However, most Jews believe the Temple's sacrificial altar in Jerusalem was built over the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.
Joseph -
Joseph was Jesus' earthly father. He was born in Bethlehem and moved to Nazareth in Galilee where he became a carpenter. Joseph was engaged to Mary when he learned she was pregnant. He decided to end their engagement (Matthew 1:19) until he was visited by an angel and assured that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). Joseph then married Mary, and together they raised the young Jesus. He is last seen in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:41-52). When Joseph died is unknown. Although John 6:42 implies that he lived long enough to see Jesus begin His ministry, most scholars believe he died during Jesus' teen years.
Mary -
Mary is a revered figure in Christianity. She is the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:35), also called the Virgin Mary. Mary was the daughter of Heli and Anne and a descendant of King David. Heli was a member of the Jewish tribe of Judah. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary were cousins. A woman of great faith and humility, Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would give birth to the Messiah. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary and her husband, Joseph, fled to Egypt with the baby to escape the death sentence put on the infant Messiah by King Herod (Matthew 2:13-14). When Herod died, they returned to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23). Mary is last seen in Acts 1:13-14 praying with the disciples. She receives only a few brief mentions in the Bible once Jesus started His ministry, but she was at Calvary and witnessed the crucifixion of her Son (John 19:25-27). While dying on the cross, Jesus asked His disciple John to care for His mother (John 19:26-27). The time and circumstances of her death are unknown, but many Bible scholars believe Mary spent the rest of her life traveling with John.
Biblical scholars agree that Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples (10:2-3; Mark 3:14-18; Luke 6:13-15), wrote "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." Matthew, whose Jewish name was Levi (Luke 5:27), was born in Galilee. The name Matthew means "gift of God." He was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14) and worked as a publican (tax collector) for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27). His fellow Jews despised him for working with the Roman occupiers. Matthew left his lucrative job to follow Jesus and celebrated with "a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record-keeper, a job he was well-suited for as a former tax collector. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." Matthew's Gospel is an eyewitness account of what he heard and saw during his years with Jesus. Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is wholly credible. Written sometime between AD 57 and 65 (before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), the book of Matthew was likely composed in Hebrew and translated into Greek about fifteen years later. Matthew is last mentioned in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve apostles present in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is unclear whether Matthew died of natural causes or was martyred for his Christian faith.
Purpose and Theme:
When Jesus was born, Israel was occupied by the Roman army. The Jewish people yearned for a Savior to restore the nation of Israel and free them from their oppressors. The Old Testament promised that a Messiah would come and bring salvation. Jews believed that this Savior would be a great military and political leader who would drive their oppressors out of Israel and revive their country. Little did they know that the promised Messiah would be a different kind of Savior.
It is not an accident that the New Testament begins with Matthew's Gospel. It is the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments. Written for a Jewish audience, Matthew's Gospel is filled with Old Testament references and prophecies designed to show Jews that Jesus was the long-awaited Savior. Click on the links in each lesson to read these Old Testament references and prophecies.
Matthew is one of the three synoptic Gospels (along with Mark and Luke). The synoptic Gospels give an overview of Jesus' life and ministry, while John's Gospel is more of a portrait of Jesus. It is essential to study Matthew to understand the Bible. It is the story of Jesus' Incarnation, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension. It emphasizes Jesus' Galilean ministry and has sixty-five references to the Old Testament (forty-three quotes). Chapters 21 through 28 recap the last week of Jesus' life. Because it shows how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is frequently called the "Gospel of Fulfillment." Jesus Himself said, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (5:17).
By opening with Jesus' genealogy, Matthew shows his Jewish readers that Jesus is a descendant of King David and Abraham (as prophesied in the Old Testament) and thus the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Matthew lists five women in Jesus' genealogy; Tamar, Rahab (the harlot), and Bathsheba (Uriah's wife) are three of the more prominent. You can read more about them in Genesis 38:6-30 (Tamar), Joshua 2:1-21, Joshua 6:17-25 (Rahab), and
2 Samuel 11 (Bathsheba).
Matthew contains the Sermon on the Mount and some of Jesus' most memorable parables.
We break Matthew down into six parts:
1) Jesus' genealogy, birth, and childhood (1:1 - 2:23)
2) John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus' ministry; Jesus is baptized and tempted (3:1 - 4:11)
3) Jesus begins His ministry (4:12 - 4:25)
4) The Sermon on the Mount (5:1 - 7:29)
5) Miracles; teachings; parables (8:1 - 20:16)
6) The suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ (20:17 - 28:20)
Who was -
David -
David was a larger-than-life Jewish icon mentioned 1,118 times in the Bible. He was a prophet, poet, and the second King of Israel. He is famous for defeating a Philistine giant, winning battles and was credited with writing over 75 Psalms in "The Book of Psalms." The son of Jesse the Bethlehemite (1 Samuel 17:12; 17:58; Matthew 1:6), David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a simple shepherd and poet. He was also an accomplished lyre player, a stringed musical instrument in the lute family. His musical talent led to an invitation to play the lyre for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23), who suffered from depression. Listening to David play revived Saul, and the grateful King made him his personal musician and armor-bearer. When David was about twenty, Israel went to war with the Philistines. Young David gained fame by defeating the giant Philistine warrior Goliath of Gath in one-on-one combat (1 Samuel 17:1-58). As a reward, he was given a high-ranking position in Israel's army and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. Over time, David's popularity in Israel grew, forcing him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) and live as a fugitive for years. After the death of King Saul and his son Ishbosheth (heir to Saul's throne), David returned from exile and was made the second King of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5).
King David possessed excellent leadership skills (1 Samuel 22:2) and ushered in a golden era for Israel. He established a strong civil government and strengthened Israel's army, transforming a small, young country into a wealthy, powerful nation. He led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. David's forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness.
God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Although he sinned many times, David always repented and was forgiven by God. God gave the plans for the Jerusalem Temple to David in His own handwriting (1 Chronicles 28:19). It was to be "exceeding magnifical, of fame and glory throughout all countries" (1 Chronicles 22:5). But, God forbade David from building the Temple because he "hast shed blood abundantly" (1 Chronicles 22:8). After David died at seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon (Matthew 1:6) became Israel's third king and built the Temple (1 Chronicles 28:20).
God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through King David's family. That blessing was David's descendant, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:29-30). "The Gospel According to Matthew" opens with Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:1-1:16). It establishes that Jesus is a descendant of King David and thus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies. David's story can be found in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13, 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33, and 2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Abraham -
Abraham is the founder of Judaism, the father of all Jews (Romans 4:11-16; Galatians 3:7), the spiritual forefather of Christians (Galatians 3:29), a man of faith (Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 11:8-9), and a "friend" of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). Abraham is also called the "Father of a multitude," "exalted Father," and Abram (Genesis 15:1; 17:4-5, 1 Chronicles 1:27). Born in Ur (present-day Iraq), Abraham is perhaps the greatest of the Old Testament personalities. His story is part of almost every Eastern religion, including Islam, where he is called the father of all Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.
Abraham's father, Terah, led the family out of Ur and traveled to Haran, where they settled. Abraham, a man of tremendous faith, left his family in Haran and traveled 400 miles south to a new land, Canaan, simply because God asked him to (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4). God promised to give this land to Abraham and his descendants. But Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless and grew old waiting for God to give them an heir. Weary from waiting, Sarah offered her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so there would be an heir. Hagar gave birth to a son, Ishmael. Thirteen years later, Sarah bore Abraham a son, Isaac. Later, God tested Abraham's faith (Genesis 22:1-2), telling him to go to "the land of Moriah" and sacrifice his son Isaac. Despite misgivings, Abraham believed God knew best and trusted Him (Genesis 15:6). He was sure God would resurrect Isaac (Hebrews 11:19), so he set off for Mount Moriah, * a hill near Jerusalem, to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-10; Hebrews 11:17). When Abraham proved his faith by preparing to knife his son, God's angel intervened and saved Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13). Thanks to his unwavering faith, God promised Abraham that his descendants (the Israelites) would have a homeland (Genesis 12:7) and be a great and populous people (Genesis 17:2-7; 22:16-18; 26:4; 24), and to bless all Gentiles through him (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 18:18; 22:18; 28:14; Exodus 32:13). This promise is called the Abrahamic Covenant (agreement). God's promise was fulfilled when Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, and Joshua took them to Canaan.
Abraham sometimes disappointed God, but he never lost his righteousness because it is not our deeds that earn righteousness; it is our faith (Genesis 15:6). Abraham died at 175 (Genesis 25:7) and was buried alongside his wife Sara in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9; 25:7-10) on the western slope of Mount Hebron. Centuries later, a Christian church was built over the cave. Later, the church was converted into an Islamic Mosque. It is considered hallowed ground to Christians, Jews, and Moslems. Jesus' roots date back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16), proving that the Messiah's lineage goes back to the beginning of the Jewish nation. You can read more about Abraham in Genesis 11:26-25:34.
* Some Bible scholars believe Mount Moriah is where Jesus was crucified centuries later. However, most Jews believe the Temple's sacrificial altar in Jerusalem was built over the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.
Joseph -
Joseph was Jesus' earthly father. He was born in Bethlehem and moved to Nazareth in Galilee where he became a carpenter. Joseph was engaged to Mary when he learned she was pregnant. He decided to end their engagement (Matthew 1:19) until he was visited by an angel and assured that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). Joseph then married Mary, and together they raised the young Jesus. He is last seen in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:41-52). When Joseph died is unknown. Although John 6:42 implies that he lived long enough to see Jesus begin His ministry, most scholars believe he died during Jesus' teen years.
Mary -
Mary is a revered figure in Christianity. She is the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:35), also called the Virgin Mary. Mary was the daughter of Heli and Anne and a descendant of King David. Heli was a member of the Jewish tribe of Judah. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary were cousins. A woman of great faith and humility, Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would give birth to the Messiah. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary and her husband, Joseph, fled to Egypt with the baby to escape the death sentence put on the infant Messiah by King Herod (Matthew 2:13-14). When Herod died, they returned to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23). Mary is last seen in Acts 1:13-14 praying with the disciples. She receives only a few brief mentions in the Bible once Jesus started His ministry, but she was at Calvary and witnessed the crucifixion of her Son (John 19:25-27). While dying on the cross, Jesus asked His disciple John to care for His mother (John 19:26-27). The time and circumstances of her death are unknown, but many Bible scholars believe Mary spent the rest of her life traveling with John.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 1:1-25
The Birth of Jesus Christ 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. |
Margin notes:
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ." (1:1) - "The book of Jesus Christ's genealogy." Verses 1:2-16 are Jesus' genealogy through Joseph. "Son of David, the son of Abraham." (1:1) - In Jewish genealogy, "son" also meant grandson, great-grandson, etc. By calling Jesus the "Son" of David and Abraham, Matthew shows his Jewish readers that Christ fulfills the Old Testament prophecies they have known since childhood and is the Messiah. "Jesse begat David the king." (1:5) - See the book of Ruth 4:13-22. "About the time they were carried away to Babylon." (1:11) - In 587/586 BC, the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, looted and destroyed the Temple, and took tens of thousands of Jewish leaders, craftsmen, military officers, priests, noblemen, political figures, and King Jehoiachin back to Babylon as captives. To learn more, read 2 Kings 24:14-16, Jeremiah 27:20, and Daniel 1:1-2. "Who is called Christ." (1:16) - The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, which means anointed. "The birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise." (1:18) - Means "The birth of Jesus Christ was like this." Jesus' birth is called "the first advent." The second advent will be when Jesus returns. "Mary was espoused to Joseph." (1:18) - "Mary was engaged to Joseph." In Jewish culture, an engagement was a binding relationship that could only be ended by death or divorce. To be unfaithful while engaged was considered adultery. "Holy Ghost." (1:18) - The Holy Ghost is the same as the Holy Spirit. "Was minded to put her away privily." (1:19) - "Had decided to divorce her quietly." Under Jewish law, Joseph could have demanded that Mary (and the father of her child) be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). But he showed love and mercy towards Mary. Joseph spent the rest of his life having to endure people thinking the worst of his wife. When Jesus was thirty years old, the Pharisees were still accusing Him of being born out of wedlock (John 8:41). "Angel." (1:20) - Angels are messengers of God that act as intermediaries between our creator and us. They are spiritual beings (Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:14) but can take on human form (Genesis 19:1-5). They have incredible power (2 Kings 19:35) and wisdom (2 Samuel 14:20; 2 Kings 19:35; Psalm 103:20). Although only two angels are mentioned by name, Michael and Gabriel, Psalm 68:17, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 12:22, and Revelation 5:11 tell us there are "innumerable" angels, and that they will be at Jesus' side when He returns (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26). They never marry (Matthew 22:30) and rejoice when a sinner repents (Luke 15:10). There are also two groups of fallen angels. Some are chained in darkness until the final judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6), while others inhabit the earth doing Satan's bidding. Satan and his angels face God's punishment (Matthew 25:41). Click here to learn more about angels. "The prophet." (1:22) - The prophet was Isaiah. See verse 1:23. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child." (1:23) - As prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, 700 years before the birth of Christ. An additional 360 other Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in the New Testament. "They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (1:23) - "Why was Jesus not actually called "Immanuel?" According to Hebrew usage the name does not represent a title but a characterization, as in Isaiah 1:26 and 9:6. The name "Immanuel" shows that He really was "God with us." Thus, the Deity of Christ is stressed at the very beginning of Matthew." ("The New Scofield Reference Bible' published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; Page 992) "Did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him." (1:24) - "Did as the angel of God told him." "Knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son." (1:25) - "Had no sexual relations with her (Mary) until she delivered her first son (Jesus)." |
To read Luke's report of Jesus' birth, see Luke 3:23-38.
New Living Translation
Matthew 1:1-25
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.
4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.
6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.
8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.
11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brother (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.
14 Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud.
15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17 All those listed above include fourteen generation from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
23 "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
This second text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase of the Bible. It is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Ancestors of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.
4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.
6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.
8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.
11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brother (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
12 After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.
14 Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud.
15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
17 All those listed above include fourteen generation from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
23 "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
This second text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase of the Bible. It is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"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." (1:18)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (1:21)
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying. 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." (1:22-23)
"And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (1:25)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (1:21)
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying. 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." (1:22-23)
"And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (1:25)
Today's Questions:
1. Why give Jesus' genealogy? (1:1)
2. Why call Jesus, the Christ? (1:16)
3. Why a virgin birth? (1:23)
Learn more about salvation by exploring Scripture on your own and look for how Jesus fulfills God's promises.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. The Old Testament promised that a Messiah would come to save humanity. One way He would be recognized was through His genealogy. The Old Testament prophesized that the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (the father of all Jews) and King David. Matthew wastes no time in his Gospel. He immediately shows us that Jesus' roots go back to both Abraham and David, thus fulfilling the prophecy. In verses 1:22-23, Matthew shows how Jesus fulfilled a second prophecy, the one that predicted the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). In the next few chapters, Matthew will show how Jesus fulfilled other prophecies. Look for them as we study together.
2. We often think of the word Christ as a name, but it is actually a title. Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word for the Hebrew title Messiah. Both terms mean "the Anointed One" and refer to Jesus, the special one ordained and sent by God to save mankind.
Additional note: Jesus was called by many names, the Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Son of God, Son of David, Son of man, Lord, Messiah, Master, Rabbi, etc.
3. Some Bible scholars believe Jesus was born of a virgin to be free of Adam's original sin passed down to humanity. They feel Jesus needed to circumvent the usual method of conception and be conceived supernaturally. By being born of a woman, He was human, yet He was still the Son of God, and therefore, divine. Others believe that Jesus' miraculous birth to a sexually pure young woman served to underscore his supernatural beginning - a sign of His divinity. In any case, since Isaiah 7:14 prophesied that a virgin would "conceive and bear a son," Jesus' virgin birth makes it clear that He fulfills the prophecy and is the Messiah.
Only God can accomplish a virgin birth.
Gospel stories unique to Matthew:
The angel visits Joseph (1:20-24)
The wise men (2:1-12)
Flight to Egypt (2:13-15)
Herod kills the male children of Bethlehem (2:16-18)
Judas repents, then hangs himself (27:3-10)
Pilate's wife has a dream (27:19)
The saints are resurrected (27:52)
The soldiers are bribed (28:11-15)
The Great Commission (28:19-20)
1. Why give Jesus' genealogy? (1:1)
2. Why call Jesus, the Christ? (1:16)
3. Why a virgin birth? (1:23)
Learn more about salvation by exploring Scripture on your own and look for how Jesus fulfills God's promises.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. The Old Testament promised that a Messiah would come to save humanity. One way He would be recognized was through His genealogy. The Old Testament prophesized that the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (the father of all Jews) and King David. Matthew wastes no time in his Gospel. He immediately shows us that Jesus' roots go back to both Abraham and David, thus fulfilling the prophecy. In verses 1:22-23, Matthew shows how Jesus fulfilled a second prophecy, the one that predicted the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). In the next few chapters, Matthew will show how Jesus fulfilled other prophecies. Look for them as we study together.
2. We often think of the word Christ as a name, but it is actually a title. Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word for the Hebrew title Messiah. Both terms mean "the Anointed One" and refer to Jesus, the special one ordained and sent by God to save mankind.
Additional note: Jesus was called by many names, the Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Son of God, Son of David, Son of man, Lord, Messiah, Master, Rabbi, etc.
3. Some Bible scholars believe Jesus was born of a virgin to be free of Adam's original sin passed down to humanity. They feel Jesus needed to circumvent the usual method of conception and be conceived supernaturally. By being born of a woman, He was human, yet He was still the Son of God, and therefore, divine. Others believe that Jesus' miraculous birth to a sexually pure young woman served to underscore his supernatural beginning - a sign of His divinity. In any case, since Isaiah 7:14 prophesied that a virgin would "conceive and bear a son," Jesus' virgin birth makes it clear that He fulfills the prophecy and is the Messiah.
Only God can accomplish a virgin birth.
Gospel stories unique to Matthew:
The angel visits Joseph (1:20-24)
The wise men (2:1-12)
Flight to Egypt (2:13-15)
Herod kills the male children of Bethlehem (2:16-18)
Judas repents, then hangs himself (27:3-10)
Pilate's wife has a dream (27:19)
The saints are resurrected (27:52)
The soldiers are bribed (28:11-15)
The Great Commission (28:19-20)
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible' published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke