The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

11 Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Juda and his brethren; 3 and Juda 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 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, at the time of the carrying away of Babylon. 12 And after the carrying away of Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel, and Salathiel begat Zorobabel,

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 1:1-12

Commentary on Matthew 1:1-17

(Read Matthew 1:1-17)

Concerning this genealogy of our Saviour, observe the chief intention. It is not a needless genealogy. It is not a vain-glorious one, as those of great men often are. It proves that our Lord Jesus is of the nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. The promise of the blessing was made to Abraham and his seed; of the dominion, to David and his seed. It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him, 2 Samuel 7:12; Psalm 89:3, & c.; 132:11; and, therefore, unless Jesus is a son of David, and a son of Abraham, he is not the Messiah. Now this is here proved from well-known records. When the Son of God was pleased to take our nature, he came near to us, in our fallen, wretched condition; but he was perfectly free from sin: and while we read the names in his genealogy, we should not forget how low the Lord of glory stooped to save the human race.