11 The [1]record of the genealogy of [2]Jesus [3]the Messiah , the son of David , the son of Abraham : 2 Abraham [4]was the father of Isaac , [5]Isaac the father of Jacob , and Jacob the father of [6]Judah and his brothers . 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar , Perez was the father of Hezron , and Hezron the father of [7]Ram . 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab , Amminadab the father of Nahshon , and Nahshon the father of Salmon . 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab , Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth , and Obed the father of Jesse . 6 Jesse was the father of David the king . David was the father of Solomon by [8]Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah . 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam , Rehoboam the father of Abijah , and Abijah the father of [9]Asa . 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat , Jehoshaphat the father of [10]Joram , and Joram the father of Uzziah . 9 Uzziah was the father of [11]Jotham , Jotham the father of Ahaz , and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah . 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh , Manasseh the father of [12]Amon , and Amon the father of Josiah . 11 Josiah became the father of [13]Jeconiah and his brothers , at the time of the deportation to Babylon . 12 After the deportation to Babylon : Jeconiah became the father of [14]Shealtiel , and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel . 13 Zerubbabel was the father of [15]Abihud , Abihud the father of Eliakim , and Eliakim the father of Azor . 14 Azor was the father of Zadok , Zadok the father of Achim , and Achim the father of Eliud . 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar , Eleazar the father of Matthan , and Matthan the father of Jacob . 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary , by whom Jesus was born , who is called [16]the Messiah . 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations ; from David to the deportation to Babylon , fourteen generations ; and from the deportation to Babylon to [17]the Messiah , fourteen generations .
18 Now the birth of Jesus [18]Christ was as follows : when His mother Mary had been [19]betrothed to Joseph , before they came together she was found to be with child e by the Holy Spirit . 19 And Joseph her husband , being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned [20] to send her away secretly . 20 But when he had considered this , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream , saying , " Joseph , son of David , do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife ; for [21]the Child who has been [22]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit . 21 "She will bear a Son ; and you shall call His name Jesus , for [23]He will save His people from their sins ." 22 Now all this [24]took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet : 23 " BEHOLD , THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD e AND SHALL BEAR A SON , AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME [25]IMMANUEL ," which translated means , " GOD WITH US."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 1:1-23
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.
Commentary on Matthew 1:18-25
(Read Matthew 1:18-25)
Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute. By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.