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| Chapter 1 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brethren. 3 And Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Aram, 4 and Aram begot Aminadab, and Aminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon, 5 and Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, and Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon by her that had been the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon begot Rehoboam, and Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa, 8 and Asa begot Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah begot Jotham, and Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah begot Manasseh, and Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah, 11 and Josiah begot Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel, and Salathiel begot Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel begot Abiud, and Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor, 14 and Azor begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud, 15 and Eliud begot Eleazar, and Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob, 16 and Jacob begot 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 in this way: When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 And 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 Spirit. 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 until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. |
The birth and childhood of Jesus Matt 1:1-2:23 v1-17 The genealogy of Jesus The following material is only found in Matthew’s Gospel. It appears that Matthew is showing the legal descent to Joseph. There is no suggestion that Joseph was the natural father of Jesus, the material recorded after shows that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and not a human father. Matthew starts with Abraham and shows God’s working through His chosen people. v5,6 Four women are mentioned as part of the family who were irregular unions in a royal ancestry. Tamar, Gen 38:1ff was an adulteress. Rahab was a foreigner and had been an harlot Joshua 2:1ff. Ruth was a Moabitess Ruth 1-4. v6 Bathsheba, was the wife of Uriah with whom David committed adultery 2 Sam 12. v18-25 The Birth of Jesus. To obtain the full list of events read Matthew with Luke 1:1ff. v18,25 Betrothal This is equivalent to an engagement but was far more binding, a legal relationship, any unfaithfulness was considered adultery. It is specifically mentioned that Joseph did not have intercourse with Mary before the birth of Jesus. v19 Though Joseph and Mary were not legally married, because of the engagement arrangement a divorce was necessary. Joseph could have made it a public divorce but was planning to give a written statement in the presence of two witnesses. However, God overrules and send Joseph an angelic message in a dream. We are reminded that Joseph was a descendent of King David, a legal requirement of the Messiah. v21,22 The Messiah was expected to provide a way to remove sin but God’s method was not expected. v23 The quotation from Isaiah 7:10-17, virgin indicates a maiden or unmarried daughter. v24,25 Indicates that Joseph and Mary had a normal marriage relationship after the birth of Jesus. Other children were born normally Matt 13:55ff. |
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