Gospel of Matthew

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

 

 

 

CHAPTER 1

The Genealogy

 

 

Matthew is setting up the proof of Jesus linage.  There are two lineages recorded in scripture. Here in Matthew and also in Luke 3:23-38. Both lineages trace the ancestry of Jesus back to King David.

 

Matthew records the lineage back through Joseph (son of David) back to Solomon. This is the “Royal” line and thus a right to the throne of David.

 

Luke records the lineage back through Mary (seed of the woman) back to Nathan (2nd son of David). This is the Natural line.

 

 

Matthew 1:1-5

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

 

 

Four women are listed in the genealogy.  Rahab was a harlot. (James 2:25).  Ruth was a pure woman. (Ruth 3:11).  They were both Gentiles.  Tamar (Genesis 38) and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-5) both committed adultery.  They were both Jews. His ancestry was both Jews and Gentiles.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:6

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

 

 

Matthew does not call Bathsheba by name.  He refers to her only as “…that had been the wife of Urias…”.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:7-11

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

 

 

God sets up the conditions under which He will “…blot out…” a man’s “…name from under Heaven” in Deuteronomy 29:20-21

There are five names missing from “history” in this section.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:12-13

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud;

 

 

Jechonias / Jehoiachin / Coniah     This was the last king of Judah.  Removed from throne by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:3-16).  He was also cursed by God that his seed would never sit on throne. (Jeremiah 22:23-30).

 

This makes the lineage of Mary back to David important.  It allows the fulfillment of the promise to David. His seed would sit on the throne forever. (2 Samuel 7)

 

 

 

Matthew 1:13-15

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

… and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

 

 

These nine are not mentioned anywhere else in scripture.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:16-17

Parallel Passages: Luke 3:23-38

 

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 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.

 

 

Matthew calls to our attention the specific fact that there are three sets of fourteen generations in the lineage.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:18-19

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:1-7

 

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. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

 

 

The birth of the Christ child.  Matthew’s account is dealing with it from Joseph’s view; while Luke’s Gospel would take it from Mary’s perspective.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:20-22

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:1-7

 

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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

 

 

“…angel of the Lord…” – Archangel Gabriel appeared unto Mary in Luke’s account

 

 

 

Matthew 1:23

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:1-7

 

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

 

 

This is fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14.

 

 

 

Matthew 1:24-25

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:1-7

 

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 

 

 

What part of the calendar year was Jesus born?

 

 

December 25 is celebrated as Christmas.  The birthday of Jesus.  This date was a date chosen years later to be used as a holiday celebration. Based on the Jewish calendar, it was probably closer to September of our calendar.

 

Christian Resource Center of New Hampshire has documented more information on the birth date of Jesus.

See the document on their website titled:  “The-Birthday-of-Jesus-Christ.pdf”