Matthew
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Matthew 1
Matthew 1
Commentary · verses 1-17
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Commentary · verse 1
Jesus was called the son of David and the son of Abraham. This book was written to the Jews.
2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren; 3and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;
2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
Commentary · verse 3
Judah begat Perez (a bastard) of Tamar who was Judah's daughter-in-law: Genesis 38. Judah having sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law would have been against the Law: Leviticus 20:12. This showed that sin was not the actual act (WHAT), but according to the HOW/WHY. The act was an effect of the sin (HOW/WHY). Tamar was the first woman referenced in the lineage of Christ.
4and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon; 5and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Commentary · verse 6
"Her that had been the wife of Uriah"…that was Bathsheba who was an adulteress: 2 Samuel 11. Although her name was not mentioned, she was the fourth woman referenced in the lineage of Christ.
7and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa; 8and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah; 9and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah;
7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
Commentary · verse 9
Ahaz passed on the opportunity to ask God for a sign: Isaiah 7. The sign was the prophecy concerning the virgin birth that was documented in the New Testament: Isaiah 7:13-15.
10and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;
10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
Commentary · verse 10
Manasseh was the reason God put Judah into captivity: Jeremiah 15:3-6. Notice, Christ's lineage came through the kings of Judah.
11and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.
12And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;
11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
Commentary · verse 12
Zerubbabel led the rebuilding of the temple after the captivity.
13and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
Commentary · verse 15
Verses 14-15 covered "the silent period."
16and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Commentary · verse 16
Mary was a virgin and it was blatantly stated that Joseph was the husband of Mary. Mary was the fifth woman referenced in the lineage of Christ. The women, in order, referenced in the lineage of Christ were: a daughter-in-law who would have violated Leviticus 20:12 by having intercourse with her father-in-law, a prostitute, a widow, an adulteress, and a virgin.
17So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
17So 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.
18Now 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.
Commentary · verse 18
Joseph and Mary were "betrothed" which was Strong's #3423 mnesteuo - "to give a souvenir," this would be considered an exchange of tokens. Throughout the Old Testament the Marriage Covenant was initiated in one of three ways:
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exchange of vows,
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exchange of tokens, or
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sexual intercourse.
The Marriage Covenant was completed with sexual intercourse. Mary was pregnant of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was holding God's office as Mary's husband because they exchanged tokens.
19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Commentary · verse 19
Since Mary was pregnant, Joseph would have thought she was actually married to someone else because she must have had sexual intercourse. Since Joseph was righteous and just, he could not marry her unless she had a bill of divorcement. He also knew he could not have sexual intercourse because that would be committing adultery. Joseph could not divorce Mary because he would have thought she was married to someone else and only that man could divorce Mary. However, Joseph could "put away" Mary.
Divorce and Putting Away are not the same thing.
In the Old Testament, "putting away" was an ending of a Marriage Covenant and the removal of one spouse from the greater community because of fornication/unbelief. Joseph was able to put away Mary. He could testify she had committed fornication and must be removed from the greater community. The fact that Joseph did not want to make her a public example was the reason why Joseph would put her away privately. If anything, people tended to be put away publicly so that others in the greater community did not form a Marriage Covenant with this unbeliever. Many sources attempt to say that Joseph was going to do this privately because that was how people were put away, or divorced. The KJV and the ASV correctly translated this passage as "put her away." Many newer translations wrongly used the word "divorce." As we have seen, Joseph could not have divorced Mary, not only because he would not have considered himself her actual husband, but also because he would not have wanted to give her a bill of divorcement so she could marry someone in the greater community.
Doctrines on this passage
20But when he thought on these things, behold, an 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.
20But 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.
Commentary · verse 20
While Joseph thought about the complicated situation presented in verse 19, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him that the child was of the Holy Spirit. This caused Joseph to realize that Mary had not been previously married. This also caused him to continue with the Marriage Covenant he and Mary had begun because he would have realized her pregnancy was not the result of Mary having had sexual intercourse with another man.
21And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Commentary · verse 21
They were told to call His name "jesus" because He will save His people from their sins. "Jesus" meant "savior." Notice, Jesus was the only person God caused to be born. The rest of humanity that was and will be born exist because their parents caused them to be born. Throughout the Bible, God caused people not to be able to conceive. God "closed up the womb" or "opened the womb" but did not cause conception. If God caused anyone else to be born, God would be responsible for their eternal destination. God provided us the ability to be saved, however it is our responsibility to accept Jesus as savior.
22Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, 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.
Commentary · verses 22-23
The angel quoted the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14.
24And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 25and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.
24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Commentary · verses 24-25
Joseph did not put away Mary and he did not consummate (complete) the Marriage Covenant before Mary gave birth to Jesus. Joseph was obedient and named the child "jesus."
Verses 1-17: the genealogy of Jesus Christ through Joseph.