Matthew 1 Genealogy of Jesus - For The Glory of Jesus

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Genealogy of Jesus

This is about the Genealogy of Jesus. It is from Abraham to Mary. His genealogy includes four other women.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

1. “Matthew opened his book with a careful account of the birth of Jesus Christ and the events that accompanied it.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 13)

1-17. “This ‘list of names’ is a vital part of the gospel record. It shows that Jesus Christ is a part of history, that all of Jewish history prepared the way for His birth. God in His providence ruled and overruled to accomplish His great purpose in bringing His Son into the world.” (Wiersbe, 13)

“‘Son of Abraham’ traces Jesus’ linage back to the founding father of the nation of Israel, thus ensuring his Jewish pedigree from the earliest stage of his people’s history.” (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew [Nashville: Broadman Press], 52)

Five Women

3-6. There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus.

“Tamar was a Canaanite woman who posed as a prostitute to seduce Judah (Genesis 38:13-30)

Rahab (v. 5) was a Gentile and a prostitute (Joshua 2:1).

Ruth (v. 5) was a Moabite woman (Ruth 1:3) and a worshipper of idols.

Bathsheba (‘Uriah’s wife’ v. 6) committed adultery with David (2 Samuel 11).

And Mary (v. 16) bore the perceived stigma of pregnancy outside of wedlock.

Each of these women is an object in diving grace.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1119)

7-15. There are several verses recording the genealogy of Jesus in these verses.

16. Notice that it does not use begat [KJV] or fathered [modern translations].

Here it only says that Joseph is the husband of Mary. “Matthew is making it clear that Joseph is not the father of Jesus. Although he is the husband of Mary, he is not the father of Jesus.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 10)

See Luke 3:23-38

17. Matthew gave “a systematic summary of three periods in Israel’s history, each with fourteen generations. The numerical value of the Hebrew letters for ‘David’ equals fourteen. Matthew probably used this approach as a memory aid to help his readers remember this difficult list.” (Wiersbe, 13)

Birth of Jesus

18. “Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father. This Is known as the doctrine of the virgin birth.” (Wiersbe, 13)

Betrothed “Jewish betrothal was as binding as modern marriage. A divorce was necessary to terminate the betrothal (v. 19), and betrothed couples were regarded legally as husband and wife (v. 19)—even before their physical union.” (MacArthur, 1120)

19. “Stoning was the legal prescription for this sort of adultery (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). Joseph’s righteousness meant he was also merciful; thus, he did not intend to make Mary ‘a public example.’ The phrase ‘a just man’ is a Hebraism suggesting he was a true believer in God who had thereby been declared righteous and who carefully obeyed the law (see Genesis 6:9).” (MacArthur, 1120)

20. “God quickly changes Joseph’s plans. The angel explains to Joseph that Mary has not been unfaithful and that her child has been supernaturally conceived.” (Blomberg, 59)

21. “The name Jesus means ‘Savior.’ He shall have the name Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins.” (McGee, 11)

Septuagint

22. “Matthew points out fulfillments of the OT prophecies no fewer than a dozen times (2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14, 35; 21:4; 26:54-56; 27:9, 35). He quotes from the OT more than sixty times, more frequently than any other NT writer, except Paul in Romans.” (MacArthur 1120)

23. “Scholars sometimes dispute whether the Hebrew term in Isaiah 7:14 means ‘virgin’ or maiden.’ Matthew quotes here from the LXX [Septuagint], which uses the unambiguous Greek term for ‘virgin.’ Thus Matthew, writing under the Spirit’s inspiration, ends all doubt about the meaning of the word in Isaiah 7:14.” (MacArthur, 1120)

24. “In keeping with his ‘righteous’ character (v. 19), Joseph obeys the Lord’s directives.” (Blomberg, 61)

25. “Verse 25a goes beyond what the angel explicitly commands but further refutes any claim that might be made then or later that Joseph himself was Jesus’ biological father.” (Blomberg, 61)

“They did not consummate their marriage until after the birth of Jesus.” (MacArthur, 1277 from notes on Luke 2:5)

“The King, then, was a Jewish male who is also the divine Son of God. But, did anybody acknowledge His kingship? Yes, the magi from the East came and worshipped Him.” (Wiersbe, 14)

References

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Wise Men

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