Matthew 1

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ (1:1-17)

A. Genealogyi means successive generation of kin or a family tree.
1. Genealogy to the Jews was very important. They used it to trace their own lineage to authenticate the genuineness of
their blood that they were pure Jews. It was their glory to trace themselves back to father Abraham.
2. The purpose of genealogy is to connect Jesus with the Messianic expectation.
a. We can see from Jesus’ genealogy that He was a pure Jew (or Israelite, i.e. “the Son of Abraham”) with a royal
blood as He was from the lineage of kings (the Son of David).
b. Significantly, the title “Son of David” was used 5x in
First Division Second Division Third Division
this genealogy, because it was understood by the Jews
Abraham David Josiah
as a Messianic title.
Isaac Solomon Jeconiah
c. Matthew closes his genealogy by saying that Jesus is
Jacob Rehoboam Shealtiel
“called Christ.”
Judah Abijah Zerubbabel
3. The genealogy of Jesus Christ is the best beginning to start
Perez Asa Abiud
the New Testament after Malachi.
Hezron Jehoshaphat Eliakim
B. Notice in this genealogy:
Ram Joram Azor
1. There are five women mentioned.
Amminadab Uzziah Zadok
2. There is omission of names that should be included.
Nahshon Jotham Achim
3. Mentioned 42 generations divided by 3.
Salmon Ahaz Eliud
a. Number 14 might have been used because the
Boaz Hezekiah Eleazar
numerical value of David’s name is 14.
Jesse Manasseh Matthan
b. Three sets of 14 makes the genealogy easy to
Obed Amon Jacob
remember.
David Josiah Joseph
4. Mentioned only 40 names actually.
=14 =14 =14

Christ Born of Mary (1:18-25)

A. Three names of Jesusii:
1. Jesus means “Yahweh is my salvation.” It is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew Joshua and similar to the name Hosea. His
mission is to save His people from their sins.
2. Christ means “the anointed one.” It is a transliterated word from Greek Christos and translated Messiah in Hebrew.
3. Immanuel means “God with us.” Jesus is the incarnated Word. This name was more of a title or role because Jesus was
never called “Immanuel” in the Gospels. He is literally “God with us” (John 1:14).
B. Joseph and Mary were betrothed.
1. Betrothal was part of the Law of Moses. It betrothal period continued for 1 year and ended with marriage.
2. It is like our modern day engagement but it was more than that. The betrothed couples were considered to be husband
and wife already although they were not yet allowed to live in together. Any breach of faithfulness to each other is
considered to be adultery and punishable by stoning to death (Deut. 22:23-28).
C. Mary had been away from Joseph for about 3 months. So when Joseph had seen her pregnant, he must had been terribly
shocked.
1. He had 3 choices of what to do for Mary:
a. Stone her to death.
b. Continue to marry her.
c. Divorce her privily (this was he chose because he was a righteous man, v.19).
2. But an angel intervened and told Joseph to take Mary as his wife.
D. Notice that Matthew quoted Isa. 7:14 from the O.T. for his account.
1. Isaiah lived 740 years before Christ. This prophecy is a dual fulfillment prophecy. Applied during the time of King Ahaz
and to the virgin birth of Mary. Scholars termed this as a “reflective quotation.”
2. He prophesied two miracles, virgin birth and incarnation, which were fulfilled by our Lord.
E. After these things Joseph did not know Mary until she had given birth to Jesus.
1. Know is a euphemism for having sexual intercourse.
2. It is to be concluded that Joseph and Mary lived as a normal husband and wife after the birth of Jesus.
3. The doctrine of perpetual virginity of Mary, then, is false.

i
“the book of generations,” 
ii
The titles and names of Jesus used in Matthew: Son of David, Son of Abraham, Immanuel, Jesus, Christ, Lord, and King of the Jews