Matthew 1 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Matthew) Free Bible Online

Matthew 1

1 - The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 - Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.

3 - Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.

4 - Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.

5 - Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.

6 - Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah's wife.

7 - Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.

8 - Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.

9 - Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.

10 - Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.

11 - Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 - After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

13 - Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.

14 - Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.

15 - Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.

16 - Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 - So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

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18 - Now the birth of JesusChrist was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

19 - Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

20 - But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 - She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."

22 - Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23 - "Behold, the virgin shall be with child,and shall give birth to a son.They shall call his name Immanuel";which is, being interpreted, "God with us."Isaiah 7:14

24 - Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

25 - and didn't know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

Brief Summary: Matthew chapter one traces the genealogy or lineage of Jesus through Joseph and Mary back to Abraham. Matthew chapter one also talks about the birth of Jesus, and the struggle of Joseph about Mary's pregnancy and the angel appearing to him in a dream encouraging him to not be afraid to marry Mary. Matthew attributes all this to the fulfillment of Scripture in Isaiah.

Detailed Summary: Matthew chapter one reveals a detailed genealogy of Jesus tracing his ancestry from Abraham the first Hebrew down through Joseph, his legal father. He begins by calling Jesus the Son of David, who was the greatest king of Israel, making this a royal descent and proving Jesus to be the king of the Jews.  Matthew  goes on and records His virgin birth having been conceived by the Holy Spirit. He had no human father by blood but He was the Son of God by blood descent. Joseph was considering what he should do regarding her pregnancy and an angel appeared to him in a dream calling him son of David, and encouraging him that all that happened was true and to be strong and marry her. He was to name his son Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins. Matthew is quick to mention that the virgin birth of Christ was in direct fulfillment of the Word of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14. Joseph did as was commanded him and knew her not until after she gave birth to her firstborn Son and called His name Jesus.

Key Concept: Jesus was the virgin born king by royal descent and Son of God with no human father by blood (Matthew 1:18)

Key Verses:
Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:18 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.
Matthew 1:20-21 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.

Important Related Verses:
2 Samuel 7:11-13 Also the LORD telleth David that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Interesting Notes:
Matthew mentions four women in his genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheeba who were all associated with some sort of immorality. Tamar (incest), Rahab (harlotry), Ruth (a descendant of Moab who committed incest) and Bathsheba (adultery). Christ's greatness was in Himself not his geneaology.
Women were never mentioned in Jewish genealogies.
Matthew begins the genealogy by calling Jesus the Son of David making it a royal genealogy because Jesus is the King and rightful heir to David's throne. This could not have happened through Mary's genealogy alone.
Matthew's genealogy proves Jesus was the Son of Abraham. God promised that Abraham's "seed" would bless the whole world.
All the Jewish genealogical records were lost in the first century with the destruction of the Temple. No Jew today could rightfully claim to be a descended of king David.
There is no example of history that records such a historical genealogy. There is no logical explanation except that God prepared the Jewish people, and their scrupulous keeping of genealogical records, to preserve an accurate account which His Son would make an entrance into this world.
Matthew divides the Old Testament from Abraham to Jesus as three 14 generation periods. Numerically the number of David (dvd) in Hebrew is 14.
Jesus had no human father by blood making him the last Adam, the Son of God.
Matthew records that Joseph did not have intercourse with Mary until after she gave birth to Jesus. This could indicate that Joseph and Mary had other children.
One scholar said, "Jesus had a sinless human nature joined to deity."
The name Jesus means Yahweh is Salvation.

The Dream of St. Joseph by Rembrandt
 

The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus" would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A). Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means "The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".

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