Matthew 1

Audio/Video podcast covering Matthew 1:
https://soundcloud.com/walking-as-christ/matthew-1-the-body
https://youtu.be/IMiQJVHcoTk

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

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

7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

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

13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

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

17 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.


It is a blessing to have the detailed account of the genealogy of Christ within the first chapter of the New Testament/covenant. The Jews know the Christ/Messiah was to come as the King anointed by God and here in the first chapter of the New Testament we have the break down proving that Jesus is that Christ or Messiah to come.


Verse 17 puts a significance on the number 14. Throughout the Bible we see many numbers that are repeated continually. Three, seven, 14 (here), and others.


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.

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



It is so important for us to realize that Mary and Joseph (the earthly Dad of Jesus) were essentially already married, but they had not had sexual intercourse yet, per their custom.
Joseph expecting his wife to be a virgin was likely extremely distraught to find his wife already pregnant. Per the law, Mary could have been put to death for this(adultery). Instead Joseph was a just(righteous) man and did not make a public example of his bride. He was planning to instead privately divorce her(as would have been likely permitted by the Law).

 

Joseph and Mary already agreed to be married and he has not yet had sexual intercourse with her, but now she is pregnant! It had to be humiliating to him to think she was his wife and she slept with another man and he hasn’t slept with her himself at all. It had to take a righteous man to have Grace enough not to make a public example of her and instead to simply quietly divorce. #UnmeritedFavor

20 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.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.



Verse 20 is where everything gets clear!

The angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream referencing Joseph as the son of David(very significant). The Angel letting Joseph know, not to fear taking Mary as his wife. That angel let Joseph know that the baby growing in her is of the Holy Ghost.
-This child is from the Lord! Remove your own thoughts that led you to believe that your spouse has be unfaithful!



The Angel instructed Joseph to name the child JESUS! The Angel prophesied that this child Jesus will save His people from their sins!


22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 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.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.



Verse 22 and 23 let us know this was all already prophesied that a virgin will bring a child and they shall call his name Emmanuel (God with us).
So the Word of God is letting us know that Jesus will be called by the people “God with us”. Jesus is exactly that! He came to earth and was the human likeness of God among men. He was guilty of no sin, He gave guidance to the people More perfectly of the Will of the Father, He corrected so many of men’s errors that they misunderstood from the Old Testament Law, He exposed even the most seemingly Holy men’s hypocrisy, He brought True salvation to the World, made access between men and God the Father, Jesus was indeed “God with us”! As some would refer to Him, the God man!
-The very beautiful thing about this, is that it was all foretold before he was even born!

“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 ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 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, Counsellor, 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.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:2-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬



Joseph obeyed God and stayed with His wife and named the child Jesus, his obedience produced an incalculable reward for all mankind. Let us always obey God even when in the natural it may not make sense, this is indeed the Righteous/Just way. Amen.