Matthew 1: God With Us Is Born
A long line of generations narrows to one promised child who comes to save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1 (WEB)
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 the wife of Uriah.
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.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for 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.”
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.
Matthew 1 (KJV)
1 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.
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 publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
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.
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.
Matthew 1 (ASV)
1 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 Judah and his brethren;
3 and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;
4 and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon;
5 and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;
7 and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa;
8 and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah;
9 and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah;
10 and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;
11 and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.
12 And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;
13 and Zerubbabel 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 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.
18 Now 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.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But 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.
21 And 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.
22 Now all this is come to pass, 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 bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.
24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife;
25 and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.
Summary
Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, tracing fourteen generations from Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian exile, and the exile to the Christ. The list quietly includes Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah, showing God weaving his purposes through ordinary and broken human stories. The chapter then turns to Jesus' birth. Mary is found pregnant by the Holy Spirit before she and Joseph come together. Joseph, a righteous man, plans to divorce her quietly until an angel assures him in a dream that the child is from the Spirit. He is to name the boy Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. This fulfills Isaiah's promise of Immanuel, God with us. Joseph obeys.
Main Characters
- Jesus Christ — The promised son of David and son of Abraham, born to save his people from their sins.
- Joseph — A righteous man who, warned in a dream, obeys God and takes Mary as his wife.
- Mary — Jesus' mother, found with child by the Holy Spirit before she and Joseph come together.
- The angel of the Lord — God's messenger who appears to Joseph in a dream and explains the child's identity and name.
Key Verse
Matthew 1:21 (WEB)
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.”
Lessons Learned
- God works out his saving plan patiently across many generations and imperfect people.
- Jesus' very name declares his mission: he comes to save his people from their sins.
- Real righteousness, like Joseph's, listens to God and obeys even at personal cost.
- In Jesus, God himself draws near to us as Immanuel, God with us.
- God keeps his promises across the long arc of history. Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1, WEB), showing every generation leading to the promised Christ.
- Grace runs through broken and unlikely lives. The line includes Perez by Tamar, Boaz by Rahab, Obed by Ruth, and Solomon by the wife of Uriah (Matthew 1:3, 5-6, WEB), proof that God redeems messy human stories.
- Jesus came with a clear saving purpose. The angel says, 'You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21, WEB).
- True righteousness obeys God's word. Joseph, a righteous man, 'did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself' (Matthew 1:24, WEB).
- In Christ, God himself is with us. The prophecy is fulfilled, 'They shall call his name Immanuel,' which is interpreted 'God with us' (Matthew 1:23, WEB).
- What three sets of fourteen generations does Matthew trace, and why might he begin with David and Abraham?
- Which unexpected people appear in the genealogy, and what does their inclusion suggest about God's grace?
- How does Joseph respond when he learns of Mary's pregnancy, both before and after the angel's word?
- What does the meaning of the names Jesus and Immanuel teach us about who this child is?
- Where in your own life is God asking you to trust and obey him before you fully understand his plan?
- Matthew traces Abraham to David, David to the exile to Babylon, and the exile to the Christ, each fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17). Beginning with David and Abraham roots Jesus in God's covenant promises of a king and a blessing to all nations.
- Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah appear in verses 3, 5, and 6. Their inclusion, with their painful or foreign histories, shows that God's saving plan reaches through outsiders and broken situations by grace.
- Before the angel speaks, Joseph plans to put Mary away secretly, unwilling to shame her (1:19). After the dream he obeys fully, taking her as his wife and naming the child Jesus (1:24-25). His righteousness is gentle and obedient.
- Jesus means the Lord saves; he will save his people from their sins (1:21). Immanuel means God with us (1:23). Together they declare that this child is God come near to rescue. Invite the group to dwell on both names.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to share where obedience precedes understanding. As leader, encourage honesty and point back to Joseph's quiet trust, and avoid pressing anyone to share more than they wish.