Matthew 1King James Version
The opening of the New Testament. A genealogy from Abraham through David to Joseph, husband of Mary. Forty two generations laid out in three sections of fourteen. Then the announcement: an angel comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him not to fear taking Mary as his wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. He shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew opens with a genealogy tracing Jesus from Abraham through David to Joseph. Forty-two generations in three sets of fourteen anchor Jesus in Israel's entire history. Then the birth narrative: Mary is found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, righteous and merciful, plans a quiet divorce. An angel redirects him, and he takes Mary as his wife. The child is named Jesus, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel.
Jesus arrives at the end of a long genealogical story, inheriting every promise made to Abraham and David, and his very name declares what he came to do.
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." The entire chapter builds to this: the long list of names collapses into one face, and that face is God present.
Jewish readers in the first century knew exactly what a genealogy meant. It was a legal document of belonging. By beginning here, Matthew files the paperwork before saying another word. Every name on the list is contested history: exile, failure, survival. Jesus walks out of all of it.
Abraham and David, the two anchors of the genealogy; Mary, the mother; Joseph, the just and quietly merciful man who obeys the angel; Jesus, whose name means God saves.
Written for a Jewish audience, Matthew's opening move is to prove Jesus belongs. The genealogy is a credential, not a formality. Including Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba in a patriarchal list signals that outsiders and complicated stories are part of the Messiah's line from the start.
For when you feel like you come from the wrong family, or your past disqualifies you. The bloodline Matthew traces includes swindlers, foreigners, and people who barely survived their own mistakes.
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So 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.
18Now 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.
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20But 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.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, 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.
24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.