Bible History
Picture Study Bible with Maps and Background Information
20. But while he thought on these things--Who would not feel for him
after receiving such intelligence, and before receiving any light from
above? As he brooded over the matter alone, in the stillness of the
night, his domestic prospects darkened and his happiness blasted for
life, his mind slowly making itself up to the painful step, yet planning
how to do it in the way least offensive--at the last extremity the Lord
Himself interposes.
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
Joseph thou son of David--This style of address was doubtless advisedly
chosen to remind him of what all the families of David's line so early
coveted, and thus it would prepare him for the marvellous announcement
which was to follow.
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Ghost--Though a dark cloud now overhangs this
relationship, it is unsullied still.
JFB.
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".
Next the Visit from the Magi