Matthew 1:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

NIV: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

NASB: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.

CSB: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,

NLT: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.

KJV: Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

NKJV: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.

Matthew opened his book by declaring that Jesus Christ—meaning Jesus the Messiah—was a son of David and a son of Abraham. It makes sense, then, that he begins his genealogy of Jesus' line with Abraham, the first of God's chosen people (Genesis 12:1–3).

Every Jewish child would have known the names of Israel's three patriarchs from their earliest days. Their stories are all told in the first book of Moses' writings called Genesis. Isaac was the long-awaited child promised by God to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:1–7). Isaac fathered the twins Esau and Jacob, but only Jacob inherited God's covenant promises for Israel (Genesis 25:21–23). Jacob fathered twelve sons by four different women (Genesis 35:23–26). Matthew traces the line of Jesus through Jacob's fourth son Judah.

Jacob's prophecy about his sons and their descendants specifically says that "the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet" (Genesis 49:10). The writer of Hebrews agrees with Matthew that "it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah" (Hebrews 7:14).

Matthew 1:1–17 begins the apostle Matthew's long Gospel with a short genealogy of Jesus Christ, beginning with Abraham. Matthew does not include every generation, but instead creates three groups of fourteen names: Abraham to King David; David to Josiah; and Jechoniah to Jesus. Matthew shows that Jesus is the direct descendant of both Abraham and David, qualifying His legal right to sit on Israel's throne. Matthew would not need to have listed the women, blatant sinners, or evil kings that he does, but the point of his Gospel is that Jesus has come to save His people from their sins. As a former tax-collector, hated by fellow Jews, this idea would have resonated strongly with Matthew.

The apostle Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy. This is meant to show that Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, making Him a legal heir to the throne of Israel. He then tells the story of Jesus' birth from the perspective of Joseph, Mary's husband. Joseph had planned to divorce the woman he was betrothed to marry, once he found out she was carrying a child that wasn't his. God interrupts this plan. An angel tells Joseph in a dream that the child is from the Holy Spirit and commands Joseph to name Him Jesus, since He will save His people from their sins. Joseph obeys.

One of the original twelve disciples, Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy and Jesus' birth. The listing of Jesus' ancestors shows how Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, but it also includes then-unlikely inclusions, such as women, blatant sinners, and evil kings. Instead of divorcing Mary, Joseph obeys God and takes her home. Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel, a term meaning ''God with us,'' is fulfilled. This sets the stage for pivotal events in Jesus' infancy, such as the arrival of wise men and the family's escape into Egypt.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.