Tyndale Open Study NotesMatthew 1

This story shows how certain parts of the life of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. This includes:

• his family history and birth (chapter 1), and

• the places he lived as a child (chapter 2).

The story also shows how efforts to stop the plan of God do not work (2:1–15; see also 27:62–66).

• a record of the ancestors: This phrase introduces 1:1–17. A similar phrase appears in Genesis to start each section of that book.

• Jesus … David … Abraham: These names repeat in reverse order in the list of Jesus' ancestors. This is a literary form called chiasm (arrangement of elements in mirror-image). Identifying Jesus as a descendant of David introduces him as the Messiah (see Matthew 12:23; 22:42–45). The link to Abraham emphasizes God's promise to Israel and how the covenant (agreement) extends to include all nations (see Matthew 28:16–20; Genesis 12:3).

Rahab was a Gentile prostitute who risked her life to hide the two spies of Joshua in Jericho (Joshua 2:1–21). Her place in the Messiah's family tree emphasizes the grace of God. She is praised for her faith in Israel's God and her good actions (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).

Asa (Greek Asaph): this likely refers to the Old Testament king (1 Kings 15:9–24; 1 Chronicles 3:10) and not the psalmist Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:39; 25:1–2; Psalms 50, 73–83). Matthew focuses on the family line from David to the Messiah.

father of (or ancestor of): Here this term refers to multiple generations (2 Chronicles 21:1–26:1). The same is true for Josiah (Matthew 1:11) and Shealtiel (1:12). The family line skips Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah (2 Kings 8:24; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Chronicles 22:1, 11; 24:27). Perhaps this is because of their connection to Ahab and Jezebel.

father: Josiah was Jehoiachin's grandfather.

The Old Testament is clearly the source for Matthew 1:1–11. Matthew probably also used royal records and oral traditions for 1:12–16.

Shealtiel: Refer to 1 Chronicles 3:17–19 and Ezra 3:2.

This family history follows Joseph, who is part of the family line of King David (see also study note on Luke 3:23–38).

Matthew says each time period has fourteen generations. But the first and third periods list only thirteen. A traditional Jewish and Old Testament method would count King David in both the first and second groups. It would include Jesus in the third group.

This suggests Matthew is probably emphasizing the gematria (a system where letters represent numbers). The letters in the Hebrew word dawid (meaning "David") add up to fourteen. Matthew is emphasizing Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah (1:1).

• Jesus Christ (literally Jesus the Christ): Christ is not a personal name. Christ is a title that means "Messiah" or "God's chosen one."

• pledged in marriage: In Judaism, engagement (or betrothal) was a permanent relationship (Malachi 2:14). It could only end through legal action. So, by law, Mary was Joseph’s wife and he was her husband (see Matthew 1:20; Deuteronomy 22:23–24). This was true even though they had not had sexual relations. Since Mary was a virgin when the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus, it proves Jesus’ divine nature.

Joseph was a righteous man. This means he obeyed the law (see Luke 1:6). He reconsidered marrying Mary because it appeared she had committed adultery. He could have cleared his name by publicly accusing Mary. This would have led to her trial and possible execution (Deuteronomy 22:23–27; compare Numbers 5:11–31). Or he could pay a fine and end the engagement (see also Mishnah Sotah 1:1–5). Joseph chose to be kind and decided to end the engagement quietly.

The angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream (see Matthew 2:12–13, 19, 22) that no one had seduced or harmed Mary. Instead, the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34–35). The Holy Spirit often plays a creative and life-giving role (Genesis 1:2; Ezekiel 37:1–14; John 3:5–8).

• Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means "The Lord saves." This name describes his role, that he will save his people from their sins.

• His people may refer to either Israel as a nation (Matthew 2:6) or to the Messiah’s people, the church. This includes both Jews and non-Jewish (Gentile) people (4:15–16; 16:18; 28:18–20).

Jesus being born from a virgin fulfills Isaiah 7:14. The Hebrew word ‘almah can mean “virgin” or “young woman.” In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), it was translated as parthenos (“virgin”), which Matthew quotes. Matthew sees the ‘almah in Isaiah as pointing forward to the Virgin Mary.

• he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son: this might indicate that Joseph had sexual relations with Mary after Jesus was born. (Some traditions teach that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life.)

• Joseph named him Jesus, showing he accepted the child as his own.