Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

1:1–2:23 This account demonstrates that Jesus’ lineage and birth (ch 1), as well as the geography of his early years (ch 2), fulfilled Old Testament expectations, and that attempts to thwart God’s will do not succeed (2:1-15; see also 27:62-66).

1:1 The phrase a record of the ancestors introduces 1:1-17. A similar phrase is used in Genesis to introduce each section of that book. • Jesus . . . David . . . Abraham: These names are repeated in reverse order in the genealogy, an example of a literary form known as chiasm (arrangement of elements in mirror-image). Being identified as a descendant of David introduces Jesus as Messiah (see Matt 12:23; 22:42-45), while the connection to Abraham emphasizes God’s covenant with Israel and the extension of that covenant to include all nations (see Matt 28:16-20; Gen 12:3).

Verse 5

1:5 Rahab was the Gentile prostitute who risked her life to harbor Joshua’s two spies in Jericho (Josh 2:1-21). Her inclusion in the ancestry of the Messiah emphasizes the grace of God. Elsewhere she is commended for her faith in the God of Israel and for righteous deeds (Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25).

Verse 7

1:7 Asa (Greek Asaph): Probably the Old Testament king (1 Kgs 15:9-24; 1 Chr 3:10) and not the psalmist (Asaph; 1 Chr 6:39; 25:1-2; Pss 50, 73-83). Matthew’s focus is on the ancestral line from David to the Messiah.

Verse 8

1:8 father of (or ancestor of): The term includes several generations here (2 Chr 21:1–26:1), as it does in the case of Josiah (Matt 1:11) and Shealtiel (1:12). The genealogy omits Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah (2 Kgs 8:24; 1 Chr 3:11; 2 Chr 22:1, 11; 24:27), perhaps because of their association with Ahab and Jezebel.

Verse 11

1:11 father: Josiah was the grandfather of Jehoiachin.

Verse 12

1:12-16 Although the Old Testament is clearly the source for 1:1-11, Matthew is probably also dependent upon royal archives and oral traditions for 1:12-16.

1:12 Shealtiel: See 1 Chr 3:17-19; Ezra 3:2.

Verse 16

1:16 This genealogy is traced through Joseph, who stands in David’s line (see also study note on Luke 3:23-38).

Verse 17

1:17 Matthew states that each period has fourteen generations, but the first and third periods list only thirteen. A legitimate Jewish and Old Testament approach would count David in both the first and second groupings and include Jesus in the third grouping. This suggests that Matthew is probably stressing the gematria (letters representing numbers): The letters in the Hebrew word dawid (“David”) also add up to fourteen. Matthew is highlighting Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah (1:1).

Verse 18

1:18 Jesus the Messiah (literally Jesus the Christ): Using Messiah in the translation accurately communicates that it is a title rather than a personal name (“Jesus Christ”). • engaged to be married: In Judaism, engagement (or betrothal) meant a permanent relationship (Mal 2:14) that could be broken only by legal process; thus, Mary was considered Joseph’s wife and he her husband (see Matt 1:20; Deut 22:23-24), even though they had not had sexual relations. Mary’s status as a virgin at the time of Jesus’ conception through the power of the Holy Spirit helps authenticate Jesus’ divinity.

Verse 19

1:19 As a righteous man—that is, as one who obeyed the law (see Luke 1:6)—Joseph could not take Mary as his wife since she was a suspected adulteress. He could exonerate himself by publicly exposing Mary to trial and having her put to death (Deut 22:23-27; cp. Num 5:11-31), or pay a fine and break the engagement (see also Mishnah Sotah 1:1-5). Joseph mercifully decided to do the latter quietly.

Verse 20

1:20 The angel of the Lord declared to Joseph in a dream (see 2:12-13, 19, 22) that Mary had been neither seduced nor violated; instead, the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:34-35), who often has a creative and life-generating role (Gen 1:2; Ezek 37:1-14; John 3:5-8).

Verse 21

1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “The Lord saves.” The name appropriately describes his role: he will save his people from their sins. • His people may refer either to Israel as a nation (2:6) or to the Messiah’s people, the church, which is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles (4:15-16; 16:18; 28:18-20).

Verse 22

1:22-23 Jesus’ birth from a virgin fulfills Isa 7:14. The Hebrew term ‘almah (virgin or young maiden) was translated parthenos (“virgin”) in the Greek Old Testament that Matthew quotes. Matthew understands the ‘almah of Isaiah as foreshadowing the Virgin Mary.

Verse 25

1:25 Until probably implies that Joseph had sexual relations with Mary after the birth of Jesus. • And Joseph named him Jesus, thus showing his acceptance of the child as his own.