Matthew 1:1-25

The Gospel According to St. Matthew[1]

Chapter 1

Christ is born of Mary—She conceives by the power of the Holy Ghost—Our Lord is named Jesus.

Matthew begins his gospel by giving us Joseph’s genealogy. Why? “Christianity is rooted in history. The New Testament begins with a genealogical table that most modern readers find almost incomprehensible (Matthew 1:1–17). The purpose of this genealogy is to locate the birth of Jesus in space and time according to the standards of Jewish history.”[2]

He begins with the story of Christ’s birth.

Joseph was espoused[3] to Mary. He learned she was pregnant. Matthew tell us “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18). He could have shamed her publicly; however, Joseph was a just man and he was “not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

James E. Talmadge explains Joseph’s options. “Now the Jewish law provided for the annulment of a betrothal in either of two ways—by public trial and judgment, or by private agreement attested by a written document signed in the presence of witnesses. Joseph was a just man, a strict observer of the law, yet no harsh extremist; moreover he loved Mary and would save her all unnecessary humiliation, whatever might be his own sorrow and suffering. For Mary’s sake he dreaded the thought of publicity; and therefore determined to have the espousal annulled with such privacy as the law allowed.”

While he was contemplating his options, an “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.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21).

Matthew informs us this was a fulfillment of prophesy. “Matthew was probably a thorough Jew with a wide knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures and able to see in every detail of the Lord’s life the fulfillment of prophecy. His Gospel (see Gospels) was written for the use of Jewish persons in Palestine and uses many quotations from the Old Testament. His chief object is to show that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the prophets spoke” (Bible Dictionary, Matthew).

He informs us this was a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Isaiah. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [HEB With us is God]” (Isaiah 7:14).

Having received this assurance from the angel, Joseph “took unto him his wife” (Matthew 1:24). She remained a virgin until the birth of Jesus.

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[1] JST entitles this book “The Testimony of St. Matthew

[2] Irving Hexham, The Christian Travelers Guide to Great Britain, as quoted in The FARMS Review 20/1 (2008), pgs. 241-242.

[3] Dictionary.com defines espoused – “to give (a woman) in marriage.”