The Bible — World English Bible

Matthew 1

In brief

Matthew 1 opens the New Testament with a genealogy: Jesus is presented as the son of David and of Abraham, the one toward whom the story of Israel was leading. Some unexpected women, such as Rahab and Ruth, appear in this line. Then Matthew tells the birth of Jesus from Joseph's side, troubled by Mary's pregnancy, to whom an angel says not to be afraid. The child will save his people from their sins and fulfills the promise of Immanuel: God with us.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-17The genealogy of Jesus, son of David and of Abraham
  2. v. 18-19Joseph's dilemma over Mary's pregnancy
  3. v. 20-21The angel in a dream: do not be afraid, he will save his people
  4. v. 22-23The promise of Immanuel is fulfilled
  5. v. 24-25Joseph obeys and names the child Jesus

1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.

3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.

4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.

5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.

6Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.

7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.

8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.

9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.

10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.

11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.

14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.

15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.

16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

Key verses

Verse 1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew introduces Jesus right away through two great promises: he is the son of David, the expected king, and the son of Abraham, the one in whom all nations will be blessed.

Verse 5
Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.

Rahab and Ruth, two women who came from elsewhere, appear in the line of the Messiah. This detail reminds us that God's grace does not stop at a person's origins or past.

Verse 20
But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

The angel addresses Joseph by his title, son of David, and tells him not to be afraid. Obeying God often begins with a call to move beyond fear and incomprehension.

Verse 21
She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

The name Jesus means the Lord saves. The verse states the child's mission: to save from sin, and not only from outward difficulties.

Verse 23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

Matthew ties the birth of Jesus to a prophetic promise. Immanuel, God with us, is the heart of Christmas: God does not stay at a distance, he enters human history.

Bible verses to meditate on

Characters in this chapter

What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Matthew 1

Why does Matthew begin with a genealogy?

For a Jewish reader, the genealogy establishes that Jesus is truly the promised Messiah: descended from David for the kingship, from Abraham for the blessing of the nations. Matthew arranges it in three series of fourteen generations. He also includes women, among them Rahab and Ruth, which underlines that God welcomes people from every background into his plan.

What does the name Immanuel mean in Matthew 1:23?

Immanuel means “God with us,” as the text itself explains. Matthew quotes the promise of Isaiah 7:14 to say that in Jesus, God is present among his people. The gospel also ends with a promise of presence, which frames the whole account.

What does it mean that Jesus saves his people from their sins?

The name Jesus points to the idea that the Lord saves. Verse 21 says from what: from sin, its guilt and its power. This is the central announcement of the gospel: Jesus does not come only to teach, he comes to set free.

Articles quoting Matthew 1

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World English Bible translation — public domain.