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Genealogy
New American Standard Bible
Matthew 1:1
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:2
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 1:3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Matthew 1:4
Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
Matthew 1:5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
Matthew 1:6
Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.
Matthew 1:7
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
Matthew 1:8
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.
Matthew 1:9
Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Matthew 1:10
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.
Matthew 1:11
Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
Matthew 1:12
After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.
Matthew 1:13
Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.
Matthew 1:14
Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.
Matthew 1:15
Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.
Matthew 1:16
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 1:17
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:19
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
Matthew 1:20
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:21
She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:22
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
Matthew 1:23
“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Matthew 1:24
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
Matthew 1:25
but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Cross References
Matthew 1:1: 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:3; 132:11; Isaiah 9:6; 11:1; Matthew 9:27; Luke 1:32, 69; John 7:42; Acts 13:23; Romans 1:3; Revelation 22:16; Luke 3:32-34; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16; Matthew 1:3: Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chronicles 2:1-15; Matthew 1:3-6; Matthew 1:6: 2 Sam 11:27; 12:24; Matthew 1:7: 1 Chronicles 3:10; Matthew 1:10: 1 Chronicles 3:14; Matthew 1:11: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matthew 1:17; Matthew 1:12: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matt 1:17; Matthew 1:16: Matthew 27:17, 22; Luke 2:11; John 4:25; Matthew 1:17: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matt 1:11, 12; 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matthew 1:11, 12; Matthew 1:18: Matthew 12:46; Luke 1:27; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:19: Deuteronomy 22:20-24; 24:1-4; John 8:4, 5; Matthew 1:20: Luke 2:4; Matthew 1:21: Luke 1:31; 2:21; Luke 2:11; John 1:29; Acts 4:12; 5:31; 13:23, 38, 39; Colossians 1:20-23; Matthew 1:22: Luke 24:44; Romans 1:2-4; Matthew 1:23: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Isaiah 8:10; Matthew 1:25: Luke 2:7; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:21
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Angel
A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a messenger, and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger, of prophets, of priests, and ministers of the New Testament. It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence, the wind. But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world.
The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre, to Jacob at Peniel, to Joshua at Gilgal, of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation," revelations before the fullness of the time of the Son of God.
The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages.
These superior beings are very numerous. Thousand thousands. They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power. As to their nature, they are spirits, like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as like the angels, and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form, and the titles that are applied to them and to men, seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures.
As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of fallen angels. Of the cause and manner of their fall we are wholly ignorant. We know only that they left their first estate, and that they are reserved unto judgement.
When the manna is called angels food, this is merely to denote its excellence. Angels never die. They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power. They are called holy. The redeemed in glory are like unto the angels. They are not to be worshipped. Their functions are manifold. In the widest sense they are agents of God's providence.
They are specially God's agents in carrying on his great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth.
They appear to rebuke idolatry, to call Gideon, and to consecrate Samson. In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf. The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels.
They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent, minister to him after his temptation and agony, and declare his resurrection and ascension. They are now ministering spirits to the people of God. They rejoice over a penitent sinner. They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise; and they will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day. The passages usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a particular guardian angel have no such meaning.
They merely indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples. The angel of his presence is probably rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel.
Betroth
To promise by one's truth. Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed. The term is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people.
Brother
Natural and common sense. A near relation, a cousin. Simply a fellow countryman. A disciple or follower. One of the same faith; whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren. A colleague in office. A fellow man.
United with another in affection. Brethren of Jesus were probably the younger children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister, and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the most natural.
Divination
It is the false prophets of the Philistine priests; in addition to, the diviners of Balaam. Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezekiel, by arrows, consulting with images, and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed.
The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines. At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations.
This superstition widely spread, and in the time of the apostles there were vagabond Jews, exorcists and men like Simon Magus, Bar-jesus, and other jugglers and impostors. Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses. But beyond these various forms of superstition, there are instances of divination on record in the Scriptures by which God was pleased to make known his will. There was divination by lot, by which, when resorted to in matters of moment, and with solemnity, God intimated his will. Canaan is divided.
Achan's guilt was detected, Saul was elected king, and Matthias chosen to the apostleship, by the solemn lot. It was thus also that the scapegoat was determined. There was divination by dreams. This is illustrated in the history of Joseph and of Daniel.
By divine appointment there was also divination by the Urim and Thummim, and by the ephod. God was pleased sometimes to vouch safe direct vocal communications to men. He also communed with men from above the mercy seat, and at the door of the tabernacle. Through his prophets God revealed himself, and gave intimations of his will.
Dream
God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob, Laban, Joseph, Gideon, and Solomon. Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech, Pharaoh's chief butler and baker, Pharaoh, the Midianites, Nebuchadnezzar, the wise men from the east, and Pilate's wife.
Emmanuel
God with us.
Generation
These are the generations means the history. The book of the generations means a family register, or history of Adam. The generations of Jacob is the history of Jacob and his descendants. In this generation is in this age.
The generation of his fathers is the dwelling of his fathers, the grave. The generation of thy children is the contemporary race. Who shall declare his generation? is His manner of life shall declare His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.
The word means a succession or series of persons from the same stock. Generation of vipers is brood of vipers. This generation ia the persons then living contemporary with Christ. A chosen generation is a chosen people. The Hebrews reckoned time by the generation. In the time of Abraham a generation was an hundred years, In the fourth generation is in 400 years. A generation is a period of 38 years.
Husband
The house band, connecting and keeping together the whole family. A man when betrothed was esteemed from that time a husband. A recently married man was exempt from going to war for one year.
Jesse
Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David. The phrase stem of Jesse is used for the family of David, and root of Jesse for the Messiah. Jesse was a man apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem. The last reference to him is of David's procuring for him an asylum with the king of Moab.
Jesus
Joshua is the son of Nun. A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus. Jesus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus the son of Joseph.
This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea but changed by Moses into Jehoshua or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save.
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods. That of his private life, till he was about thirty years of age and that of his public life, which lasted about three years. In the fullness of time he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. His birth was announced to the shepherds.
Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born King of the Jews, bringing gifts with them. Herod's cruel jealousy led to Joseph's flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this king, when they returned and settled in Nazareth.
At the age of 12 years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents. There, in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 18 years pass, of which we have no record beyond this that he returned to Nazareth and "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
He entered on his public ministry when he was about 30 years of age. It is generally reckoned to have extended to about three years. "Each of these years had peculiar features of its own. The first year may be called the year of obscurity, both because the records of which we possess are very scanty, and because he seems during it to have been only slowly emerging into public notice.
It was spent for the most part in Judea. The second year was the year of public favor, during which the country had become thoroughly aware of him; his activity was incessant, and his frame rang through the length and breadth of the land. It was almost wholly passed in Galilee.
The third was the year of opposition, when the public favor ebbed away. His enemies multiplied and assailed him with more and more pertinacity, and at last he fell a victim to their hatred. The first six months of this final year were passed in Galilee, and the last six in other parts of the land. The only reliable sources of information regarding the life of Christ on earth are the Gospels, which present in historical detail the words and the work of Christ in so many different aspects.
Judas
The form of Judah. The patriarch. Son of Simon, surnamed Iscariot. His name is uniformly the last in the list of the apostles, as given in the synoptic Gospels. The evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself until Satan entered into him, and he betrayed our Lord.
Afterwards he owned his sin with an exceeding bitter cry, and cast the money he had received as the wages of his iniquity down on the floor of the sanctuary, and departed and went and hanged himself. He perished in his guilt, and went unto his own place. The statement in Acts that he fell headlong and burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
The suicide first hanged himself, perhaps over the valley of Hinnom, and the rope giving way, or the branch to which he hung breaking, he fell down headlong on his face, and was crushed and mangled on the rocky pavement below.
Why such a man was chosen to be an apostle we know not, but it is written that Jesus knew from the beginning who should betray him. Nor can any answer be satisfactorily given to the question as to the motives that led Judas to betray his Master. Of the motives that have been assigned we need not care to fix on any one as that which simply led him on.
Crime is, for the most part, the result of a 100 motives rushing with bewildering fury through the mind of the criminal. A Jew of Damascus, to whose house Ananias was sent. The street called Straight in which it was situated is identified with the modern street of bazaars, where is still pointed out the so called house of Judas. A Christian teacher, surnamed Barsabas. He was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas with the decision of the council. He was a prophet and a chief man among the brethren.
Mary
Hebrew Miriam. The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the Virgin Mary, though never so designated in Scripture. Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron. While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah.
After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was living with her husband Zacharias, in the neighborhood of Maon, at a considerable distance, about 100 miles, from Nazareth. Immediately on entering the house she was saluted by Elisabeth as the mother of her Lord, and then forthwith gave utterance to her hymn of thanksgiving.
After three months Mary returned to Nazareth to her own home. Joseph was supernaturally made aware of her condition, and took her to his own home. Soon after this the decree of Augustus required that they should proceed to Bethlehem, some 80 or 90 miles from Nazareth; and while they were there they found shelter in the inn or khan provided for strangers.
But as the inn was crowded, Mary had to retire to a place among the cattle, and there she brought forth her son, who was called Jesus, because he was to save his people from their sins. This was followed by the presentation in the temple, the flight into Egypt, and their return in the following year and residence at Nazareth. There for 30 years Mary, the wife of Joseph the carpenter, resides, filling her own humble sphere, and pondering over the strange things that had happened to her.
During these years only one event in the history of Jesus is recorded, his going up to Jerusalem when 12 years of age, and his being found among the doctors in the temple. Probably also during this period Joseph died, for he is not again mentioned.
After the commencement of our Lord's public ministry little notice is taken of Mary. She was present at the marriage in Cana. A year and a half after this we find her at Capernaum, where Christ uttered the memorable words, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
The next time we find her is at the cross along with her sister Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and Salome, and other women. From that hour John took her to his own abode. She was with the little company in the upper room after the Ascension. From this time she wholly disappears from public notice. The time and manner of her death are unknown.
Mary Magdalene, Mary of Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. She is for the first time noticed as one of the women who ministered to Christ of their substance. Their motive was that of gratitude for deliverances he had wrought for them. Out of Mary were cast seven demons. Gratitude to her great Deliverer prompted her to become his follower. These women accompanied him also on his last journey to Jerusalem. They stood near the cross.
There Mary remained till all was over, and the body was taken down and laid in Joseph's tomb. Again, in the earliest dawn of the first day of the week she, with Salome and Mary the mother of James, came to the sepulchre, bringing with them sweet spices, that they might anoint the body of Jesus.
They found the sepulchre empty, but saw the vision of angels. She hastens to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this time, and again immediately returns to the sepulchre. There she lingers thoughtfully, weeping at the door of the tomb.
The risen Lord appears to her, but at first she knows him not. His utterance of her name Mary recalls her to consciousness, and she utters the joyful, reverent cry, Rabboni. She would fain cling to him, but he forbids her, saying, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.
This is the last record regarding Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem. The idea that this Mary was the woman who was a sinner, or that she was unchaste, is altogether groundless. Mary the sister of Lazarus is brought to our notice in connection with the visits of our Lord to Bethany. She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was cumbered about many things while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen the good part.
Her character also appears in connection with the death of her brother. On the occasion of our Lord's last visit to Bethany, Mary brought a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus" as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a leper.
This was an evidence of her overflowing love to the Lord. Nothing is known of her subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary's, and from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault, and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to condole with them on the death of Lazarus, that this family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.
Peter
The question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the weight of evidence is wholly in favor of its claim to be the production of the apostle whose name it bears. It appears to have been written shortly before the apostle's death.
This epistle contains eleven references to the Old Testament. It also contains a remarkable reference to Paul's epistles. A few years ago, among other documents, a parchment fragment, called the Gospel of Peter, was discovered in a Christian tomb at Akhmim in Upper Egypt.
Origen, 254 AD, Eusebius, and Jerome refer to such a work, and hence it has been concluded that it was probably written about the middle of the second century. It professes to give a history of our Lord's resurrection and ascension.
While differing in not a few particulars from the canonical Gospels, the writer shows plainly that he was with the synoptics and with the Gospel of John. Though apocryphal, it is of considerable value as showing that the main facts of the history of our Lord were then widely known.
Rahab
Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt, as the proud one. Rahab. When the Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, in the Arabah or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to spy the land.
After five days they returned, having swum across the river, which at this season, the month Abib, overflowed its banks from the melting of the snow on Lebanon. The spies reported how it had fared with them. They had been exposed to danger in Jericho, and had been saved by the fidelity of Rahab the harlot, to whose house they had gone for protection.
When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. She afterwards became the wife of Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah. Rahab's being asked to bring out the spies to the soldiers sent for them, is in strict keeping with Eastern manners, which would not permit any man to enter a woman's house without her permission.
The fact of her covering the spies with bundles of flax which lay on her house roof is an undesigned coincidence which strictly corroborates the narrative. It was the time of the barley harvest, and flax and barley are ripe at the same time in the Jordan valley, so that the bundles of flax stalks might have been expected to be drying just then.
Ruth
A friend, a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab. On the death of Elimelech and Mahlon, Naomi came with Ruth, her daughter-in-law, who refused to leave her, to Bethlehem, the old home from which Elimelech had migrated.
There she had a rich relative, Boaz, to whom Ruth was eventually married. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David. Thus Ruth, a Gentile, is among the maternal progenitors of our Lord.
The story of the gleaner Ruth illustrates the friendly relations between the good Boaz and his reapers, the Jewish land system, the method of transferring property from one person to another, the working of the Mosaic law for the relief of distressed and ruined families; but, above all, handing down the unselfishness, the brave love, the unshaken trustfulness of her who, though not of the chosen race, was, like the Canaanitess Tamar and the Canaanitess Rahab, privileged to become the ancestress of David, and so of great David's greater Son.
Zerubbabel
The seed of Babylon, the son of Salathiel or Shealtiel; called also the son of Pedaiah, according to a frequent usage of the word son; the grandson or the nephew of Salathiel.
He is also known by the Persian name of Sheshbazzar. In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, he led the first band of Jews, numbering 42,360, exclusive of a large number of servants, who returned from captivity at the close of the seventy years.
In the second year after the Return, he erected an altar and laid the foundation of the temple on the ruins of that which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. All through the work he occupied a prominent place, inasmuch as he was a descendant of the royal line of David.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The genealogy of Jesus. Concerning this genealogy of our Savior, observe the chief intention. It is not a needless genealogy. It is not a vain glorious one, as those of great men often are. It proves that our Lord Jesus is of the nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. The promise of the blessing was made to Abraham and his seed; of the dominion, to David and his seed.
It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him; and to David that he should descend from him; and, therefore, unless Jesus is a son of David, and a son of Abraham, he is not the Messiah. Now this is here proved from well known records.
When the Son of God was pleased to take our nature, he came near to us, in our fallen, wretched condition; but he was perfectly free from sin: and while we read the names in his genealogy, we should not forget how low the Lord of glory stooped to save the human race.
An angel appears to Joseph. Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honors of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into.
It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide.
God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Savior of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Savior.
Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter.
Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute.
By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.
Matthew 1:1
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:2
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 1:3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Matthew 1:4
Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
Matthew 1:5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
Matthew 1:6
Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.
Matthew 1:7
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
Matthew 1:8
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.
Matthew 1:9
Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Matthew 1:10
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.
Matthew 1:11
Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
Matthew 1:12
After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.
Matthew 1:13
Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.
Matthew 1:14
Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.
Matthew 1:15
Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.
Matthew 1:16
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Matthew 1:17
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:19
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
Matthew 1:20
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:21
She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:22
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
Matthew 1:23
“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Matthew 1:24
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
Matthew 1:25
but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Cross References
Matthew 1:1: 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:3; 132:11; Isaiah 9:6; 11:1; Matthew 9:27; Luke 1:32, 69; John 7:42; Acts 13:23; Romans 1:3; Revelation 22:16; Luke 3:32-34; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16; Matthew 1:3: Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chronicles 2:1-15; Matthew 1:3-6; Matthew 1:6: 2 Sam 11:27; 12:24; Matthew 1:7: 1 Chronicles 3:10; Matthew 1:10: 1 Chronicles 3:14; Matthew 1:11: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matthew 1:17; Matthew 1:12: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matt 1:17; Matthew 1:16: Matthew 27:17, 22; Luke 2:11; John 4:25; Matthew 1:17: 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matt 1:11, 12; 2 Kings 24:14; Jeremiah 27:20; Matthew 1:11, 12; Matthew 1:18: Matthew 12:46; Luke 1:27; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:19: Deuteronomy 22:20-24; 24:1-4; John 8:4, 5; Matthew 1:20: Luke 2:4; Matthew 1:21: Luke 1:31; 2:21; Luke 2:11; John 1:29; Acts 4:12; 5:31; 13:23, 38, 39; Colossians 1:20-23; Matthew 1:22: Luke 24:44; Romans 1:2-4; Matthew 1:23: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Isaiah 8:10; Matthew 1:25: Luke 2:7; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:21
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Angel
A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a messenger, and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger, of prophets, of priests, and ministers of the New Testament. It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence, the wind. But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world.
The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre, to Jacob at Peniel, to Joshua at Gilgal, of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, "foreshadowings of the incarnation," revelations before the fullness of the time of the Son of God.
The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages.
These superior beings are very numerous. Thousand thousands. They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power. As to their nature, they are spirits, like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as like the angels, and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form, and the titles that are applied to them and to men, seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures.
As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of fallen angels. Of the cause and manner of their fall we are wholly ignorant. We know only that they left their first estate, and that they are reserved unto judgement.
When the manna is called angels food, this is merely to denote its excellence. Angels never die. They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power. They are called holy. The redeemed in glory are like unto the angels. They are not to be worshipped. Their functions are manifold. In the widest sense they are agents of God's providence.
They are specially God's agents in carrying on his great work of redemption. There is no notice of angelic appearances to man till after the call of Abraham. From that time onward there are frequent references to their ministry on earth.
They appear to rebuke idolatry, to call Gideon, and to consecrate Samson. In the days of the prophets, from Samuel downward, the angels appear only in their behalf. The Incarnation introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels.
They come with their Lord to earth to do him service while here. They predict his advent, minister to him after his temptation and agony, and declare his resurrection and ascension. They are now ministering spirits to the people of God. They rejoice over a penitent sinner. They bear the souls of the redeemed to paradise; and they will be the ministers of judgement hereafter on the great day. The passages usually referred to in support of the idea that every individual has a particular guardian angel have no such meaning.
They merely indicate that God employs the ministry of angels to deliver his people from affliction and danger, and that the angels do not think it below their dignity to minister even to children and to the least among Christ's disciples. The angel of his presence is probably rightly interpreted of the Messiah as the guide of his people. Others have supposed the expression to refer to Gabriel.
Betroth
To promise by one's truth. Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed. The term is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people.
Brother
Natural and common sense. A near relation, a cousin. Simply a fellow countryman. A disciple or follower. One of the same faith; whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren. A colleague in office. A fellow man.
United with another in affection. Brethren of Jesus were probably the younger children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister, and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the most natural.
Divination
It is the false prophets of the Philistine priests; in addition to, the diviners of Balaam. Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezekiel, by arrows, consulting with images, and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed.
The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines. At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and Arabia into the land of Israel, and pursued their occupations.
This superstition widely spread, and in the time of the apostles there were vagabond Jews, exorcists and men like Simon Magus, Bar-jesus, and other jugglers and impostors. Every species and degree of this superstition was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses. But beyond these various forms of superstition, there are instances of divination on record in the Scriptures by which God was pleased to make known his will. There was divination by lot, by which, when resorted to in matters of moment, and with solemnity, God intimated his will. Canaan is divided.
Achan's guilt was detected, Saul was elected king, and Matthias chosen to the apostleship, by the solemn lot. It was thus also that the scapegoat was determined. There was divination by dreams. This is illustrated in the history of Joseph and of Daniel.
By divine appointment there was also divination by the Urim and Thummim, and by the ephod. God was pleased sometimes to vouch safe direct vocal communications to men. He also communed with men from above the mercy seat, and at the door of the tabernacle. Through his prophets God revealed himself, and gave intimations of his will.
Dream
God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob, Laban, Joseph, Gideon, and Solomon. Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech, Pharaoh's chief butler and baker, Pharaoh, the Midianites, Nebuchadnezzar, the wise men from the east, and Pilate's wife.
Emmanuel
God with us.
Generation
These are the generations means the history. The book of the generations means a family register, or history of Adam. The generations of Jacob is the history of Jacob and his descendants. In this generation is in this age.
The generation of his fathers is the dwelling of his fathers, the grave. The generation of thy children is the contemporary race. Who shall declare his generation? is His manner of life shall declare His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.
The word means a succession or series of persons from the same stock. Generation of vipers is brood of vipers. This generation ia the persons then living contemporary with Christ. A chosen generation is a chosen people. The Hebrews reckoned time by the generation. In the time of Abraham a generation was an hundred years, In the fourth generation is in 400 years. A generation is a period of 38 years.
Husband
The house band, connecting and keeping together the whole family. A man when betrothed was esteemed from that time a husband. A recently married man was exempt from going to war for one year.
Jesse
Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David. The phrase stem of Jesse is used for the family of David, and root of Jesse for the Messiah. Jesse was a man apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem. The last reference to him is of David's procuring for him an asylum with the king of Moab.
Jesus
Joshua is the son of Nun. A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus. Jesus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus the son of Joseph.
This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Hoshea but changed by Moses into Jehoshua or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save.
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods. That of his private life, till he was about thirty years of age and that of his public life, which lasted about three years. In the fullness of time he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. His birth was announced to the shepherds.
Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born King of the Jews, bringing gifts with them. Herod's cruel jealousy led to Joseph's flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this king, when they returned and settled in Nazareth.
At the age of 12 years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents. There, in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 18 years pass, of which we have no record beyond this that he returned to Nazareth and "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
He entered on his public ministry when he was about 30 years of age. It is generally reckoned to have extended to about three years. "Each of these years had peculiar features of its own. The first year may be called the year of obscurity, both because the records of which we possess are very scanty, and because he seems during it to have been only slowly emerging into public notice.
It was spent for the most part in Judea. The second year was the year of public favor, during which the country had become thoroughly aware of him; his activity was incessant, and his frame rang through the length and breadth of the land. It was almost wholly passed in Galilee.
The third was the year of opposition, when the public favor ebbed away. His enemies multiplied and assailed him with more and more pertinacity, and at last he fell a victim to their hatred. The first six months of this final year were passed in Galilee, and the last six in other parts of the land. The only reliable sources of information regarding the life of Christ on earth are the Gospels, which present in historical detail the words and the work of Christ in so many different aspects.
Judas
The form of Judah. The patriarch. Son of Simon, surnamed Iscariot. His name is uniformly the last in the list of the apostles, as given in the synoptic Gospels. The evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself until Satan entered into him, and he betrayed our Lord.
Afterwards he owned his sin with an exceeding bitter cry, and cast the money he had received as the wages of his iniquity down on the floor of the sanctuary, and departed and went and hanged himself. He perished in his guilt, and went unto his own place. The statement in Acts that he fell headlong and burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
The suicide first hanged himself, perhaps over the valley of Hinnom, and the rope giving way, or the branch to which he hung breaking, he fell down headlong on his face, and was crushed and mangled on the rocky pavement below.
Why such a man was chosen to be an apostle we know not, but it is written that Jesus knew from the beginning who should betray him. Nor can any answer be satisfactorily given to the question as to the motives that led Judas to betray his Master. Of the motives that have been assigned we need not care to fix on any one as that which simply led him on.
Crime is, for the most part, the result of a 100 motives rushing with bewildering fury through the mind of the criminal. A Jew of Damascus, to whose house Ananias was sent. The street called Straight in which it was situated is identified with the modern street of bazaars, where is still pointed out the so called house of Judas. A Christian teacher, surnamed Barsabas. He was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas with the decision of the council. He was a prophet and a chief man among the brethren.
Mary
Hebrew Miriam. The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the Virgin Mary, though never so designated in Scripture. Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron. While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah.
After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was living with her husband Zacharias, in the neighborhood of Maon, at a considerable distance, about 100 miles, from Nazareth. Immediately on entering the house she was saluted by Elisabeth as the mother of her Lord, and then forthwith gave utterance to her hymn of thanksgiving.
After three months Mary returned to Nazareth to her own home. Joseph was supernaturally made aware of her condition, and took her to his own home. Soon after this the decree of Augustus required that they should proceed to Bethlehem, some 80 or 90 miles from Nazareth; and while they were there they found shelter in the inn or khan provided for strangers.
But as the inn was crowded, Mary had to retire to a place among the cattle, and there she brought forth her son, who was called Jesus, because he was to save his people from their sins. This was followed by the presentation in the temple, the flight into Egypt, and their return in the following year and residence at Nazareth. There for 30 years Mary, the wife of Joseph the carpenter, resides, filling her own humble sphere, and pondering over the strange things that had happened to her.
During these years only one event in the history of Jesus is recorded, his going up to Jerusalem when 12 years of age, and his being found among the doctors in the temple. Probably also during this period Joseph died, for he is not again mentioned.
After the commencement of our Lord's public ministry little notice is taken of Mary. She was present at the marriage in Cana. A year and a half after this we find her at Capernaum, where Christ uttered the memorable words, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
The next time we find her is at the cross along with her sister Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and Salome, and other women. From that hour John took her to his own abode. She was with the little company in the upper room after the Ascension. From this time she wholly disappears from public notice. The time and manner of her death are unknown.
Mary Magdalene, Mary of Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. She is for the first time noticed as one of the women who ministered to Christ of their substance. Their motive was that of gratitude for deliverances he had wrought for them. Out of Mary were cast seven demons. Gratitude to her great Deliverer prompted her to become his follower. These women accompanied him also on his last journey to Jerusalem. They stood near the cross.
There Mary remained till all was over, and the body was taken down and laid in Joseph's tomb. Again, in the earliest dawn of the first day of the week she, with Salome and Mary the mother of James, came to the sepulchre, bringing with them sweet spices, that they might anoint the body of Jesus.
They found the sepulchre empty, but saw the vision of angels. She hastens to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this time, and again immediately returns to the sepulchre. There she lingers thoughtfully, weeping at the door of the tomb.
The risen Lord appears to her, but at first she knows him not. His utterance of her name Mary recalls her to consciousness, and she utters the joyful, reverent cry, Rabboni. She would fain cling to him, but he forbids her, saying, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.
This is the last record regarding Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem. The idea that this Mary was the woman who was a sinner, or that she was unchaste, is altogether groundless. Mary the sister of Lazarus is brought to our notice in connection with the visits of our Lord to Bethany. She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was cumbered about many things while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen the good part.
Her character also appears in connection with the death of her brother. On the occasion of our Lord's last visit to Bethany, Mary brought a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus" as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a leper.
This was an evidence of her overflowing love to the Lord. Nothing is known of her subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary's, and from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault, and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to condole with them on the death of Lazarus, that this family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.
Peter
The question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the weight of evidence is wholly in favor of its claim to be the production of the apostle whose name it bears. It appears to have been written shortly before the apostle's death.
This epistle contains eleven references to the Old Testament. It also contains a remarkable reference to Paul's epistles. A few years ago, among other documents, a parchment fragment, called the Gospel of Peter, was discovered in a Christian tomb at Akhmim in Upper Egypt.
Origen, 254 AD, Eusebius, and Jerome refer to such a work, and hence it has been concluded that it was probably written about the middle of the second century. It professes to give a history of our Lord's resurrection and ascension.
While differing in not a few particulars from the canonical Gospels, the writer shows plainly that he was with the synoptics and with the Gospel of John. Though apocryphal, it is of considerable value as showing that the main facts of the history of our Lord were then widely known.
Rahab
Insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt, as the proud one. Rahab. When the Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, in the Arabah or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to spy the land.
After five days they returned, having swum across the river, which at this season, the month Abib, overflowed its banks from the melting of the snow on Lebanon. The spies reported how it had fared with them. They had been exposed to danger in Jericho, and had been saved by the fidelity of Rahab the harlot, to whose house they had gone for protection.
When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. She afterwards became the wife of Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah. Rahab's being asked to bring out the spies to the soldiers sent for them, is in strict keeping with Eastern manners, which would not permit any man to enter a woman's house without her permission.
The fact of her covering the spies with bundles of flax which lay on her house roof is an undesigned coincidence which strictly corroborates the narrative. It was the time of the barley harvest, and flax and barley are ripe at the same time in the Jordan valley, so that the bundles of flax stalks might have been expected to be drying just then.
Ruth
A friend, a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab. On the death of Elimelech and Mahlon, Naomi came with Ruth, her daughter-in-law, who refused to leave her, to Bethlehem, the old home from which Elimelech had migrated.
There she had a rich relative, Boaz, to whom Ruth was eventually married. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David. Thus Ruth, a Gentile, is among the maternal progenitors of our Lord.
The story of the gleaner Ruth illustrates the friendly relations between the good Boaz and his reapers, the Jewish land system, the method of transferring property from one person to another, the working of the Mosaic law for the relief of distressed and ruined families; but, above all, handing down the unselfishness, the brave love, the unshaken trustfulness of her who, though not of the chosen race, was, like the Canaanitess Tamar and the Canaanitess Rahab, privileged to become the ancestress of David, and so of great David's greater Son.
Zerubbabel
The seed of Babylon, the son of Salathiel or Shealtiel; called also the son of Pedaiah, according to a frequent usage of the word son; the grandson or the nephew of Salathiel.
He is also known by the Persian name of Sheshbazzar. In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, he led the first band of Jews, numbering 42,360, exclusive of a large number of servants, who returned from captivity at the close of the seventy years.
In the second year after the Return, he erected an altar and laid the foundation of the temple on the ruins of that which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. All through the work he occupied a prominent place, inasmuch as he was a descendant of the royal line of David.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The genealogy of Jesus. Concerning this genealogy of our Savior, observe the chief intention. It is not a needless genealogy. It is not a vain glorious one, as those of great men often are. It proves that our Lord Jesus is of the nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. The promise of the blessing was made to Abraham and his seed; of the dominion, to David and his seed.
It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him; and to David that he should descend from him; and, therefore, unless Jesus is a son of David, and a son of Abraham, he is not the Messiah. Now this is here proved from well known records.
When the Son of God was pleased to take our nature, he came near to us, in our fallen, wretched condition; but he was perfectly free from sin: and while we read the names in his genealogy, we should not forget how low the Lord of glory stooped to save the human race.
An angel appears to Joseph. Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honors of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into.
It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide.
God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Savior of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Savior.
Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter.
Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute.
By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.
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