| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Matthew Chapter One
I. Content of the Chapter
I. The genealogy of the king
A. The title of the genealogy. (1)
B. The
fourteen generations from Abraham to David. (2-6)
C. The
fourteen generations from David until the captivity in
D. The fourteen generations from the captivity in
E. The summary of the genealogy. (17)
II. The birth of the
king
A. The conception of Mary from the Holy Spirit.
(18)
B. The revelation to Joseph concerning the Lord’s
birth from the angel. (19-23)
C. The birth and name of the king. (24-25)
II. Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 1:1 “The book of the genealogy
of Jess Christ
the Son of David
the Son of Abraham.”
YLT: “A roll of
the birth of Jesus Christ
son of David
son of Abraham.”
Meaning of Words: “Abraham”: father of all peoples
father of many
nations; “son”: child
grandson
adopted son
disciple
and the beloved; “David”:
the beloved; “Jesus”: Jehovah the savior
the salvation of Jehovah; “Christ”:
the anointed one; “genealogy”: the origin
the beginning and the history.
Literal Meaning: The name “Jesus”
means He is Jehovah Himself coming to be our savior to make us receive God’s
salvation.
The name “Christ” indicates that He was anointed
by God with the Holy Spirit (Luke. 4:18
Dan. 9:26) and separated unto God to
be the king and the priest of the kingdom of God
sent into the world to
fulfill God’s counsel and will.
“Jesus Christ”
“Jesus” is the name He
adapted in humility as a man; “Christ” is the name He adapted in his honor (as
God’s anointed one). He humbled Himself at first
and was then highly exalted.
(see Phil. 2: 6-11)
This verse implies that the following
genealogy is to demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah promised by God in whom
all the nations of the earth shall be blessed and He is the one who shall
inherit the throne of David forever.
Spiritual Meaning: “the Son of David”
denotes that Jesus Christ is the one typified by “Solomon” the son of David:
1)
Who came to inherit the throne of David and the kingdom. (2Sam. 7:12-13
Jer.
23:5
Luke. 1:32-33)
2) Who brought peace (the meaning of “Solomon”) to
His people.
3) Who spoke the words of wisdom. (1Kings. 10:23
Matt. 12:42)
4)
Who built the God’s temple---the assembly---to be the dwelling place of God.
(1Kings. 6:2
Eph. 2:21-22)
“The Son of Abraham” denotes that Jesus
Christ is the one typified by “Isaac” the son of Abraham:
1) Who came to inherit the
2) Who became obedient to the point of death
and was raised up from the dead. (Gen. 22:9-10
Heb. 11:17-19
Phil. 2:8)
3) In whom all the nations shall be blessed.
(Gen. 22:18
Gal. 3:14)
4) Who would eventually marry the gentile
bride---the assembly. (Gen. 24:67
John. 3:29
Rev. 19:7)
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ”
indicates that every one in the genealogy is closely connected with the coming
of Christ. All their life and history are conducive to the coming of Christ.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Jesus Christ”
in the original
is the
first name occurred in the whole New Testament. This indicates that He starts
the New Testament because grace and
truth in the New Testament all come from Him. He is the beginning
the process and
the consummation of the whole New Testament.
2) “Jesus Christ” is also the last name mentioned in
the whole New Testament. (Rev. 22:21) “I am the Alpha and the Omega
the
Beginning and the End
the First and the Last.” (Rev. 22:13) From the beginning
to the end He is.
3) “Jesus Christ” is
also the first name occurred between the Old Testament and the New Testament
showing that He is the turning point of the two testaments---He ended and
consummated the Old Testament and He opened and initiated the New Testament.
4) “Jesus” is in
Hebrew “Joshua”. He is the true Joshua (Num. 13:16)
coming into the world to
lead God’s people into the true sabbatism. (Heb. 4:8-9) “Christ” is in Hebrew “Messiah”. (John. 1:41) He is the
Messiah to establish the
5) The genealogy of
Jesus Christ begins not with Adam
but with Abraham and David
denoting that
the Lord is the king (the Son of David) of the people who receive God’s grace
by faith (the Son of Abraham).
6) Jesus is “the Son
of Abraham”
coming into the world to die for our sins so that we can be justified by faith (the type of “Isaac”); He is also “the Son of David”
the
conqueror who will reign as the king. (the type of “Solomon”)
7) “The Son of David”
shows that Christ
though being despised and rejected by men
is anointed by
God. (see 1Sam. 16:6-13) He also bruised the enemy’s (the type of Goliath) head
on the cross. (see Gen. 3:15
1Sam. 17:49)
8) “The Son of Abraham”:
the son represents his father---Abraham came out of his country and sojourned
in a foreign country
hoping for a better and heavenly homeland; in like
manner
Christ left His heavenly country and throne for us to sojourn on earth
without a place to lay His head upon for thirty-three years and a half.
9) Besides the name “Jesus
Christ”
“David” is both the first and last name mentioned in the New
Testament. (Rev. 22:16)
10) “The Son of David”:
the promise of Messiah was made directly for David (2Sam. 7:12
16). The true
Messiah
therefore
must come out of David. (see Ps. 132: 10-11
Is. 11:1
Jer.
23:5; cf. John. 7:42
Acts. 13: 23
Rom. 1:3)
11) In this verse the
Lord is called “the Son of Abraham” because of God’s promise for Abraham.
(Luke. 1:73) And Abraham rejoiced to see Him. (John. 8:56)
12) This verse
especially emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the Son of David and the Son of
Abraham
denoting that this book has two threads: one is the Son of David (the
prophet)
the other is the Son of Abraham (the priest); and Jesus Christ
fulfills this two kinds of ministries.
13) “The Son of David”
shows that He is Christ and “the Son of Abraham” shows that He is Jesus; He is
the savior
the king and everything.
14) The Lord Jesus is “the
Son of David”
denoting His relationship with the Jews; He is “the Son of
Abraham”
denoting His relationship with all the nations of the earth. He is “the
king of the Jews” (Matt. 2:2) and “the savior of all people” (Luke. 2:10-11) on
earth.
15) The first 25
chapters of this book depict Jesus Christ as “the Son of David” and the
following 3 chapters describe Him as “the Son of Abraham”.
16) The Lord Jesus
Christ was “the Son of Abraham” in His first coming and He would be “the Son of
David” in His second coming.
17) The name “Jesus
Christ” indicates that He humbled Himself at first and was then highly exalted;
He suffered at first and was then glorified. If indeed we suffer with Him
that
we may also be glorified together. (Rom. 8:17)
18) Christ is the
center of all the God’s promises. And in Him all the promises of God are Yes
and Amen. In Him only can we be complete. (Col. 2:10)
19) “The
genealogy” is the story of reproduction of life. The genealogy of Jesus Christ
records those who are connected with Him in life and could therefore reproduce
the life of Christ.
20) Every Christian
is supposed to be the living genealogy of Christ and the living letter written
by Christ (2Chr.3:3)
commending Christ
to people.
21) He who is
able to manifest Christ is he who has a part in the genealogy of Christ. Every
one belonging to Christ should exercise godliness to manifest Christ. (1Tim.
3:16)
Matt. 1:2 “Abraham begot Isaac
Isaac begot Jacob
and Jacob begot
Judah and his brothers.”
YLT: “Abraham begat Isaac
and Isaac begat Jacob
and Jacob
begat
Meaning
of Words: “begot”: to bring forth
to bear; “Isaac”:
joy
laughter; “Jacob”: to take hold of one’s heel
the supplanter
to track; “Judah”:
praise.
The Background:
“Abraham”: the ancestor of the called race.
(Gen. 15:6
“Isaac” was the son born by God’s promise
when Abraham and Sarah were in their old age after their natural fertility had
been dried up. (Gen. 21: 1-3)
“Jacob” was morally not as good as his
brother Esau
cunning and treacherous
having deceived his brother and father.
(Gen. 25:29-33
27:18-29) But God chose him.
“
“And his brothers” were selected by God to
be ancestors of the twelve tribes of
Literal
Meaning: the word “begot” used in this genealogy (2-16) means
“come out of his father’s lineage”. Therefore Matthew omitted several
generations (see the background in 1:8
10) in his record and purposely
arranged three periods of fourteen generations to express spiritual meanings.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The genealogy of Christ begins with “Abraham”
showing that only the
called race---the believers---become partakers of Christ.
2) We should learn from Abraham’s sample of
faith---denying ourselves and
receiving Christ as our all. Only in this way could we obtain and manifest
the life of Christ.
3) God rejected Ishmael but chose “Isaac”
(Gen. 17:18-19)
denoting that we become partakers of Christ not by our
struggle and effort but by God’s promise and selection. (Rom. 9:8)
4) Ishmael was the first son of Abraham
while Isaac was the second one. God chose the second rather than the first. In
God’s calculation: any fleshly work of the nature counts for nothing; only the
spiritual work of God is acceptable to God.
5) The birth of Jesus
Christ is the glad (the meaning of “Isaac”) tidings for us. (Luke. 2:10)
6) “Isaac” was born by
the free woman through promise. (Gal. 4:21-31) God gave us Jesus Christ
so
that we can be God’s free children
through promise.
7) “Abraham begot
Isaac”. “Isaac” testified that Christ inherits all the fullness of God the
Father.
8) God rejected Esau
but chose “Jacob”
denoting that God selects people not by their works but by
God Himself. (
9) “I will have mercy
on whomever I will have mercy
and I will have compassion on whomever I will
have compassion. So then it is not of him who wills
nor of him who runs
but
of God who shows mercy. ” (
10) God selected
Jacob
though Jacob was not as good as Esau as far as their works are
concerned. It shows that we receive God’s grace not because of our advantages
or superiority over others
but because of God’s selection.
11) “Isaac begot Jacob” “Jacob”
testified that Christ obtains the birthright.
12) “
13) “Jacob begot Judah and his brothers” “Judah”
testified that Christ is the leader
the head of the new creation.
14) “and his brothers” denotes that Christ
is so rich that thousands of people
though unnamed
are also partakers of the
testimony and manifestation of
Christ.
15) There are many
“died”s in the genealogy of the first Adam (Gen. 5) while there are all “begot”s
in the genealogy of Christ (the last Adam). It denotes that Christ is the king
of life.
16) The testimony and
manifestation of Christ is a matter of life.
Matt. 1:3 “
YLT: “and
Meaning
of Words: “Tamar”: palm tree
to be set upright; “Perez”: to
break through; “Zerah”: the oriental
sunrise
to rise
sprout; “Hezron”:
prosperous
thriving; “Ram”: highland.
The Background:
“Tamar” was the wife of
“Perez and Zerah” were twin brothers. The
one that should be born first became last and the last became first.
“Perez begot Herzon”
please see Gen. 46:9
“Herzon begot Ram”
“Ram” (Luke.3:23)
may be the “Ram” (1Chr. 2:9
Ruth. 4:19)
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though “Tamar’s” behavior was sinful
her
intent was righteous. (Gen. 38:26) We should do our utmost to obtain God’s
blessing.
2) “Tamar” did her utmost to obtain the
birthright even through incest. It shows that in order to gain Christ we should
pursue Him at any cost
not being indecisive or restrained by regulations and
methods. However
we should not follow her immoral way.
3) The story of “Tamar” tells us
to gain Christ at any price. But the story of her son “Perez” tells us that the
gain of Christ is not men’s struggle or effort
but God’s predestination.
4) “Zera” was chosen by men
but “Perez”
was chosen by God. (Gem. 38:27-30) It denotes that the one chosen by men is
rejected by God and the one chosen by God is rejected by men. (1Pet. 2:4)
Matt. 1:4 “Ram begot Amminadab
Amminadab begot Nahshon
and Nahshon
begot Salmon.”
YLT: “and Ram begat Amminadab
and Amminadab begat Nahshon
and Nahshon begat Salmon
”
Meaning of Words: “Amminadab”: my people are rich; “Nahshon”: attractive
glamorous; “Salmon”: shading
high fortress
ascent.
The
Background: this part of the
genealogy is also recorded in Ruth. 4 and 1Chr. 2. While the children of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) He who is valiant in spiritual battle is he
who will bear powerful witness to Christ.
2) We should let Him have the preeminence in
all things. (Col. 1:18)
Matt. 1:5 “Salmon
begot Boaz by Rahab
Boaz begot Obed by Ruth
Obed begot Jesse
”
YLT:
“and Salmon begat Boaz of
Rahab
and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth
and Obed begat Jesse
”
Meaning
of Words: “Rahab”: generosity; “Boaz”: there’s power in him
swift
vigorous
prompt; “Ruth”: fellowship
friend
kindness
pleasure
rose
beauty; “Obed”: worship
bondman
service; “Jesse”: firm
strong
abundant.
The Background: “Rahab” used to be a
prostitute in the city of
“Ruth” was a woman from Ammonite---a nation
being cursed by God. (Deut. 23: 3) She was remarried to Boaz because she
followed her mother-in-law to return to the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Rahab”
the unclean and shameful woman
after being convicted
got a son Boaz who feared God and loved men. (see Ruth)
As long as a sinner repents
he can bear fruit of holiness.
2) “Boaz”
having sympathized the poor and
week Ruth
got David the king coming out of himself. (Ruth. 2:19
4: 21-22) He
who sympathizes his poor and week brothers and sisters is he who will be the
king in the kingdom in the future.
3) The Lord Jesus is indeed
the friend and savior of sinners and he sympathizes with our weakness (Her.
4:15). Whoever trusts in Him will receive good at the end.
4) Let each of the believers
look out not only for their own enjoyment of Christ
but also for the enjoyment
of Christ of others. (Phil. 2:4)
5) “Ruth”
an Ammonite woman who shall not enter
the assembly of the Lord forever
became an ancestor of Christ by loving the
kingdom and God of her mother-in-law (Ruth. 1:16). It shows that whoever draws
near to the Lord will be acceptable to Him.
6) In Scripture
Christ is
not only the branch out of the stem of Jesse
but also the root of Jesse. (Is.
11:1
10); “Jesse” came out of Christ and also begot Christ. The believers are
born out of Christ and also manifest Christ.
Matt. 1:6 “and Jesse begot David the
king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.”
YLT:
“and Jesse
begat David the king. And David the king begat Solomon
of her Uriah's
”
Meaning of Words: “David”: the
beloved; “Uriah”: the light of God
the Lord is light; “Solomon”: peaceful
wise man.
The Background:
“the wife of Uriah” was the Hittite
Bathsheba. In Scripture
her name was purposely unmentioned because her
remarriage was the result of David’s adultery and murder (2Sam. 11: 2-27). The
only wrongness of David in all the days of his life was that he committed
adultery and married the wife of Uriah (1Kin. 15:5). However
later David
repented earnestly and was foreign by God (Ps. 51; 2Sam. 12:13).
Literal Meaning: “David the king” there
were many kings in the genealogy
but it was only recorded “David the king”
here. It denotes that the kingship started from David. He opened up the age of
kings and brought in the kingdom. The Book of Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the
king who inherits the throne from David.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Jesse begot David the king” David is the eighth son of Jesse. The number “eight”
means resurrection. The Lord Jesus reigns as a king in his resurrection (Matt.
28:18). In the same way
those who live with Him in his resurrection are
acceptable to God and will reign together with Him in the coming kingdom.
2) The four women
though infamous
were
recorded in the Lord’s
genealogy. It shows that the Lord’s salvation make the gentile sinners
have part in the Lord. (We are all sinful women before God.)
3) The four unclear women were recorded in
the Christ’s genealogy. It tells us that no matter how unclear and sinful you
are
as long as you are united to Christ by faith
you will probably be sanctified
by the life of Christ and have part in bringing in Christ and reproducing
Christ.
4) In the four unclean
women
“Tamar” sinned initiatively and she represents sin; “Rahab” represents
faith (Heb. 11:31
James. 2:25); “Ruth” represents being redeemed to obtain
spiritual grace and inheritances; Once “the wife of Uriah” was married to
David
she stayed in the family of David forever. She represents the firmness
of salvation.
5) “The wife of Uriah”
shows the sin of David and “Solomon” shows the grace of God. Any one
though
sins
as long as he repents
will receive God’s grace. “But where sin abounded
grace abounded much more.” (Rom. 5:20)
6) There is no peace in the
heart of a sinner. As long as a sinner repents
he can receive peace (the meaning
of “Solomon”) and God’s favor (2Sam. 12: 24-25).
Matt. 1:7 “Solomon begot Rehoboam
Rehoboam begot Abijah
and Abijah begot Asa.”
YLT: “and Solomon begat Rehoboam
and
Rehoboam begat Abijah
and Abijah begat Asa
”
Meaning of Words: “Rehoboam”: to liberate; “Abijiah”: Jehovah
is his father. The Lord is his father; “Asa”: doctor
injurious.
The
Background:
In the therein of Rehoboam the king
the
kingdom was separated into two kingdoms:
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Jehovah’s word is settled in heaven forever
(Ps. 119:89). Not one has failed of all the promises of God (Josh. 23:14).
2) God selected Rehoboam and the Judah instead
of
Matt. 1:8 “Asa begot Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat begot Joram
and Joram begot Uzziah.”
YLT: “and Asa begat
Jehoshaphat
and Jehoshaphat begat Joram
and Joram begat Uzziah
”
Meaning of Words:
“Jehoshaphat”: to be judged by God; “Joram”:
the one God holds high; “Uzziah”: God is strength
the Lord is strong.
The
Background: “Asa
begot Jehoshaphat” Jehoshaphat was
also named Azariah. Three generations were omitted between Joram and Azariah
(1Chr. 3: 11-12
2Kin. 15:13) because they abandoned God
bowed to idols and
were cursed by God. (2Chr. 23:3
24:17-18
25:14)
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Three generations were omitted between
Joram and Azarish. It shows that God is jealousy and shall visit iniquity of
the fathers upon the sons to the third and the forth of the idolaters (Ex.
20:5).
2) If we are willing to be united to Christ
we should never worship idols.
Matt. 1:9 “Uzziah begot Jotham
Jotham begot Ahaz
and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.” YLT: “and Uzziah begat Jotham
and Jotham begat Ahaz
and Ahaz begat
Hezekiah
”
Meaning of Words: “Jotham”: God is
upright; “Ahaz”: the owner
he owns; “Hezekiah”: God is strength
the Lord is
strength.
Matt. 1:10 “Hezekiah begot Manasseh
Manasseh begot Amon
and Amon begot Josiah.”
YLT: “and Hezekiah begat Manasseh
and
Manasseh begat Amon
and Amon begat Josiah
”
Meaning of Words: “Manasseh”: to forget; “Amon”: to conceal
the
nourished
worker; “Josiah”: the one God heals
the one God has established.
Matt. 1:11 “Josiah begot Jeconiah and
his brothers about the time they were carried away to
YLT: “and Josiah
begat Jeconiah and his brethren
at the Babylonian removal.”
Meaning of Words: “carried away”: expatriation
a change of abode; “
The Background: “Josiah begot Jeconiah” One generation was omitted between Josiah
and Jeconiah (1Chr. 3:15-16)
probably because he had connection with the
Pharaoh of Egypt (2Kin. 23:34-35).
Literal Meaning: “Jeconiah”
though used to be the king
was
treated as common people because here it was recorded by the Holy Spirit as “the
time they were carried away to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One generation was omitted between Josiah and
Jeconiah for its connection with
2) Twenty two kings were recorded from Rehoboam to Josiah. Six among them were good kings while
the other six were evil ones. Sometimes good fathers begot evil sons; sometimes
evil fathers begot good sons. They were recorded in the genealogy of Christ
not by their own goodness or evil
but by their being partakers in bringing in
Christ.
Matt. 1:12 “And after they were brought to
YLT: “And after
the Babylonian removal
Jeconiah begat Shealtiel
and Shealtiel begat
Zerubbabel
”
Meaning of Words: “Shealtiel”: to ask from God; “Zerubbabel”: born in
The Background: “Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel” Zerubbabel
was not Shealtiel’s own son. Probably
Shealtiel died early
having no son
and
his brother Pedaiah married his wife. Then Zerubbabel was born and succeeded to
Shealtiel (1Chr. 3: 17-19
Deu.25: 5-10). This shows that Zerubbabel was not
the direct descendant of Jeconiah. Thus
the curse to Jeconiah which was spoken
by God through Jeremiah that “None of his descendants shall prosper
sitting on
the throne of David” (Jer. 22: 28-30) was fulfilled. God had also predicted
through Jeremiah that “I will raise to David a branch of righteousness
a king
shall reign and prosper” (Jer. 23: 5). The branch was the Lord Jesus.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus was not the descendant of
Jeconiah
but the son of David. Therefore
He has no connection with the curse
to Jeconiah. But the promise to David by God was fulfilled on Him. Oh
how
marvelous is His works and how settled is His faithfulness.
2) Zerubbabel led the captive of God’s elect
to return to
Matt. 1:13 “Zerubbabel begot Abiud
Abiud begot Eliakim
and Eliakim begot Azor.”
YLT: “and
Zerubbabel begat Abiud
and Abiud begat Eliakim
and Eliakim begat Azor
”
Meaning of Words: “Abiud”: father of dignity; “Eliakim”: God has
established him; “Azor”: helpful.
Matt. 1:14 “Azor begot Zadok
Zadok
begot Achim
and Achim begot Eliud.”
YLT: “and Azor
begat Sadok
and Sadok begat Achim
and Achim begat Eliud
”
Meaning of Words: “Zadok”: just; “Achim”:
the one God has made him steadfast; “Eliud”: God the Majesty
God that I
praise.
Matt. 1:15 “Eliud begot Eleazar
Eleazar begot Matthan
and Matthan begot Jacob.”
YLT: “and Eliud
begat Eleazar
and Eleazar begat Matthan
and Matthan begat Jacob
”
Meaning of Words: “Eleazar”: the one God has helped; “Matthan”: gift;
“Jacob”: to take hold of one’s heel
the supplanter
to track.
Enlightenment in the Word:
Those people mentioned in the genealogy
after verse 12 were low. However
Jesus came out of them. God has chosen the
base things of the world
the things which are despised and the things which
are not (1Cor. 1: 28).
Matt. 1:16 “And Jacob begot Joseph
the husband of Mary
of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”
YLT: “and Jacob
begat Joseph
the husband of Mary
of whom was begotten Jesus
who is named
Christ.”
Meaning of Words: “Joseph”: he will
add; “Mary”: betrayer
bitterness.
Literal Meaning: Matthew recorded “Jesus who is called Christ”
purposely to prove that Jesus is Christ. This genealogy confirms that Jesus is
the Christ predicted in the Old Testament.
The whole genealogy centered
on men by saying “someone begot someone”. But when it referred to Jesus
the
writing was changed to “Mary
of whom was born Jesus”
centering on woman. It
shows that the Lord Jesus came out of the virgin and was “the seed of the woman”
(Gen. 3:15) instead of the descendant of men. Therefore he did not inherit the
sinful nature common to the entire Adam race.
This verse also denotes that Jesus was not Joseph’s own son and
consequently not the descendant of Jeconiah (see the background in v.12). However
He was the son of Mary and consequently the son of David (Luke. 3:23-31).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The common feature of the five women in
Matt. 1 is their faith. No matter what kind of sinner he is
he can be united
to Christ as long as he has faith.
2) The former four among the five women in Matt.1
were unclean or had bigamous marriages and only the mother of Jesus Mary was a
virgin. (see Matt. 1:23) It shows that Christ is sinless and was born in
holiness.
3) There were names of women in the
genealogy of Matthew because God was looking for “the seed of the woman”. God
did not find “the woman” among the former women until the fifth one
the Virgin
Mary who brought in Christ.
Matt. 1:17 “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen
generations
from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen
generations
and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen
generations.” YLT: “All the generations
therefore
from Abraham
unto David fourteen generations
and from David unto the Babylonian removal
fourteen generations
and from the Babylonian removal unto the Christ
fourteen
generations.”
Literal Meaning: “so” shows the conclusion was calculated according
to the scriptures mentioned above not by the history. For in this calculation several
generations were purposely omitted
it is not a historical calculation but a
spiritual one.
Three fourteen generations amount to
forty-two generations. But actually there were only forty-one generations
because David was both counted in the end of the first fourteen generation and
the beginning of the second fourteen generations. Some people regarded Jeconiah
as both the end of the second fourteen generations and the beginning of the
third fourteen generations. However
he
being rejected by God (Jer. 22:24)
was not listed in the age of kings (the second fourteen generations).
Note that between the end of the second
fourteen generations and the beginning of the third fourteen generations
Matthew divided these two fourteen generations up not by men’s name but by the
matter of the captivity. It shows that Christ is the one who sums up the age of
kings------he came to inherit the throne of David.
Spiritual Meaning: “fourteen
generations” Multiply seven by two is fourteen. Seven means perfect
two means testimony
in consequence
fourteen means the perfect testimony; “Three fourteen
generations” Three represents God and it denotes that this testimony was made
by God. Multiply three by fourteen is forty-two which is the number
representing suffering and test. Another explanation: fourteen is ten plus
four. Ten means perfect and four means the creation. In consequence
“three
fourteen generations” denotes that they represent all the creation before God.
The whole genealogy denotes that:
1) All the people mentioned in the
genealogy were arranged by God and they
as a whole
bore perfect witness to
Christ;
2) They went through tribulations and
tests to bring in Christ; Christ was their glorious goal in the tribulations;
3) The existence of the creation is for
Christ;
4) If anyone does not have Christ
he
lives under vanity
having no rest.
The three fourteen generations represents
three period of experience of Christians:
1) From Abraham to David------the period
we first believed
in which we overcame
burned
devoted ourselves to God
submitted to God and made ourselves ruled by God;
2) From David until the captivity in
3) From
the captivity in
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “From Abraham” shows that Abraham was the
ancestor of the new race
the starter of a new age and the one who brought in the
promise of Christ.
2) “To David… from David” shows that David summed
up the first age and opened up the second age. He inherited the first age and
ushered into the second. He started the age of kings and brought in the throne
of Christ.
3) Three fourteen generations represent the three
periods of the Jews in the time of Old Testament------the fathers
the kings
and the king’s fall. These finally direct to Christ.
4) The genealogy was recorded one by one until the
Christ. During the several thousand of years
though the enemy had stirred up
trouble and the world was full of disorder and turmoil
God’s will of His Son
was held steadfastly in His supreme hand. All things will be fulfilled in due
time according to His predestinated will.
5) In the genealogy
there were kings
common
people
the captive and those who returned from the captive. It tells us that
whoever you are
dignified or undignified and whatever you have suffered
unhappiness or evil
as long as you are united to Christ by faith
with his
glorious life you will be raised up
released
unstrained
renewed and had become
partakers of the incorruptible hope of glory.
6) All the figures mentioned in the genealogy all
presented to “the Christ”------Christ is the destination of all things and the
ultimate value of life------men live to present and manifest Christ.
7) The crisis of God’s people is not their failure
or fall (the captivity in
Matt. 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:
After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph
before they came together
she
was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”
YLT: “And of Jesus Christ
the birth was thus: For his mother
Mary having been betrothed to Joseph
before their coming together she was
found to have conceived from the Holy Spirit
”
Meaning of Words: “as follows”: in
this way
thus; “was betrothed”: to give a souvenir (engagement present)
to
accept the engagement; “came together”: associate with
or cohabit (conjugally);
“with”: have
The Background: “was betrothed” According to the present
customs
after their betrothal
the man and women are regarded as husband and
wife (see v.19-20
Deut. 22:23-24). However
they are not allowed to have
sexual relationship until a set day in which the husband takes her home in a
wedding and knows her.
Literal Meaning: “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”
It shows that Jesus
the conception of Mary
was the supernatural work By God. It
is totally different from the common conception by the way of a man with a
woman. Common people are seeds of men and only Jesus is “the seed of the women”
(Gen. 3:15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus was born through the
conception of Mary from the Holy Spirit. He has both the humanity and the
divinity
i.e. God was manifested in the flesh.
2) The Lord Jesus
both God and man
is
qualified to be our savior who negatively bore the sins of men and positively
gave God’s life to men.
3) “Mary” represents
those who
being unspotted from the world
love the Lord with pure heart. In
such people Christ was conceived and grew up.
4) The conception of
Mary was fulfilled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is full of power. But
unless we submit to Him
He will have the chance to work in us.
Matt. 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband
being a just man
and not wanting to make her a public example
was minded to
put her away secretly.”
YLT: “and Joseph
her husband being righteous
and not willing to make her an example
did wish
privately to send her away.”
Meaning of Words: “make her a public
example”: show to the public.
The Background: In ancient times
if a woman
being
betrothed to a husband
was found unfaithful to her husband
will be sentenced
to death. (Deut. 22:23)
Literal Meaning: “husband” does not mean a man who has got
married in the original.
“A just man” does not mean the righteous
before God (Rom. 3:10)
but the man who keeps the law. Paul said that he was
blameless concerning the righteousness in the law. (Pill. 3:6)
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “A just man” is the one who minds the
interests of others and respects others.
2) Without the revelation or guidance from
God
only the justice of men will not help to do the will of God; sometimes
even block the fulfillment of the will of God (“was minded to put her away
secretly”).
3) A natural man does not know spiritual
things
therefore
he felt confused.
Matt. 1:20 “But while he thought about
these things
behold
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
saying
"Joseph
son of David
do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife
for
that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
YLT: “And
on his thinking of these things
lo
a messenger of the Lord in a dream
appeared to him
saying
`Joseph
son of David
thou mayest not fear to receive
Mary thy wife
for that which in her was begotten of the Holy Spirit
”
Literal Meaning: “while he thought
about these things” It denotes that Joseph walked circumspectly.
“The angel of the Lord” The angel was
sent by God to declare God’s will to men.
“In a dream” In old times
the time before the Holy Spirit guides the
believers with its abode in them
God often communicated with men and revealed
Himself by the way of dreams (Gen. 28:10-17
1Kin. 3:5
etc.).
“The son of David” probably implies his connection with the birth of the
Messiah.
“Do not be afraid” Joseph was afraid to take to him Mary because he was
a just man. A just man was not willing to hurt others
or to hurt himself by
covering sins and being spotted by sins.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When dealing with things
we’d better think
carefully before do them. The one who is unwilling to “think” before God is
fool. If someone learns from God superficially
he would make decisions
hastily.
2) “Thinking” the things of the Lord is to
give the Lord a chance of working to guide us.
3) The significant
feature of the humble is that they “are afraid” to be wrong. If someone is
afraid to be wrong
naturally
he will think carefully before God.
4) The wrath of men
does not produce the righteousness of God. The true righteous has open heart
towards men
the ability of self-control and the fear of God.
5) The abidance of the
Holy Spirit in Mary (“which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”) and the
revelation of Christ to Joseph (“an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream”) will together will bring in the will of God.
6) Only when the thoughts of men stopped
(fell asleep)
God’s will was revealed to men (“an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream”).
7) Only the revelation
of Christ (the angel talked about Christ with Joseph) could set men free from
the law (he minded to put her away secretly) for the fulfillment of God’s will.
8) “Which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Spirit” “which is conceived in her” was Christ. The
center of God’s revelations is of Christ.
Matt. 1:21 “And she will bring forth
a Son
and you shall call His name JESUS
for He will save His people from
their sins.”
YLT: “and she
shall bring forth a son
and thou shalt call his name Jesus
for he shall save
his people from their sins.'”
Meaning of Words: “Jesus”: Jehovah the
savior
salvation of Jehovah; “save…from”: to heal
be whole.
Literal Meaning: “His people”: people
belonging to God; “save people from their sins”: He not only saves us with the
forgiveness of our sins
but also delivers us from the strength and power of
sin
no longer being the slaves of sin. Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “His people” shows that the Lord came to be
the king. The Lord is not the king who led His people out of the tyranny of
Roman government
but the king who saved His people from the strength of sin.
2) The faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus
are essentially important. Only by this way
we will be saved. Anyone who is
willing to be “His people” and be reigned by Him
he will be saved from sins.
3) The salvation of the Lord Jesus is not partial
but full. It is not a way like the life buoy (one would be saved from drowning
but is still threatened by water)
but a way like the lifesaving boat (one
would not only be saved from drowning
but also be saved from water into the
boat)
Matt. 1:22 “So all this was done that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet
saying:”
YLT: “And all
this hath come to pass
that it may be fulfilled that was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet
saying
”
Meaning of Words: “was done”: to
become
to be fulfilled; “be fulfilled”: full
the ultimate and perfect
fulfillment.
Literal Meaning: in the Gospel of
Matthew
the fulfillments of the words in the Old Testament have been mentioned
fifteen times. (1:22; 2:15
17
23; 3:15; 4:14; 5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14
35;
21:4; 26:54
56; 27:9) It means that God has already predestinated the happening
of these things. He had made the prophecies
which were recorded in the Old
Testament
through prophets in advance.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit
we
will not know the words in Scripture concerning the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit
will guide us into all truth (John. 16:13).
2) The coming of Christ has perfectly
fulfilled the prophecies in Scripture. Christ is the destination of all
prophecies.
Matt. 1:23 “’Behold
the virgin shall be with child
and bear a Son
and they shall call His name
Immanuel
’ which is translated
‘God with us.’”
YLT: “`Lo
the
virgin shall conceive
and she shall bring forth a son
and they shall call his
name Emmanuel
' which is
being interpreted `With us God.'”
Meaning of Words: “the virgin”: a
maiden
an unmarried daughter.
Literal Meaning: “the virgin shall be
with child” The definite article “the” shows that she is unique and
particularly prepared by God.
“They shall call His name Immanuel”. “Jesus”
is His name called by God
showing His ministry; “Immanuel” is His name called
by men
showing His feature. “Immanuel” shows that:
1) He is not only the Son of God
but
also God Himself becoming flesh;
2) He is both God and man
i.e. God in
man and man in God. In Him is God with man;
3) If we obtain Him
we obtain God; if
we abide with Him
we abide with God;
4) Only in Him
we can have the
experience of “God with us”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Besides the Lord Jesus
we have no other
way to obtain God. Only by calling on the name of the Lord
we will experience
God’s presence.
2) “Jesus” expresses the procedure of
salvation and “Immanuel” expresses the aim of salvation. The Lord has saved us
from sins (v. 21) to realize “God with us”.
3) To bring in the mutual communication
between God and men
the obstacle------sin must be put away. Unless men’s sin is
put away
“God with us” will not be realized.
4) Only in Christ
God and man may meet by peace. Only
in Christ
there is the existence of “Immanuel”.
5) An angel of the Lord said a saying of the
Scripture to Jesoph and the words of God helped him out of his trouble. When
covered by the cloud of doubt
what we need is that the Holy Spirit would
remind us one or two verses of the Holy Scripture and make the words shine
and
then we will be quickened immediately.
Matt. 1:24 “Then Joseph
being
aroused from sleep
did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him
his wife
”
YLT: “and did
not know her till she brought forth her son -- the first-born
and he called
his name Jesus.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The just man Joseph was cowardly in
sins-----he is afraid to take to him Mary his wife. However
he was brave in
God’s will and “took to him his wife” at any price.
2) In order to be used by God and keep the will
of God
we should sacrifice our fame and feelings for the Lord.
3) After receiving the revelation of God
one should not reconsider or doubt about it. If someone doubts about the words
of God
he will fall into darkness.
4) Courage
promptitude and promptness (“being
aroused from sleep
did…”) are needed to keep the will of God. Procrastination
and delay will certainly hold things up.
5) Revelation delivers people from all the natural
trouble and confusions and helps people draw strength from God to do the things
which are impossible with m en.
Matt. 1:25 “and did not know her till
she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”
YLT: “and did
not know her till she brought forth her son -- the first-born
and he called
his name Jesus.”
Literal Meaning: “did not know her
till…” means that Mary bore other children with Joseph after the birth of
Jesus. Therefore
the view in Catholic Church that “Mary was the Virgin Mary
who kept her virginity forever” did not agree with the record in Scripture.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christianity is absolutely not an abstinent
religion and sexual desire is not regarded unclean in Bible. The forbiddance of
marriage is of the devil (1Tim. 4:1-3)
2) The one who is able to be used by God is
able to wait. Joseph was a good example of “buffeting his body” (1Cor. 9:27)
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
Knowing the Lord from His
Names
II. “Christ” (v.16) ------He was anointed by the Holy
Spirit;
III. “The Son of David” (v.1) ------He was the
king of the kingdom;
IV. “The Son of Abraham” (v.1) ------He will
inherit the promise;
V. “Immanuel” (v.23) ------He brings men into
God’s presence.
Receiving Teachings from the Genealogy
I. Everyone in the genealogy had became
partakers of Christ and showed the coming of Christ. (v.1)
II. The four unclean women in the genealogy denote
that we were sinners originally:
A.
“Tamar” (v.3)
------she initiatively committed a sin of incest with her father-in-law;
B. “Rahab” (v.5) ------she was a prostitute in
the city of
C. “Ruth” (v.5) ------she was an Ammonite women
cursed by God;
D. “The wife of Uriah” (v.6) ------she was
remarried to David because of the sin of fornication.
III. We have become partakers of God. It is not
of us who run
but of God who shows mercy:
A. “Isaac” (v.2) ------God rejected his
consanguineous brother Ishmael;
B. “Jacob” (v.2) ------God rejected his twin
brother Esau;
C. “Juda” (v.2) ------he was not the
firstborn son;
D. “Perez and Zerah” (v.3) -----the one that
should be born first became last and the last became first.
IV. We not only obtain Christ by faith
but
also manifest the life of Christ by faith.
A. “Abraham” (v. 2) ------he was justified by faith and would live by
faith:
B. “Rahab” (v.5) ------she bound the line of scarlet cord by faith and
her whole family was saved;
V. We should love God and brothers:
A. “
B. “Boaz” (v.5) ------he sympathized the poor and helpless Ruth;
C. “Ruth” (v.5) ------she loved Naomi her mother-in-law and the God and
kingdom of her mother-in-law;
D. “David the king” (v.6) ------he made preparations for the
E. “Solomon the king” (v.6) ------he built the
VI. We should not love the world and idols:
A. “Joram begot Uzziah” (v.8) ------three generations between them was
omitted because of idolatry;
B. “Josiah and Jeconiah” (v.11) ------one generation between them was
omitted for the connection with
VII. What matters is not our failure or fall
but our unwillingness to repent.
A. “David the king begot… by
her who had been the wife of Uriah.” (v.6)------it is a fact of his failure of
sin;
B. “Begot Solomon” (v..6)
------David repented completed and was forgiven by God. In consequent
peace
was brought in;
C
“They were carried away
to
D. “Zerubbabel” (v.12)
------he lead God’s people to return back to the
VIII. When our natural life was deprived
our
spiritual life will grow up into the fullness of the Lord to testify Christ:
A. “Jacob” (v.2) ------his
natural life was dealt with by God and turned to be “
B. “From the captivity in
C. “Fourteen generations…fourteen
generations…fourteen generations” (v.17) ------it delicates that through and
after complete trials
the spiritual life has grown up to testify Christ fully;
D. “Bogot…bogot…begot”
(v.2-16) ------the testimony of Christ is a matter of life
therefore
the
spiritual life should grow up to testify Christ.
Four Unclean Women in the Genealogy (v.3-6)
I. They were all gentile women;
II. They were either harlot or remarried
women;
III. “Four” in Bible represents all the creation
and human beings (Rev. 4:6-7). Therefore
they are the type of the gentile
sinners originally who were born in sins.
How to Bring Christ to Men
I. It is initiated
revealed and promoted by
God:
A. “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (v.18) ------Christ is
conceived in Mary by the mighty works of the Holy Spirit;
B. “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream” (v.20) ------God’s revelations
enable Joseph to perform his part in the birth of Christ;
C. “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the Lord through the prophet” (v.22) ------the birth of the Lord was
predestinated by God
II. It happens when men hear
believe and obey
the words of God:
A. “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (v.18) ------she
accepted the words of the angel of the Lord determinedly regardless of her
reputation (see Luke. 1:38);
B. “Then Joseph
being aroused from sleep
did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him” (v.24) ------he obeyed the command of the angel of the Lord
willingly regardless of the possible ridicule and shame from men;
III. It needs cooperation among believers:
A. “Joseph
the husband of Mary” (v.16) ------in the matter of the birth
of the Lord Jesus
Joseph and Mary should work together;
B. “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
saying
‘Joseph
son of David…’” (v.20) ------on one hand
we should have revelation like
Joseph;
C. “The virgin shall have a child” (v.23) ------on the other hand
we should
love the Lord in a pure heart like Mary;
D. “And did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son”
(v.25) ------they both magnify the Lord and cooperate closely. How great it is.
The Procedure and Aim of the Salvation
I. The procedure: “Jesus” (v.21) -----saved His
people form their sins;
II. The aim: “Immanuel” (v.23) ------God with us.
Features of the Just Man Joseph
II. “Not wanting to make her a public example” (v.19)
------he was not willing to humiliate others;
III. “Be afraid to” (v.20) ------he was not
willing to defile himself;
IV. “Thought about these things” (v.20) ------he
walked circumspectly;
V. “Did as the angel of the Lord command him” (v.24)
------ he kept the will of God at any price.
VI. “Did not know her till she had brought forth the
first son” (v.25) ------he feared God and was self-controlled.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren