We begin the book of Matthew today. In this first chapter we have the genealogy of Joseph. Joseph is not the father of Jesus, but by law (we would say in-law today) he would be considered step-father. I want you to know that both genealogies are the same until we come to king David’s children. Solomon and Nathan, being blood brothers from the same mother and father. Jesus would come through Nathan, while Joseph comes through Solomon. Matthew 1 and verse 1 reads.
Mat.1:1] The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The first thing we need to acknowledge is the promise the LORD made to Abram, before he was named Abraham. Let’s go to Genesis 12 and verse 3 reads.
Gen.12:3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The promise of the Messiah coming through his seed line. Jesus’ true genealogy is written in Luke 3. We see there that his generations go all the way back to Adam. Whereas for Joseph, his begins here with Abraham. Back to Mat.1 and verse 2 reads.
Mat.1:2] Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
This brings us to the tribe of Judah, which is the king line. Notice it says “And his brethren” implying there are twelve tribes, brothers. We find these generations in Gen.21:2,25-26.
Mat.1:3] And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
You can find these in Gen.38:27 and Ruth 4:18-22.
Mat.1:4] And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
[5] And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
You can find these in Josh.2:1 and 6:25. Also Ruth 2:1 and 4:1-3. Note that Boaz (Booz) is the son of Rachab. Rachab was called a harlot by man, but never called a harlot by God. I have done an interesting Topical Teaching called Rachab, it is worth reading. Also note that here in the New Testament we have their names in Greek.
Mat.1:6] And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Let’s go to 2 Samuel 7 and verse 12 gives the LORD’s promise to David, and verse 12 reads.
2Sam.7:12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Here is where the genealogies between Jesus and Joseph differ. It is split here at the children of Urias, Jesus will come through Nathan and not Solomon. But to show that Joseph is worthy of being step-father to Jesus we continue.
Mat.1:7] And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
You can find this in 1K.11:43.
Mat.1:8] And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
You can find this in 2K.15:13.
Mat.1:9] And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
You can find this in 2K.15:38.
Mat.1:10] And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
You can find this in 2K.20:21.
Mat.1:11] And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
You can find this in 1Chro.3:15-16 and 2K.24:14-16. We have now followed the king line into Babylon, and only here in Matthew would we see the king line continue while in Babylon.
Mat.1:12] And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
[13] And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
[14] And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
[15] And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
[16] And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Joseph being the husband of Mary is the key here. But it is through Mary that the Christ would come. We need to see the genealogy of Mary because it is very important in understanding The Key of David. We see in Luke 3 that is through Mary’s father Heli that we see the king line through Nathan as prophesied in Zechariah 12, let’s read this prophecy very carefully, and verse 10 reads.
Zec.12:10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Did you catch that! His only Son that is pierced, hung on the cross.
Zec.12:11] In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
[12] And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
We see here the prophecy is through the king line, David through his son Nathan. But there’s more and we continue.
Zec.12:13] The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
Also, through Levi, the priest line. Let’s go to Luke 3 where we find Heli’s lineage and verse 31 reads.
Luke 3:31] Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
We see here the genealogy of Heli comes through Nathan and not Solomon. But what about the seed line of Levi, the priest line? Let’s complete this in Luke 1 and the angel speaking to Mary says this in verse 32 and it reads.
Luke 1:32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
The king’s line promised here to Mary.
Luke 1:33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
[34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
[35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
[36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Here is the next clue, her cousin Elisabeth. Let’s back up to verse 13, the angel is speaking to Zacharias who is doing the priestly duties at the time of the visit, and verse 13 reads.
Luke 1:13] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
For a priest to take a wife she must be of the daughters of Aaron. This is the Levitical priest line. The fact that Mary and Elisabeth are cousins, means their mothers are sisters. Making Mary also a daughter of Aaron, being of the priest line. And from her father Heli being of the king line through Nathan. And this gives Jesus the King line as well as the Priest line. KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, Melchizedek. Back to Matthew 1 and verse 17 reads.
Mat.1:17] So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
From Adam to Abraham was also fourteen generations. This gives us fifty-six generations in all.
Mat.1:18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
This would be a death sentence in those days if not for the LORD.
Mat.1:19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Mary was kept away from the public privately. Jesus was tempted by the Pharisees and scribes in John 8 and verse 3 reads.
John 8:3] And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
[4] They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
[5] Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
The problem is they brought the woman, but not the man. Jesus would set them straight, but this would not concern Mary because it is of the Holy Spirit. Joseph must have been considering Deuteronomy 24 and verse 1 reads.
Deu.24:1] When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Now the LORD will speak to Joseph. Back to Matthew 1 and verse 20 reads.
Mat.1:20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
The angel of the LORD is the Holy Spirit. The LORD came to Joseph himself personally. Note, life begins at conception.
Mat.1:21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus, G2424 Iēsous pronounced ee-ay-sooce’ and means; Yah’s Savior.
Mat.1:22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
This prophet is Isaiah.
Mat.1:23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Prophesied in Isaiah 7 and verse 14 reads.
Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel means; God with us. If anyone has trouble understanding the Trinity this should help. Jesus was God in the flesh. He did this for our sins. A selfless sacrifice of himself so that on repentance our sins are blotted out as if they never happened. Back to Matthew 1 and verse 24 reads.
Mat.1:24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
[25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Joseph obeyed the LORD, making him an example of a just man. Great start to a great book, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible