1The genealogy of Christ from Abraham to Joseph. 18The miraculous conception of Mary; Joseph's doubts are satisfied by an angel, who declareth the name and office of Christ: Jesus is born.
1THE 1book of the generation of Jesus Christ, 2the son of David,a the son of Abraham.
* The word evangelion is a Greek word, and signifies a good or joyful message, Luke 2:10, by which name in the Holy Scriptures, especially of the New Testament, is termed the doctrine, which the prophets and apostles have published, concerning the redemption of people and of the everlasting salvation brought to pass by the Messiah. This was set forth by the prophets in promises that the Messiah would come into the world, and accomplish the same, and by the apostles that in the fullness of time He did come into the world, and has accomplished the work of our redemption; therefore by this word is also especially understood the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, concerning the fulfillment of these promises by Jesus Christ now being come in the flesh, Rom. 16:25. And yet more especially the history of the coming of the Messiah in the flesh, of His birth, doctrine, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. And in this signification is the word taken here in the title, as also, Mark 1:1. And the writers of this history are also from thence termed evangelists, although that word is also sometimes taken more largely, namely, for one who is sent here and there to preach the Gospel. See Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5.
¶ Thus he sets the title; and not The Gospel of Matthew to give to understand that he is not the principal Author of this writing, Which is the Spirit of God, 2 Tim. 3:16, but that he is only a servant whom God made use of to write this. The same is to be observed also in the titles of the other Gospels.
^Matthew was a son of Alphæus, called also Levi, Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27. Of this calling to the apostleship he writes himself, Mat. 9:9, 10, etc. and puts himself among the apostles also, Mat. 10:3. He was the first who wrote the evangelical history, about the 9th year after Christ's ascension, as many ancient writers testify, who say also that he preached the Gospel in Ethiopia. Some think that he wrote this Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, but that is not credible; seeing the same was never seen anywhere, and inasmuch as Matthew translates into Greek not only Hebrew words, as Emmanuel, Mat. 1:23, but also whole sentences, as Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, Mat. 27:46, which he would not have done if he had written in Hebrew; as he also for the most part relates the places of the Old Testament, as they are set down in the old Greek translation.
1 That is, genealogy, or tree of Christ’s ancestors. It is an Hebrew manner of speaking. See Gen. 5:1.
2 These two, David and Abraham, are here placed at the beginning, and Christ is especially called the Son of both, because special promises were made to them both, that He would be born of their seed. See Gen. 22:18; 2 Sam. 7:12; Psalm 89:29 and 132:11. For which cause also Matthew would begin this genealogy first from Abraham, as he also, verse 6, calls David, the king, because David was the first king of the tribe of Judah, and a clear type of the everlasting Kingdom of Christ, Luke 1:32.
a Luke 1:31, 32.
2Abrahamb3begat Isaac; and Isaacc begat Jacob; and Jacobd begat Judas and his brethren;
b Gen. 21:2.
3 The other translation has: generated. Since this is a Latin word, the word beget is considered better to keep it, which most all ancient Low German translations here use.
c Gen. 25:26.
d Gen. 29:35.
3And Judase begat Phares and Zara 4of Thamar; and Pharesf begat Esrom; and Esromg begat Aram;
e Gen. 38:27, 29.
4 Gr. out of. This woman, as also hereafter Rachab and Ruth, verse 5, and Bathsheba, verse 6, are here mentioned by the evangelist, because the Scripture speaks something of them, which serves to the state of Christ’s humiliation, and likewise because some of them were from heathen descent; that thereby would be shown that even great sinners, yea and the Gentiles themselves, would be partakers of the fruits of Christ’s birth.
f Ruth 4:18; 1 Chron. 2:5.
g Ruth 4:19; 1 Chron. 2:9.
4And 5Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5 This Aram is called Ram in Ruth 4:19.
5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6And Jesseh begat David the king; and David the king begat 6Solomon 7of her that had been the wife of Urias;
h Ruth 4:22; 1 Sam. 16:1; 17:12; 1 Chron. 2:15; 12:18.
6 Luke, in stead of Solomon and his posterity, puts Nathan, another son of David with his posterity. The reason of this diversity, see on Luke 3:31.
7 Namely, Bathsheba. See 2 Sam. 11:3, 27, and 12:24, by whom David begat Solomon, when, after the death of her husband, she was married unto him.
7And Solomoni begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
i 1 Kings 11:43; 1 Chron. 3:10.
8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat 8Ozias;
8 Here three kings are skipped over and passed by, namely, Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah, in order that the number of fourteen may not be exceeded, verse 17. Of such leaving out, see an example Ezra 7:3 compared with 1 Chron. 6:7. And this Ozias is also called Azariah in 1 Chron. 3:12.
9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
11And Josiasj begat 9Jechonias and his brethren, 10about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
j 1 Chron. 3:16.
9 Some add here Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias, which seems favorably to agree with the chronology of the kings of Judah, 1 Chron. 3:16, etc., and with the number of fourteen here, verse 17. But seeing almost all old copies and translations have not this addition of Jakim, therefore the same is here left out, the rather, because by Jechonias in the eleventh verse may be understood the father, who is also called Joakim, and by Jechonias in the twelfth verse the son, who is also called Joachin, and so the number of fourteen is here also completed.
10 Or, in, or at the time; that is, towards the time of the captive deportation of the Jews into Babylon.
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechoniask begat 11Salathiel; and Salathiell begat Zorobabel;
k 1 Chron. 3:17.
11 Many think that this Salathiel was not the natural son of Jechonias, forasmuch, as in Luke 3:27, he is said to be the son of Neri, and it seems in Jer. 22:30 that Jechonias left behind no children, but that he was called his son, because he, as being the next unto him in blood, succeeded him in the government of the people of Israel; as 1 Chron. 3:16 Zedekiah is called the son of Jeconiah, because he also succeeded him in the kingdom, who, notwithstanding, in 2 Kings 24:17 is called his uncle. The rather, because in Luke 3:27 it is said that Salathiel descended from the stock of Nathan, who had the government of the people of the Jews after the Babylonian captivity, which, as it seems, may be collected out of Zech. 12:12. But others think that this Salathiel was the natural son of Jechonias, and that Salathiel of whom Luke speaks, Luke 3:27, was another Salathiel than this (one), seeing the same is there called the son of Neri. See the annotation there.
l Ezra 3:2.
13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
16And Jacob begat 12Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, 13who is called Christ.
12 This genealogy is brought down to Joseph, because it was not usual with the Hebrews to name women in genealogies; notwithstanding from this it may appear that Christ came from the lineage of David, because it was the custom of the Jews to marry in their own lineage, and Matthew testifies in verse 1 that he relates here the genealogy of Jesus Christ. For, that Christ descended from Judah and David, is clearly taught everywhere in the Holy Scripture. See Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3; Heb. 7:14.
13 That is, who is surnamed. See concerning this Name, John 1:42.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon 14are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
14 The evangelist has likewise expressed but fourteen kings and princes, because from Abraham to David there were but fourteen generations of forefathers. Therefore he omitted some generations of kings and princes. See on verse 8 and Luke 3:24, etc.
18¶Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: Whenm as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, 15before they came together, she was 16found with child 17of the Holy Ghost.
m Luke 1:27, 34.
15 That is, before he had taken her unto him, as appears out of verse 20.
16 Other, conceived. But the word with child fits here better, seeing Christ was not properly the fruit of the Holy Ghost, but of the fruit of Mary’s womb, Luke 1:42.
17 That is, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, as appears in Luke 1:35. Thus the Greek particle of here used is also taken elsewhere, as Rom. 11:36 and 1 John 5:1. This was not then known to Joseph, but was afterward revealed unto him by the angel, verse 20.
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her 18a publick example, was minded 19to put her away privily.n
18 The Greek word signifies as much as to make anyone a public spectacle, and to put him to disgrace, for an example unto others.
19 Gr. to unloose her.
n secretly*
20But 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 20conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
20 Gr. generated, or begotten; for, which words, seeing the one is Latin, and the other obscure, it was thought more acceptable to put the word conceived. Of this generation and conception, see Luke 1:35, 42.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thouo shalt call his name JESUS: for hep shall save 21his people from their sins.
o Luke 1:31.
p Acts 4:12.
21 That is, those who were given Him of the Father to redeem or to save them, Psalm 2:8; Isa. 8:18; John 6:37 and 17:24; Acts 18:10; Rom. 11:1, 2.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold,q22a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and 23they shall call his name 24Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
q Isa. 7:14.
22 The Hebrew and also the Greek texts speak here of a singular virgin.
23 That is, one shall. Other, thou shalt, or: she shall.
24 He is thus called in respect of His Person and office, because He is both true God and Man in one Person, and unites us to God.
24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had 25bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 Gr. had ordained.
25And knew her not 26till she had brought forth her 27firstborn son: and he calledr his name JESUS.
26 One is not able to conclude from this that Joseph could have had carnal relationship with her afterwards; for, this manner of speech is not always consequently as such. See 2 Sam. 6:23; Mat. 28:20.
27 A firstborn son is he who first opens the womb, Exod. 13:2, albeit that there are no sons or children born afterwards. For, as it is said in Exod. 11:5 that the firstborn of Egypt would be slain, so that, without a doubt, among them are also understood the only-begotten.
r Luke 2:21.