Matthew 1 Overview

In this chapter, Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus Christ and describes the circumstances surrounding his conception and birth.

• Genealogy of Jesus (vv. 1-17): The chapter begins with a record of Jesus’ ancestry, starting from Abraham, through David, and down to Joseph, Mary’s husband. It is structured in three sets of fourteen generations, highlighting Jesus as the Messiah in the line of David.
• Announcement to Joseph (vv. 18-23): Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant during their betrothal, before they came together, and plans to divorce her quietly. An angel appears in a dream, explaining the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and will save people from their sins, fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah about the virgin conceiving.
• Joseph’s Response (vv. 24-25): Joseph obeys the angel, takes Mary as his wife, and does not have marital relations before the birth. He names the child Jesus.