THE BOOK OF THE GENERATION - This is the proper title of the chapter. It is the same as to say, “the account of the ancestry or family, or the genealogical table of Jesus Christ.” The phrase is common in Jewish writings. Compare Genesis 5:1. “This is the book of the generations of Adam,” i. e., the... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses contain the genealogy of Jesus. Luke also Luke 3 gives a genealogy of the Messiah. No two passages of Scripture have caused more difficulty than these, and various attempts have been made to explain them. There are two sources of difficulty in these catalogues. * Many names that are f... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ALL THE GENERATIONS ... - This division of the names in the genealogical tables was doubtless adopted for the purpose of aiding the memory. It was common among the Jews; and other similar instances are preserved. The Jews were destitute of books besides the Old Testament, and they had but few cop... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST - The circumstances attending his birth. WAS ON THIS WISE - In this manner. ESPOUSED - Betrothed, or engaged to be married. There was commonly an interval of ten or twevle months, among the Jews, between the contract of marriage and the celebration of the nuptials (see... [ Continue Reading ]
HER HUSBAND - The word in the original does not imply that they were married. It means here the man to whom she was espoused. A JUST MAN - Justice consists in rendering to every man his own. Yet this is evidently not the character intended to be given here of Joseph. The meaning is that he was kind... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS - He did not act hastily. He did not take the course which the law would have permitted him to do, if he had been hasty, violent, or unjust. It was a case deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and character of his chosen companion. God will guid... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS NAME JESUS - The name Jesus is the same as Saviour. It is derived from the verb signifying to save, In Hebrew it is the same as Joshua. In two places in the New Testament it is used where it means Joshua, the leader of the Jews into Canaan, and in our translation the name Joshua should have been... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ALL THIS WAS DONE - The prophecy here quoted is recorded in Isaiah 7:14. See the notes at that passage. The prophecy was delivered about 740 years before Christ, in the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah. The land of Judea was threatened with an invasion by the united armies of Syria and Israel, under... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD - Matthew clearly understands this as applying literally to a virgin. Compare Luke 1:34. It thus implies that the conception of Christ was miraculous, or that the body of the Messiah was created directly by the power of God, agreeably to the declaration in Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING RAISED FROM SLEEP - Having fully awoke. DID AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD BIDDEN HIM - That is, he took Mary to wife. Probably this was done immediately, since he was now convinced of her innocence, and, by delay, he would not leave any ground of suspicion that he had not confidence in her.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEW HER NOT - The doctrine of the virginity of Mary before the birth of Jesus is a doctrine of the Scriptures, and is very important to be believed. But the Bible does not affirm that she had no children afterward. Indeed, all the accounts in the New Testament lead us to suppose that she _did_ have... [ Continue Reading ]