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Christmas · Christmas Eve · Year C

Matthew 1:18-25

The Genealogy of Jesus

December 24, 2027

Saint Joseph’s Dream, Daniele Crespi
Saint Joseph’s Dream, Daniele Crespi, c. 1620–1630Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Joseph sleeps sitting up in his workshop, his head on his hand, while an angel in red touches him and points toward the room where Mary is.But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.Daniele CrespiA Milanese painter of the early seventeenth century who died young of the plague, known for his serious, devout religious pictures.Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaThe Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, built to house the picture collection of the Habsburg emperors.Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 1:18-25Mt 1:18-25
Epistle1 John 4:7-161 Jn 4:7-16
Old TestamentIsa. 7:10-14Is 7:10-14
PsalterPs. 110:1-4Ps 110:1-4

Overview & Insights

“They shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

It may seem surprising to find a genealogy at the opening of Matthew’s Gospel, but genealogies were a common means for establishing and substantiating the identity of a person. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus demonstrates that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah-King, from David’s royal line. Introducing Jesus’ identity at the very beginning of the Gospel sets the tone for the next four chapters (1:1–4:16), which focus on elaborating the identity of Jesus as the Davidic Messiah-King who enacts Israel’s restoration from exile, as faithful and obedient son, as Gentile hope, and as “God with us.” In relation to the rest of Matthew 1, the genealogy poses a conundrum that Matthew will solve in 1:18–25: how Jesus can legitimately appropriate Joseph’s lineage even though his biological connection is to Mary (and not Joseph [1:16]). Matthew highlights Joseph’s adoption of Jesus through his naming of Jesus (1:21, 25).

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Take it further: Matthew 1:18-25

Commentary

Working Preacher: Matthew 1:18-25Working Preacher: Mt 1:18-25 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis on Joseph's obedience and Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14.

Enduring Word: Matthew 1Enduring Word: Mt 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on the genealogy and the angel's message to Joseph.

Precept Austin: Matthew 1 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Mt 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse level study helps and gathered quotations on the nativity account.

BibleHub: Matthew 1:18 CommentariesBibleHub: Mt 1:18 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on Joseph's dilemma and the virgin birth.

StudyLight: Matthew 1StudyLight: Mt 1 StudyLight

Combined commentary set, including Barnes and Gill, on the chapter.

Sermons That Work: A Daring Plan Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

Anglican homily on Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25 read together.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Matthew 1:18BibleHub Interlinear: Mt 1:18 BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for how Matthew describes Mary's pregnancy.

BibleProject: Matthew 1-13 OverviewBibleProject: Mt 1-13 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the first half of Matthew's Gospel and its literary design.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Matthew 1Catena: Mt 1 Catena

Patristic comment chain on the virgin birth and the naming of Jesus.

Worship & Prayers

The Lectionary Page: Advent 4A The Lectionary Page

Anglican collect and full set of readings that pair with this Gospel.

Podcast

Working Preacher: Brainwave 328, Fourth Sunday of Advent Working Preacher

Luther Seminary faculty discuss Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:10-16 together.

Art & Music

Vanderbilt: Advent 4A Art & Texts Vanderbilt

Curated public domain artwork keyed to this Gospel and Old Testament pair.

Study Hub

Textweek: Matthew 1Textweek: Mt 1 Textweek

Classic study hub gathering commentary, art, and worship links for the passage.

Questions preachers ask

Why does Matthew open with a genealogy?

Matthew roots Jesus in the line of Abraham and David, then tells how the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and how Joseph, in a dream, is told to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

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