Christmas · Christmas Eve · Year C
Matthew 1:18-25
The Genealogy of Jesus
December 24, 2027
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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Commentary
Working Preacher: Matthew 1:18-25 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis on Joseph's obedience and Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14.
Enduring Word: Matthew 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse by verse evangelical notes on the genealogy and the angel's message to Joseph.
Precept Austin: Matthew 1 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse level study helps and gathered quotations on the nativity account.
BibleHub: Matthew 1:18 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on Joseph's dilemma and the virgin birth.
StudyLight: Matthew 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 1:18 BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for how Matthew describes Mary's pregnancy.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Matthew's structure and use of the Old Testament.
BibleProject: Matthew 1-13 Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of the first half of Matthew's Gospel and its literary design.
The Church Fathers
Worship & Prayers
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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