_The genealogy of Christ._ Two lists of the human ancestors of Christ are given in the New Testament: Matthew, writing for Jewish Christians, begins with Abraham; Luke (Luke 3:23-38), writing for Gentile Christians, goes back to Adam the father of all men (for other points of difference, see on Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:2. ABRAHAM BEGAT ISAAC. ‘Begat,' repeated throughout, makes prominent the idea of a living connection and succession. JUDAH, the direct ancestor, is named; HIS BRETHREN are added, to indicate the connection with the whole covenant nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:3. TAMAR, a heathen woman, guilty of intentional incest. The Jews and some commentators seek to excuse her, but the stain must be admitted. The mention of this name not only proves the correctness of the genealogy, but tends to humble Jewish pride and exalt the grace of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:5. RAHAB. Another heathen woman, a sinner also. Undoubtedly the woman of Jericho (Joshua 2:1; Joshua 6:23; Joshua 6:25). But by heroic faith she rose above her degradation. RUTH. Still another heathen woman; though personally not criminal, to her also a stain attached according to the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:6. DAVID THE KING. Emphatic as the culminating name of an ascending series. Even here pride is humbled; the wife of a heathen is mentioned, David's partner in the deepest guilt of his life, but also in his most profound penitence (Psalms 51). THE WIFE OF URIAH. ‘Her that had been the wif... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:8. Between JORAM and UZZIAH, three names are intentionally omitted: Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, probably to reduce the number of generations. These three were chosen, either because personally unworthy, or because descendants to the fourth generation from Jezebel, through Athaliah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:11. JOSIAH. The next king was Jehoia-kim (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 26:8). He was forcibly placed on the throne by the king of Egypt, hence unworthy of mention. THE REMOVAL. Spoken of indefinitely, as it extended over a considerable period of time during three successive reigns. The wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:12. The succeeding list cannot be verified, although we meet with the names of Salathiel (Shealtiel), Zerrubbabel (Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 12:1; Haggai 1:1) in the Old Testament. ‘In 1 Chronicles 3:19, Zerubbabel is said to have been the son of Pedaiah, brother of Salathiel. Either this may hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:13. ABIUD. This name is not mentioned among the sons of Zerubbabel in 1 Chronicles 3:19-20. He is supposed by some to be identical with _Hananiah_ (1 Chronicles 3:19); by others with _Hodaiah_ (1 Chronicles 3:24), one of his descendants, who is further supposed to be the Judah of Luke 3:26... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:16. JOSEPH, the legal father, whose genealogy is here given. In Luke 3:23, Joseph is called ‘the son of Heli.' Explanations: (1.) Luke gives the genealogy of Mary, Hell being her father, and the father-in-law of Joseph. This is the most probable view, since the writers of the New Testamen... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:17. FOURTEEN GENERATIONS. There were exactly fourteen generations from Abraham to David; the two other series are made to correspond. But to make out the second and third series, one name must be counted twice. We prefer to repeat that of David, and close the second series with Josiah, sin... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:18. THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. Same word as in Matthew 1:1 (‘generation'). Here it means ‘origin.' The more usual word implies a ‘begetting'; the choice of this word indicates something peculiar in this birth, as does the form: ‘Abraham begat Isaac,' etc., etc.; ‘the birth of Jesus Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
The circumstances preceding the Nativity; Mary, doubted by her betrothed husband; his design of putting her away privately; her vindication by means of a dream; Joseph's faith; the name in accordance with prophecy; the actual birth. As the sinless second Adam, and as the Saviour of men, Jesus could... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:19. JOSEPH, according to the Jewish law, HER HUSBAND. Comp. Matthew 1:20; Genesis 29:21; Deuteronomy 22:24. A JUST MAN, a man of uprightness. His conduct does not compel us to accept the sense: a kind man. He was influenced by justice. Mary had possibly told him of the revelation made to... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:20. BUT WHILE HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS. As ‘a just man,' he was pained and grieved, yet not having entirely lost confidence in her, he thought the matter over; then came the deliverance from doubt. An honest doubter will obtain light, but not he who gives way to passion. Man's extremity,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:22. BUT ALL THIS HATH COME TO PASS. An explanation of the Evangelist, who everywhere points to the fulfilment of prophecy. THAT, i.e., ‘in order that.' The event fulfilled God's purpose as predicted, and therefore took place. The prophecy depends on the fact as purposed in the Divine min... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:23. THE VIRGIN, not _a_ virgin. The prophetic spirit of Isaiah had in view a particular virgin, the mother of the true Emmanuel. The quotation is but slightly varied from the text of the Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, in common use among the Jews at that time... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:24. THEN JOSEPH did. He believed, therefore he obeyed. Thus early in the Gospel is obedience represented as the fruit of faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 1:25. KNEW HER NOT. A Hebrew form for conjugal cohabitation; comp. Luke 1:36. A SON. The words answering to ‘her ‘and ‘first-born ‘are omitted by some of the best authorities. They may, however, have been left out to support the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. In Luke 2:7, the... [ Continue Reading ]