Bible Glide

Matthew 1 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Matthew 1 introduces Jesus as the promised Messiah by tracing His family line back to Abraham and David. It then turns to His conception and birth, showing how God works through Mary, Joseph, and the words of the angel to bring about the saving mission of Jesus.

What happens in Matthew 1?

The chapter begins with a genealogy that connects Jesus to Israel's key covenant promises and royal line. It moves through generations marked by faith, failure, exile, and restoration, ending with Joseph and Mary. The second half explains Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit and Joseph's struggle to act rightly. An angel tells Joseph to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. The chapter closes by stressing fulfillment of prophecy and the meaning of Immanuel, God with us.

Matthew opens his Gospel by presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. Chapter 1 sets the foundation for the rest of the book by establishing Jesus' identity, His legal connection to David, and the divine nature of His birth. It prepares readers for the signs, teaching, death, and resurrection that will follow.

  • Promise FulfilledJesus is shown as the long-awaited one who stands in the line of Abraham and David.
  • God With UsThe name Immanuel points to God's presence coming near in the birth of Jesus.
  • Obedient FaithJoseph trusts God's word and responds with quiet, faithful obedience.
  • What does the genealogy show about Jesus' place in God's promises to Israel?
  • Why do the angel's words to Joseph matter for understanding who Jesus is and what He came to do?
  • How does Joseph's response model trust when God's plan is not what he first expected?

Read the full text of Matthew 1 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Matthew

Matthew 1

The Genealogy of Jesus

1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

and Hezron the father of Ram.

4Ram was the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

5Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of David the king.

Next:

David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

7Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

and Abijah the father of Asa.

8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

and Joram the father of Uzziah.

9Uzziah was the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers

at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,

and Eliakim the father of Azor.

14Azor was the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Achim,

and Achim the father of Eliud.

15Eliud was the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,

of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

The Birth of Jesus

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23“Behold, the virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son,

and they will call Him Immanuel”

(which means, “God with us”).

24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife.25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

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