Matthew 1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:2-16

These verses contain the genealogy of Jesus. Luke also Luke 3:0 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 found in the Old Testament are here omitted; and, The tables of Matthew and Luke appear in many points to be different. From Adam to Abraham Matthew has mentioned no names, and Luke only has given the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:17

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 copies of that among them, and those chiefly in their synagogues. They would therefore naturally devise plans to keep up the remembrance of the principal facts in their history. One method of doing this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:18

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 Genesis 24:55; Judges 14:8; Deuteronomy 20:7), yet such was the nature of this engagement, that unfaithfulness to each other was deemed adultery. See Deuteronomy 22:25, Deuteronomy 22:28.With child by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:19

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, tender, merciful; that he was so attached to Mary that he was not willing that she should be exposed to public shame. He sought, therefore, secretly to dissolve the connection, and to restore her to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:20

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 guide the thoughtful and the anxious. And when we have looked patiently at a perplexed subject, and know not what to do, then God, as in the case of Joseph, will interpose to lead us and direct our way.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:21

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 retained, Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8. It was a very common name among the Jews.He shall save - This expresses the same as the name, and on this account the name was given to him. He saves people by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:22

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 the command of Rezin and Pekah. Ahaz was alarmed, and seems to have contemplated calling in aid from Assyria to defend him. Isaiah was directed, in his consternation, to go to Ahaz, and tell him to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:23

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 Hebrews 10:5; “Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”And they shall call his name Emmanuel - That is, his name... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:24

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. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:25

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 them. See the notes at Matthew 13:55-56. The language here evidently implies that she lived as the wife of Joseph after the birth of Jesus.Her first-born son - Her oldest son, or the one who had the... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:2-16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 1:25

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