View Matthew 1 in the note window.
The object of the Spirit of God, in this Gospel, being to present Jehovah
as fulfilling the promises made to Israel, and the prophecies that relate
to the Messiah (and no one can fail to be struck with the number of
references to their fulfilment), He commences with the genealogy of the
Lord, starting from David and Abraham, the two stocks from which the
Messianic genealogy sprang, and to which the promises had been made. The
genealogy is divided into three periods, conformably to three great
divisions of the history of the people: from Abraham to the establishment
of royalty, in the person of David; from the establishment of royalty to
the captivity; and from the captivity to Jesus.
We may observe that the Holy Ghost mentions, in this genealogy, the
grievous sins committed by the persons whose names are given, magnifying
the sovereign grace of God who could bestow a Saviour in connection with
such sins as those of Judah, with a poor Moabitess brought in amidst His
people, and with crimes like those of David.
It is the legal genealogy which is given here, that is to say, the
genealogy of Joseph, of whom Christ was the rightful heir according to
Jewish law. The evangelist has omitted three kings of the parentage of
Ahab, in order to have the fourteen generations in each period. Jehoahaz
and Jehoiakim are also omitted. The object of the genealogy is not at all
affected by this circumstance. The point was to give it as recognised by
the Jews, and all the kings were well known to all.
The evangelist briefly relates the facts concerning the birth of
Jesus-facts which are of infinite and eternal importance, not only to the
Jews, who were immediately interested in them, but to ourselves-facts in
which God has deigned to link His own glory with our interests, with man.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Her posterity was consequently legally that
of Joseph, as to the rights of inheritance; but the child she carried in
her womb was of divine origin, conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost.
The angel of Jehovah is sent, as the instrument of providence, to satisfy
the tender conscience and upright heart of Joseph, by communicating to him
that that which Mary had conceived was of the Holy Ghost.
We may remark here, that the angel on this occasion addresses Joseph as
"son of David." The Holy Ghost thus draws our attention to the relationship
of Joseph (the reputed father of Jesus) to David, Mary being called his
wife. The angel gives at the same time the name of Jesus (that is, Jehovah
the Saviour) to the child that should be born. He applies this name to the
deliverance of Israel from the condition into which sin had plunged them.
[see note #2] All these circumstances happened, in order to fulfil that which
Jehovah had said by the mouth of His prophet, "Behold a [the] virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
Here then is that which the Spirit of God sets before us in these few
verses: Jesus, the Son of David, conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost;
Jehovah, the Saviour, who delivers Israel from their sins; God with them;
He who accomplished those marvellous prophecies which, more or less
plainly, drew the outline that the Lord Jesus alone could fill up.
Joseph, a just man, simple in heart and obedient, discerns without
difficulty the revelation of the Lord, and obeys it.
These titles stamp the character of this Gospel, that is, of the way Christ
is presented in it. And how wonderful this revelation of Him by whom the
words and promises of Jehovah were to be fulfilled! What a groundwork of
truth for the understanding of what this glorious and mysterious Person
was, of whom the Old Testament had said enough to awaken the desires and to
confound the minds of the people to whom He was given!
Born of a woman, born under the law, heir to all the rights of David
according to the flesh, also the Son of God, Jehovah the Saviour, God with
His people:-who could comprehend or fathom the mystery of His nature in
whom all these things were combined? His life in fact, as we shall see,
displays the obedience of the perfect man, the perfections and the power of
God.
The titles which we have just named, and which we read in chapter 1: 20-23,
are connected with His glory in the midst of Israel-that is to say, the
heir of David, Jesus the Saviour of His people, and Emmanuel. His birth of
the Holy Ghost accomplished Psalm 2: 7 with regard to Him as a man born on
the earth. The name of Jesus, and His conception by the power of the Holy
Ghost, no doubt go beyond this relationship, but are linked also in an
especial manner with His position in Israel. [see note #3]
