Matthew 1 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Matthew 1 Devotional: Explore the genealogy of Jesus Christ and the miraculous story of His birth. Discover how the Old Testament promises are fulfilled in the Savior who is "Immanuel," God with us.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. We begin a new journey today in the Gospel of Matthew. While Mark began with a shout in the wilderness, Matthew begins with a family tree. It is a powerful reminder that our God is a God of history, a God of promises, and a God who enters into our human story. Let us prepare our hearts to see the faithfulness of God across the generations.

Matthew Chapter 1 Introduction:

The King’s Lineage and the Miracle of His Coming

Matthew 1 serves as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It opens with a detailed genealogy, tracing Jesus’ legal line through King David and Abraham. This list isn't just a record of names; it is a record of God’s grace, including people with broken pasts to show that Jesus came for sinners. Following this, we witness the supernatural account of Christ’s conception. As your Statement of Faith affirms, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that a virgin would give birth to a son.

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we encounter the name Immanuel, which means "God with us." This is the miracle of the Incarnation—that the sovereign Creator did not stay distant but became fully man to save us. We also see the character of Joseph, a man who moved from confusion to obedience when God spoke. Matthew 1 reminds us that God is in the details of history and in the details of our lives. He saves His people from their sins not through our own effort, but through the finished work of the One whose very name, Jesus, means "The Lord Saves."

Bible Verse

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

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

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

Abihud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Prayer

The angel told Joseph, "Do not be afraid." As we come before the One who came down to dwell among us, let us cast aside our fears and approach Him with faith and gratitude.

Prayer Theme: "Immanuel, God With Us"

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You for Your perfect faithfulness. We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are Your inspired Word, and we see that truth today as You fulfill Your ancient promises in Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, to be our Savior and our King.

Lord, help me to rest in the reality that You are "Immanuel"—God with me. In moments of loneliness or uncertainty, remind my heart that You have entered into my world and will never leave me nor forsake me. Just as You worked through the messy history of the genealogy, I trust that You are working through the messy parts of my own story to accomplish Your perfect will.

We pray for those who feel separated from You today, lost in the weight of their own sin and disobedience. May they hear the Good News that Jesus came specifically to save His people from their sins. We lift up the families in our community, asking that our homes would be places where Your presence is felt and Your Word is honored. We pray for a world that is searching for hope in temporary things; may they find the eternal hope that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Son of God. Amen.

Daily Application Question

The genealogy of Jesus includes many people who were far from perfect, yet God used them in His plan. How does this encourage you regarding your own past or your current mistakes?

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew 1

Why is the genealogy of Jesus important? It proves that Jesus is the legal heir to the throne of David and the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham. It establishes His credentials as the promised Messiah.
What does "conceived by the Holy Spirit" mean? It means that Jesus did not have a human father. This miraculous act allowed Him to be fully God and fully man, born without a sinful nature, so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Why did the angel tell Joseph to name Him "Jesus"? The name Jesus (Yeshua) means "The Lord is Salvation." It specifically pointed to His mission: to save His people from their sins.

Thank you for starting the Gospel of Matthew with us! May you walk today in the comfort of knowing that God is with you. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the visit of the Magi in Matthew Chapter 2.

Navigate the Journey

Previous: ← Matthew Chapter 1 | Next: Matthew Chapter 2 →

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