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Scripture • World English Bible
Matthew 1:1–17
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.
8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.
10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.
15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.
16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
The opening of Matthew reads like a family album—names stacked one after another. At first glance it can seem dry. Read more carefully and it becomes a declaration: Jesus is rooted in the promises God made to Abraham and in the royal line of David. That matters for a man’s heart. It means the King is not distant or abstract. He belongs to history and to a people; he is both promise and fulfillment.
This genealogy doesn’t hide the mess. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the mention of David’s compromise are in the list. Matthew is honest about scandal and failure because the gospel arrives in the middle of real life. If your family is fractured, if your past choices are shameful, this passage does not point you to exclusion—it points you to the King who enters the broken line.
For men, that is both comfort and summons. Comfort, because Jesus identifies with our human story—he comes through a flawed line to bring restoration. Summons, because belonging to his lineage means responsibility: the promises are now active in a real man’s life. We are called to live with courage, repentance, faithfulness, and resolute obedience so that the kingdom advances through ordinary, sometimes messy lives.
So don’t wait for perfection before you step into God’s purposes. Bring your history honestly to Jesus, take practical steps to make things right where you can, and let your life testify that the King makes all things new.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Look at your family tree or personal history this week and write down one broken or messy story you want to bring honestly to God and one way you can begin to repair or bless that relationship.
- Memorize Matthew 1:1 and say it aloud each morning this week as a reminder that Jesus is both Son of David and Son of Abraham—Lord of promise and fulfillment.
- Invite a friend, coworker, or neighbor to a coffee or walk and share, in plain terms, one way the story of Jesus entering a real, flawed family gives you hope.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came into a real, messy human story. Thank you that you did not wait for perfect people before entering our world. Help me to see my family and my failures through the lens of your mercy and purpose. Give me courage to bring painful things before you, to make practical amends where I can, and to live with the responsibility of a man who follows the promised King. Teach me to point others to your hope and to walk in faithful obedience. Amen.
Memory Verse
Matthew 1:16 — Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (WEB)
“Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 1
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Bible Context
Read all of Matthew 1
Matthew 1
World English Bible • WEB
1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
6Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.
7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.
8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.
9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.
10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.
14Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.
15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.
16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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