Matthew – Chapter 1

New Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 of Matthew begins: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" The chapter centers on David, Joseph and Jacob. Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and holiness. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren.

3And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram.

4And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.

5And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse.

6And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias.

7And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa.

8And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias.

9And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias.

10And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias.

11And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.

12And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel.

13And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.

14And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud.

15And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.

16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.

18Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.

19Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.

20But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying:

23Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

25And he knew her not, till she brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus.

Important Verses in Matthew 1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Matthew 1:1

And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.

Matthew 1:4

But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:20

Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23

Historical Context

Matthew belongs to the New Testament and was composed for jewish Christians, shown that Jesus fulfills the Scriptures of Israel. Chapter 1 of 28 opens the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. It is a genealogical record linking earlier promises to later generations with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on David, Joseph, Jacob and Abraham, the principal figures named in this chapter. The chapter begins: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" The chapter ends with: "And he knew her not, till she brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus. " In terms of historical background, Matthew wrote for Jewish Christians, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets—the Son of David, the new Moses who delivers the Sermon on the Mount. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians.

Who Wrote It

The Apostle Matthew (Levi), the former tax collector, according to unanimous early tradition

When It Was Written

About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians

Catholic Commentary

This chapter traces lines of descent that connect earlier promises to later figures in salvation history. A pivotal line is verse 1: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Matthew 1 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Matthew shows Christ as the new Moses and true Israel (CIC 577). St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 2772).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Matthew 1 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.

People in This Chapter

David6 mentionsJoseph5 mentionsJacob4 mentionsAbraham3 mentionsMary3 mentionsZerubbabel2 mentions

Reflection for Today

According to Catholic teaching, Matthew Chapter 1 establishes Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah through His genealogy and virgin birth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Jesus is "true God and true man" (CIC 464), and this chapter provides the scriptural foundation for both His human lineage and His divine origin through the Holy Spirit.

The genealogy includes four women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba—whom the Church Fathers saw as prefiguring Mary and demonstrating God's inclusive plan of salvation. Catholic theology emphasizes that Jesus' descent from David fulfills the messianic prophecies and establishes His right to the throne of Israel, which He exercises as King of the universal Church.

The virgin birth, affirmed by the Councils of the Church and the Catechism (CIC 496-507), is a dogma of Catholic faith. Mary's perpetual virginity—before, during, and after Christ's birth—is taught by the Magisterium as revealing the unique nature of Christ's conception by the Holy Spirit. Joseph's role as foster father of Jesus is honored in Catholic devotion; he is patron of the universal Church, model of faith, and protector of the Holy Family.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Matthew Chapter 1 about?

Matthew 1 contains 25 verses. It opens with "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" and closes with "And he knew her not, till she brought forth her first born son: and he called his name Jesus. ". The book as a whole is gospel.

What is a key verse in Matthew 1?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Matthew Chapter 1?

This chapter mentions David, Joseph, Jacob, Abraham, Mary, among others.

Who wrote Matthew and when?

The Apostle Matthew (Levi), the former tax collector, according to unanimous early tradition. About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians.

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