20 But G1161 while he G846 thought on G1760 these things, G5023 behold, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 appeared G5316 unto him G846 in G2596 a dream, G3677 saying, G3004 Joseph, G2501 thou son G5207 of David, G1138 fear G5399 not G3361 to take G3880 unto thee G4675 Mary G3137 thy wife: G1135 for G1063 that which is conceived G1080 in G1722 her G846 is G2076 of G1537 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
Now G1161 the birth G1083 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 was G2258 on this wise: G3779 When as G1063 his G846 mother G3384 Mary G3137 was espoused G3423 to Joseph, G2501 before G4250 G2228 they G846 came together, G4905 she was found G2147 with child G1722 G1064 G2192 of G1537 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
And he said, H559 Hear H8085 ye now, O house H1004 of David; H1732 Is it a small thing H4592 for you to weary H3811 men, H582 but will ye weary H3811 my God H430 also?
How long wilt thou go about, H2559 O thou backsliding H7728 daughter? H1323 for the LORD H3068 hath created H1254 a new thing H2319 in the earth, H776 A woman H5347 shall compass H5437 a man. H1397
Then H1571 will I cast away H3988 the seed H2233 of Jacob, H3290 and David H1732 my servant, H5650 so that I will not take H3947 any of his seed H2233 to be rulers H4910 over the seed H2233 of Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3446 and Jacob: H3290 for I will cause their captivity H7622 to return, H7725 H7725 and have mercy H7355 on them.
And G1161 when they G846 were departed, G402 behold, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 appeareth G5316 to Joseph G2501 in G2596 a dream, G3677 saying, G3004 Arise, G1453 and take G3880 the young child G3813 and G2532 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 flee G5343 into G1519 Egypt, G125 and G2532 be thou G2468 there G1563 until G2193 I G302 bring G2036 thee G4671 word: G2036 for G1063 Herod G2264 will G3195 seek G2212 the young child G3813 to destroy G622 him. G846
But G1161 when Herod G2264 was dead, G5053 behold, G2400 an angel G32 of the Lord G2962 appeareth G5316 in G2596 a dream G3677 to Joseph G2501 in G1722 Egypt, G125
But G1161 when he heard G191 that G3754 Archelaus G745 did reign G936 in G1909 Judaea G2449 in the room G473 of his G846 father G3962 Herod, G2264 he was afraid G5399 to go G565 thither: G1563 notwithstanding, G1161 being warned of God G5537 in G2596 a dream, G3677 he turned aside G402 into G1519 the parts G3313 of Galilee: G1056
And G2532 the whole G3956 multitude G4128 of the people G2992 were G2258 praying G4336 without G1854 at the time G5610 of incense. G2368 And G1161 there appeared G3700 unto him G846 an angel G32 of the Lord G2962 standing G2476 on G1537 the right side G1188 of the altar G2379 of incense. G2368 And G2532 when Zacharias G2197 saw G1492 him, he was troubled, G5015 and G2532 fear G5401 fell G1968 upon G1909 him. G846 But G1161 the angel G32 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Fear G5399 not, G3361 Zacharias: G2197 for G1360 thy G4675 prayer G1162 is heard; G1522 and G2532 thy G4675 wife G1135 Elisabeth G1665 shall bear G1080 thee G4671 a son, G5207 and G2532 thou shalt call G2564 his G846 name G3686 John. G2491
And G2532 the angel G32 answering G611 said G2036 unto him, G846 I G1473 am G1510 Gabriel, G1043 that stand G3936 in the presence G1799 of God; G2316 and G2532 am sent G649 to speak G2980 unto G4314 thee, G4571 and G2532 to shew G2097 thee G4671 these G5023 glad tidings. G2097
And G1161 in G1722 the sixth G1623 month G3376 the angel G32 Gabriel G1043 was sent G649 from G5259 God G2316 unto G1519 a city G4172 of Galilee, G1056 named G3739 G3686 Nazareth, G3478 To G4314 a virgin G3933 espoused G3423 to a man G435 whose G3739 name G3686 was Joseph, G2501 of G1537 the house G3624 of David; G1138 and G2532 the virgin's G3933 name G3686 was Mary. G3137 And G2532 the angel G32 came in G1525 unto G4314 her, G846 and said, G2036 Hail, G5463 thou that art highly favoured, G5487 the Lord G2962 is with G3326 thee: G4675 blessed G2127 art thou G4771 among G1722 women. G1135 And G1161 when she saw G1492 him, she was troubled G1298 at G1909 his G846 saying, G3056 and G2532 cast in her mind G1260 what manner G4217 of salutation G783 this G3778 should be. G1498 And G2532 the angel G32 said G2036 unto her, G846 Fear G5399 not, G3361 Mary: G3137 for G1063 thou hast found G2147 favour G5485 with G3844 God. G2316 And, G2532 behold, G2400 thou shalt conceive G4815 in G1722 thy womb, G1064 and G2532 bring forth G5088 a son, G5207 and G2532 shalt call G2564 his G846 name G3686 JESUS. G2424 He G3778 shall be G2071 great, G3173 and G2532 shall be called G2564 the Son G5207 of the Highest: G5310 and G2532 the Lord G2962 God G2316 shall give G1325 unto him G846 the throne G2362 of his G846 father G3962 David: G1138 And G2532 he shall reign G936 over G1909 the house G3624 of Jacob G2384 for G1519 ever; G165 and G2532 of his G846 kingdom G932 there shall be G2071 no G3756 end. G5056 Then G1161 said G2036 Mary G3137 unto G4314 the angel, G32 How G4459 shall G2071 this G5124 be, G2071 seeing G1893 I know G1097 not G3756 a man? G435 And G2532 the angel G32 answered G611 and said G2036 unto her, G846 The Holy G40 Ghost G4151 shall come G1904 upon G1909 thee, G4571 and G2532 the power G1411 of the Highest G5310 shall overshadow G1982 thee: G4671 therefore G1352 also G2532 that holy thing G40 which shall be born G1080 of G1537 thee G4675 shall be called G2564 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And, G2532 behold, G2400 thy G4675 cousin G4773 Elisabeth, G1665 she G846 hath G4815 also G2532 conceived G4815 a son G5207 in G1722 her G846 old age: G1094 and G2532 this G3778 is G2076 the sixth G1623 month G3376 with her, G846 who G3588 was called G2564 barren. G4723 For G3754 with G3844 God G2316 nothing G3756 G3956 G4487 shall be impossible. G101 And G1161 Mary G3137 said, G2036 Behold G2400 the handmaid G1399 of the Lord; G2962 be it G1096 unto me G3427 according G2596 to thy G4675 word. G4487 And G2532 the angel G32 departed G565 from G575 her. G846
And G1161 Joseph G2501 also G2532 went up G305 from G575 Galilee, G1056 out of G1537 the city G4172 of Nazareth, G3478 into G1519 Judaea, G2449 unto G1519 the city G4172 of David, G1138 which G3748 is called G2564 Bethlehem; G965 (because G1223 he G846 was G1511 of G1537 the house G3624 and G2532 lineage G3965 of David:) G1138
And G2532 there were G2258 in G1722 the same G846 country G5561 shepherds G4166 abiding in the field, G63 G2532 keeping G5442 watch G5438 over G1909 their G846 flock G4167 by night. G3571 And, G2532 lo, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 came upon G2186 them, G846 and G2532 the glory G1391 of the Lord G2962 shone round about G4034 them: G846 and G2532 they were sore G3173 afraid. G5399 G5401 And G2532 the angel G32 said G2036 unto them, G846 Fear G5399 not: G3361 for, G1063 behold, G2400 I bring G2097 you G5213 good tidings G2097 of great G3173 joy, G5479 which G3748 shall be G2071 to all G3956 people. G2992 For G3754 unto you G5213 is born G5088 this day G4594 in G1722 the city G4172 of David G1138 a Saviour, G4990 which G3739 is G2076 Christ G5547 the Lord. G2962 And G2532 this G5124 shall be a sign G4592 unto you; G5213 Ye shall find G2147 the babe G1025 wrapped in swaddling clothes, G4683 lying G2749 in G1722 a manger. G5336 And G2532 suddenly G1810 there was G1096 with G4862 the angel G32 a multitude G4128 of the heavenly G3770 host G4756 praising G134 God, G2316 and G2532 saying, G3004 Glory G1391 to God G2316 in G1722 the highest, G5310 and G2532 on G1909 earth G1093 peace, G1515 good will G2107 toward G1722 men. G444
The thoughts H4284 of the righteous H6662 are right: H4941 but the counsels H8458 of the wicked H7563 are deceit. H4820
I am thy servant; H5650 give me understanding, H995 that I may know H3045 thy testimonies. H5713
In a dream, H2472 in a vision H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep H8639 sleep falleth H5307 upon men, H582 in slumberings H8572 upon the bed; H4904 Then he openeth H1540 the ears H241 of men, H582 and sealeth H2856 their instruction, H4561 That he may withdraw H5493 man H120 from his purpose, H4639 and hide H3680 pride H1466 from man. H1397
In thoughts H5587 from the visions H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep sleep H8639 falleth H5307 on men, H582 Fear H6343 came H7122 upon me, and trembling, H7461 which made all H7230 my bones H6106 to shake. H6342 Then a spirit H7307 passed H2498 before my face; H6440 the hair H8185 of my flesh H1320 stood up: H5568 It stood still, H5975 but I could not discern H5234 the form H4758 thereof: an image H8544 was before mine eyes, H5869 there was silence, H1827 and I heard H8085 a voice, H6963 saying,
Then Manoah H4495 intreated H6279 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 O H994 my Lord, H136 let H4994 the man H376 of God H430 which thou didst send H7971 come again H935 unto us, and teach H3384 us what we shall do H6213 unto the child H5288 that shall be born. H3205 And God H430 hearkened H8085 to the voice H6963 of Manoah; H4495 and the angel H4397 of God H430 came again H935 unto the woman H802 as she sat H3427 in the field: H7704 but Manoah H4495 her husband H376 was not with her.
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto the woman, H802 and said H559 unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, H6135 and bearest H3205 not: but thou shalt conceive, H2029 and bear H3205 a son. H1121
And the angel H4397 of God H430 spake H559 unto me in a dream, H2472 saying, Jacob: H3290 And I said, H559 Here am I.
And Elijah H452 said H559 unto her, Fear H3372 not; go H935 and do H6213 as thou hast said: H1697 but make H6213 me thereof H8033 a little H6996 cake H5692 first, H7223 and bring H3318 it unto me, and after H314 make H6213 for thee and for thy son. H1121
And Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 sware H7650 unto them and to their men, H582 saying, H559 Fear H3372 not to serve H5647 the Chaldeans: H3778 dwell in H3427 the land, H776 and serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and it shall be well H3190 with you.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 1
Commentary on Matthew 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Gospel According to ST. Matthew
Chapter 1
This evangelist begins with the account of Christ's parentage and birth, the ancestors from whom he descended, and the manner of his entry into the world, to make it appear that he was indeed the Messiah promised, for it was foretold that he should be the son of David, and should be born of a virgin; and that he was so is here plainly shown; for here is,
Thus methodically is the life of our blessed Saviour written, as lives should be written, for the clearer proposing of the example of them.
Mat 1:1-17
Concerning this genealogy of our Saviour, observe,
In calling Christ the son of David, and the son of Abraham, he shows that God is faithful to his promise, and will make good every word that he has spoken; and this.
Some particulars we may observe in the genealogy.
Mat 1:18-25
The mystery of Christ's incarnation is to be adored, not pried into. If we know not the way of the Spirit in the formation of common persons, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of any one that is with child (Eccles. 11:5), much less do we know how the blessed Jesus was formed in the womb of the blessed virgin. When David admires how he himself was made in secret, and curiously wrought (Ps. 139:13-16), perhaps he speaks in the spirit of Christ's incarnation. Some circumstances attending the birth of Christ we find here which are not in Luke, though it is more largely recorded here. Here we have,
Observe,
Some persons of a rigorous temper would blame Joseph for his clemency: but it is here spoken of to his praise; because he was a just man, therefore he was not willing to expose her. He was a religious, good man; and therefore inclined to be merciful as God is, and to forgive as one that was forgiven. In the case of the betrothed damsel, if she were defiled in the field, the law charitably supposed that she cried out (Deu. 22:26), and she was not to be punished. Some charitable construction or other Joseph will put upon this matter; and herein he is a just man, tender of the good name of one who never before had done anything to blemish it. Note, It becomes us, in many cases, to be gentle towards those that come under suspicion of having offended, to hope the best concerning them, and make the best of that which at first appears bad, in hopes that it may prove better. Summum just summa injuria-The rigour of the law is (sometimes) the height of injustice. That court of conscience which moderates the rigour of the law we call a court of equity. Those who are found faulty were perhaps overtaken in the fault, and are therefore to be restored with the spirit of meekness; and threatening, even when just, must be moderated.
The prophecy here quoted is justly ushered in with a Behold, which commands both attention and admiration; for we have here the mystery of godliness, which is, without controversy, great, that God was manifested in the flesh.
Nor is it improper to say that the prophecy which foretold that he should be called Immanuel was fulfilled, in the design and intention of it, when he was called Jesus; for if he had not been Immanuel- God with us, he could not have been Jesus-a Saviour; and herein consists the salvation he wrought out, in the bringing of God and man together; this was what he designed, to bring God to be with us, which is our great happiness, and to bring us to be with God, which is our great duty.
It is here further observed,