The Gospel According to Matthew – Chapter 1
The Covenant Line Fulfilled, the Virgin Birth, and God With Us
1. Scripture Begins with Fulfilment
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matt 1:1)
Matthew begins with fulfilment, not speculation.
Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus is the Son of David.
Jesus is the Son of Abraham.
The Gospel opens by asserting that the promises of God have reached their appointed end.
St John Chrysostom teaches that Matthew starts here so that no one doubts Christ’s legitimacy as King and heir of the covenant.
2. Genealogy Is Theology in History
The genealogy that follows is not decoration. It is proclamation.
God works through generations.
God keeps promises through time.
God governs history toward Christ.
Sacred history is real history, ordered by providence.
3. Abraham: Promise Given
Abraham stands for covenant.
God swore blessing.
God chose a people.
God bound Himself by oath.
The Messiah must come from Abraham, or the promise fails.
Matthew declares: the promise has not failed.
4. David: Kingdom Established
David stands for kingship.
God promised an everlasting throne.
Not a symbol.
Not a metaphor.
The Messiah must be David’s heir, or the kingdom collapses.
Matthew declares: the true King has arrived.
St Irenaeus of Lyons teaches that Christ gathers Abraham’s promise and David’s kingdom into one Person.
5. The Exile Is Central
Matthew names the deportation to Babylon.
This is not embarrassment.
This is judgment.
Sin broke the kingdom.
The throne fell.
Hope dimmed.
The Messiah comes after judgment, not before it.
Restoration follows repentance.
6. God Works Through Human Disorder
Matthew names Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah.
This is not revisionism.
This is providence.
God’s plan is not halted by sin.
God’s grace is not restricted by scandal.
God brings holiness from broken lines.
St John Chrysostom insists these names magnify grace, not excuse sin.
7. The Line Reaches Its Goal
“…Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” (v. 16)
The pattern breaks.
Joseph is not said to beget Jesus.
Mary is named.
Jesus is born, not begotten by man.
Matthew guards the mystery before explaining it.
8. The Virgin Conception Is Asserted
“She was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.” (v. 18)
This is not poetic language.
This is historical confession.
God acts directly.
Salvation begins from above.
St Athanasius teaches that only God could give what God alone can save.
9. Joseph the Just Man
“Joseph… being a just man…” (v. 19)
Joseph is righteous, not suspicious.
He obeys the Law.
He shows mercy.
He refuses to expose.
True justice protects holiness.
St Augustine explains that Joseph’s restraint shows reverence for God’s hidden work.
10. Revelation Comes from God
“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…” (v. 20)
God explains what man could not deduce.
Revelation precedes understanding.
Obedience precedes clarity.
Joseph does not reason his way into faith; he receives it.
11. “Joseph, Son of David”
The angel names Joseph’s royal identity.
By obedience, Joseph will legally place the Child within David’s house.
Kingship enters history through obedience, not power.
12. The Name Is the Mission
“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (v. 21)
The name is not symbolic.
The name is declarative.
Salvation is from sin.
Not merely from suffering.
Not merely from oppression.
Any gospel that reduces Christ’s mission here is false.
13. Prophecy Is Fulfilled
“All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet…” (v. 22)
Matthew does not soften prophecy.
He does not reinterpret it away.
Fulfilment means completion, not approximation.
14. The Virgin Shall Conceive
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son…” (v. 23)
The Church has always read this plainly.
Virgin means virgin.
Conceive means conceive.
St Irenaeus of Lyons insists that denial of the Virgin Birth destroys the truth of the Incarnation.
15. Emmanuel: God With Us
“…Emmanuel, which means, God with us.” (v. 23)
This is dogma, not devotion.
God does not merely assist.
God does not merely inspire.
God comes.
God dwells.
God remains.
Matthew’s Gospel will end where it begins: divine presence.
16. Joseph Obeys
“He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” (v. 24)
No argument.
No delay.
No conditions.
The Incarnation enters the world through obedience.
17. Mary Remains Virgin
“He knew her not until she had borne a son.” (v. 25)
Matthew states the fact clearly.
The conception is virginal.
The birth is holy.
The Child is unique.
The Church has always confessed this without qualification.
Key Doctrinal Themes in Matthew 1
| Theme | Catholic Truth |
| Genealogy | Real history ordered by God |
| Covenant | Promises fulfilled, not revised |
| Kingship | Davidic throne realised |
| Virgin Birth | Historical and miraculous |
| Incarnation | True God, true man |
| Salvation | From sin |
| Obedience | The path of divine action |
Christ at the Centre of Matthew 1
Abraham → Christ the Promise
David → Christ the King
Genealogy → Christ the Fulfilment
Virgin Birth → Christ the Son of God
Emmanuel → Christ the Presence of God
St Augustine summarises:
“He who made Mary was made from Mary.”
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
who in the fullness of time sent Your Son,
born of the Virgin Mary
and made man for our salvation,
grant us the obedience of Joseph,
the faith of Abraham,
and the loyalty of David,
that we may confess Christ without compromise
and live as those redeemed by His coming.
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 