1:1-17 What significance is to be drawn from the genealogy of Jesus here?

This proves that Jesus is Messiah – King of Israel, fulfilling God’s covenant with David that his kingdom would be everlasting (cp 2Sam 7:8-16, 18-19, 25-29 with Psa 89:3-4, 34-37). Not all Christ’s generations are listed in Matthew, but those that are will suffice for the purpose of this study. His genealogy from David is the royal line through King Solomon to Joseph, reckoned by law to be Jesus’ father (cp Mt 1:16). In Luke’s gospel Christ’s genealogy is through another of David’s sons, Nathan, to Mary, Jesus’ mother (cp Lk 3:23, 31). Heli in V23 is Mary’s father, Joseph’s father-in-law. Joseph was his legal son, or son-in-law, and thus legally Jesus’ father.

It is interesting to note in Jesus’ genealogy in Mt 1 that four women are mentioned in Mt 1:3, 5-6: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba (“… her that had been the wife of Uriah.”) Both Tamar and Bathsheba committed adultery (cp Gen 38; 2 Sam 11:1-5); Rahab was a harlot (cp Josh 2; Jas 2:25); only Ruth was pure (cp Ruth 3:10-11). Tamar and Bathsheba were Jews; Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles. Thus Jesus descended from both Jews and Gentiles. Of interest too is a king named Jeconias in Mt 1:1, also called Coniah, upon whom God pronounced a curse (cp Jer 22:24-30). Had Jesus been the real son of Joseph He would have come under the curse, but being Mary’s son only, it could not affect Him.

1:18-21 How are we to understand this?

This is more easily understood in the light of Lk 1:26-35 (cp Lk 1:26-35). This describes the virgin birth of Jesus - one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Many professing Christians however deny the virgin birth, and thus are denying the plain truth of scripture (cp Mt 1:22-23 with Isa 7:14). Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth in Isa 7:14 here, nearly eight hundred years before the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to interpret the prophecy as applying to the virgin birth of Jesus, in Mt 1:22-23. All these scriptures are meaningless if there was no virgin birth.

Mary was a virgin in the strictest sense. She had never had a sexual relationship with any man when Jesus was conceived in her womb. But she was not a perpetual virgin either, as so many other Christians believe (cp Mt 1:24-25). "...and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son", means that Joseph did consummate his marriage with Mary after the birth of Jesus. Mary had at least seven children with Joseph after Jesus was born (cp Mt 12:46-47; 13:53-56; Mk 3:20-21; 6:1-3). Friends in Mk 3:20-21 (KJV), means immediate family members. This is confirmed in Mt 1:31-32 (cp V31-32; Lk 8:19-20 (see also comments on Mt 12:46-47 and Mk 3:20-21)).

Immanuel in Isa 7:14 and Mt 1:23, which means “God with us”, confirms the Deity of Jesus; that He has always existed as God (cp Mic 5:2; Jn 1:1-3; 3:13; Php 2:5-8; 1 Ti 3:16; He 1:1-13; Rev 22:13). For a more detailed study on the Deity of Jesus see also comments on Mt 3:16-17, Lk 1:35 (B), Jn 1:1, 5:16-23, 12:41, Ac 13:33, 20:28,Php 2:5-8, Col 2:9, 1Ti 3:16, He 1:5, 5:5, 1Jn 5:6-9, Rev 1:8