CONTENTS
The Gospel opens with the relation of the genealogy of Christ after the flesh. We have an account of the miraculous conception: CHRIST'S birth and name.
Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
There is somewhat very striking and particular in this opening of the Gospel. The Old Testament begins with the account of the Creation. The New Testament begins with the account of Him, by whom all things were created. Hebrews 1:1-2. The great design of this pedigree concerning CHRIST after the flesh, is to prove Christ's lineal descent from Abraham. For unless this be proved, the evidence that Christ is the promised seed, would be wanting. For to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not to seeds as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed which is CHRIST. Compare Galatians 3:16 with Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18. Hence, therefore, the importance of this pedigree is evident. And the correctness of the one here given, is striking. I beg the Reader to observe it with a suitableness equal to its consequence. Perhaps it were a thing impossible in any other instance, but in the genealogy of Christ, to find among all the pedigrees of the Jews, from the days of our LORD to this hour, a correct genealogy of any one house, or tribe, or family, even for fourteen generations together: whereas in this of CHRIST, we have three times fourteen. What can more decidedly manifest the overruling providence and watchfulness of God!