Matthew 1:1 John Trapp Complete Commentary

From Textus Receptus

Verse 1

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

Ver. 1. The Book] That is, a roll or register, catalogue or calendar, a ciphering and summing up. (Genesis 5:1, זח ספר תולדת αυτη η βιβλος γενεξεως.)

Of the generations] That is, of the genealogies, as touching his humanity (St Matthew’s main drift), for touching on his divinity (St John’s chief scope and subject), "who can declare his generation?" Isaiah 53:8; "What is his name and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?" Proverbs 30:4. He is without descent or pedigree, as Melchisedec, Hebrews 7:3.

Of Jesus Christ] Jesus shows he was God (for "besides me there is no Saviour," Isaiah 45:21). Christ, that he was man, the anointed; for in respect of his manhood chiefly is this anointing with gifts and graces attributed to Christ. The name of Jesuits, therefore, savoureth of blasphemous arrogance. One of their own gives the reason; -becanse he hath communicated unto us the thing signified by the name Christ, but not by the name Jesus. {a} And yet it is notoriously known (saith Dr Fulke, out of another of their own writers) that the most honourable name of Christians is in Italy and at Rome a name of reproach, and usually abused to signify a fool or a dolt. (Fulke in Rhem. Testara. on Acts xi., sect. 4, out of Christoph. Franch. Col. Jesuit. in fine.)

The Son of David] God’s darling, {b} one that observed all his wills, Acts 13:22, and faithfully served out his time, Acts 13:36.

The son of Abraham] The friend of God and father of the faithful, reckoned here (for honour’s sake) as the next immediate father of Christ, whose day indeed he saw and rejoiced, John 8:56; (ηγαλλιασατο); he laughed, yea, leapt for joy of this man child to be born into the world. Whose children we are, so long as we walk in the steps of his faith; that Christ, being formed in us, may "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied," Isaiah 53:10-11; he may "see his seed, and prolong his days upon earth." Such honour have all his saints, Psalms 149:9.

{a} Rem signatam nomine Christi nobis communicavit, non autem Iesu. Lindwood.

{b} David, amatus vel amabilis. Unde Dido Poenis, Hinc Solomon dictus est Iedidiah.