Matthew 1 click the link to read this passage online
We see from the genealogy of Jesus that there are different types of people,we can look at this and know that there are different types of people in the church family, the body of Christ. God has made us all as individuals but we come together to make up one body. Some of the people in Jesus' lineage were not born as children of Israel, but God still made them part of the history of Jesus. No matter who we are or what we have done, God can still use us for something significant.
In verse 16, Joseph is not referred to as the father of Jesus but as the husband of Mary. Even though Jesus was not the physical son of Joseph, he was his legal son and was still counted as a descendant of David and also Abraham.
Verse 17, states that there were 14 generations between Abraham and David, David and the exile to Babylon and the exile and Christ. It should be noted that in some instances the term 'father of...' was used when in fact they were the grandfather. For example in 11 it states that Josiah was the father of Jeconiah when in fact he was his grandfather (see 2Ch 36:1-9).
(See also 1Ch 3:17-18, in reference to Matt 1:12). There are many reasons why Matthew arranged the names in groups of 14, one may be because 14 is twice seven which is the number of completeness.
In biblical times being pledged in marriage to someone was more binding than our modern day engagements. Nowadays, breaking off an engagement involves nothing more than making cancellations and informing friends and relatives. In biblical times, this would involve an actual divorce, and we see that in verses 19 and 24 Mary and Joseph are described as being husband and wife. Mary carrying a pregnancy that was not Joseph's was a very serious matter, which should have resulted in her being publicly judges and stoned. The fact that Joseph was going to divorce her privately shows his compassion. He goes even further by bring her into his home after the message from the Angel of the Lord, this shows his level of obedience to God. He knew full well that he was not the father of Jesus but he still accepted him as his own.
Joseph is sometimes left in the background whenever we here about the conception and birth of Jesus, but we see in Joseph a man who was truly righteous and someone whose character we should imitate.
