Word Study: Matthew 1 - Small Group Resource

In the original Greek, the name “Jesus” is transliterated as “Iesous,” which means “Yahweh is salvation.” This name is significant because it indicates that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity from sin and death.

In the original Greek, the word “Christ” is transliterated as “Christos,” which means “anointed one” or “chosen one.” This title indicates that Jesus was chosen by God to be the Savior of the world.

The genealogy in Matthew 1 traces the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham and David, which was significant for the Jewish audience because it established Jesus’ credentials as the long-awaited Messiah. Additionally, the inclusion of several women in the genealogy, such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, emphasizes the grace of God and the fact that Jesus came to save all people, regardless of their background.

In the original Greek, the phrase “the virgin shall conceive” is transliterated as “hē parthenos en gastri echē,” which literally means “the virgin in womb will have.” This phrase refers to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, which predicted that a virgin would give birth to a son who would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” This prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

Matthew 1 demonstrates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies by showing how Jesus’ birth, life, and ministry fulfilled many of the prophecies that had been given in the Old Testament. For example, the genealogy in Matthew 1 shows how Jesus’ lineage fulfilled the prophecies regarding the Messiah coming from the line of Abraham and David. Additionally, the references to the virgin birth and the name Immanuel demonstrate the fulfillment of the prophecies in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7.