The birth of Christ is possibly one of the most controversial sto-ries among believers. Was Mary really a virgin when she got pregnant or was Joseph the father? Did Christ fit the signs of the Messiah in the Old Testament or should we be looking for another? Only two of the four synoptic gospels go in depth about the birth and early years of Christ.

As we read through the books of Matthew and Luke, we begin to get a clearer picture of the first twelve years of the life of Christ. Understanding those early years are vital when it comes to knowing who it is we believe in and why.

Introduction To Matthew 1: The birth, death, and resurrection of Christ are three of the main points to understanding whether or not he is the Messiah prophesied to come in the Old Testament. The redemption of mankind, the need for a Messiah, and the details of his coming are all outlined throughout the entirety of scripture. Matthew 1 starts out with the genealogy of Christ starting with Abraham and ending with Joseph.

Rahab, Ruth, Tamar, and Mary are the only four women mentioned in the genealogy, which leads many to believe Matthew had a significant reason for doing so. Rahab was the Canaanite woman that hid Joshua, Caleb, and the other spies (Joshua 6). Ruth was the Moabitess widow that slept at Boaz’s feet (Ruth 1 – 4). Tamar was Judah’s daughter in law that pretended to be a prostitute (Genesis 38). And Mary was the mother of Christ (Matthew 1).