And when Jeconiah had migrated to Babylon, he begat Shealtiel. And Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel. And Zerubbabel begat Abihu. Abihu begat Eliakim. Eliakim begat Azor. Azor begat Zadok. Zadok begat Achim. Achim begat Eliud. Eliud begat Eleazar. Eleazar begat Matthan. Matthan begat Jacob. Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Why is the genealogy of Joseph given here, and not of the Mother of God? What was Joseph's participation in that seedless birth? Here Joseph was not the true father of Christ to trace the genealogy of Christ from Joseph. Listen, then: indeed, Joseph had no part in the birth of Christ, and therefore it was necessary to give the genealogy of the Mother of God; but since it was a law not to keep a genealogy in the female line (Num. 36:6), Matthew did not give the genealogy of the Virgin. In addition, having given the genealogy of Joseph, he gave her genealogy, for it was a law not to take wives from another tribe, or from another clan or family, but from the same tribe and clan. Since there was such a law, it is clear that if the genealogy of Joseph is given, then the genealogy of the Mother of God is also given, for the Mother of God was of the same tribe and the same family; if not, how could she be betrothed to him? Thus, the evangelist observed the law that forbade genealogy in the female line, but, nevertheless, gave the genealogy of the Mother of God, giving the genealogy of Joseph. And he called him Mary's husband according to the general custom, for we have the custom of calling the betrothed the betrothed the husband of the betrothed, although the marriage has not yet been consummated.

Therefore all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon to Christ fourteen generations.

Matthew divided the gentes into three parts, in order to show the Jews that whether they were under the government of judges, as before David, or under the rule of kings, as before the migration, or under the government of the chief priests, as before the coming of Christ, they received no benefit from it in relation to virtue, and needed a true judge, king and high priest, who is Christ. For when the kings ceased, according to the prophecy of James, Christ came. But how is it that there are fourteen generations from the migration of Babylon to Christ, when there are only thirteen of them? If a woman could be included in the genealogy, then we would include Mary and complete the number. But a woman is not included in the genealogy. How can this be resolved? Some say that Matthew counted the emigration as a person.

The Nativity of Jesus Christ was as follows: after the betrothal of His Mother Mary to Joseph.

Why did God allow Mary to be betrothed, and in general, why did He give people reason to suspect that Joseph knew her? In order for it to have a protector in misfortunes. For he took care of her during the flight into Egypt and saved her. At the same time, she was betrothed in order to hide her from the devil. The devil, hearing that the Virgin would have been with child, would have watched her. Thus, in order for the liar to be deceived, the Ever-Virgin is betrothed to Joseph. Marriage was only in appearance, but in reality it did not exist.

Before they were united, it turned out that she was with child of the Holy Spirit.