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.

The word "to be combined" here means intercourse. Before they were united, Mary conceived, which is why the astonished Evangelist exclaims: "It turned out," as if speaking of something extraordinary.

But Joseph, Her husband, being righteous and not wishing to make Her public, wanted to secretly let Her go.

How was Joseph righteous? While the law commands that the adulteress should be exposed, that is, that she should be declared and punished, he intended to conceal the sin and transgress the law. The question is resolved first of all in the sense that it was through this very fact that Joseph was righteous. He did not want to be harsh, but, loving humanity in his great kindness, he shows himself above the law and lives above the commandments of the law. Then, Joseph himself knew that Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit, and therefore he did not want to expose and punish the one who conceived of the Holy Spirit, and not of an adulterer. For see what the Evangelist says: "It turned out that she was with child of the Holy Spirit." For whom did it "turn out"? For Joseph, that is, he learned that Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. Therefore he wanted to secretly send her away, as if he did not dare to have as a wife one who had been vouchsafed such great grace.