Neville Goddard on Matthew 1:1-17 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Matthew 1 in context

Scripture Focus

1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew 1:1-17

Biblical Context

The passage opens Matthew by tracing Jesus’ lineage—from Abraham to David and onward to Christ—establishing a royal, covenant lineage. It frames Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises.

Neville's Inner Vision

Think of this genealogy as a map of your inner life. Each name stands for a state of consciousness that prepares the way for the birth of Christ in you. Abraham signifies the flame of faith that accepts promises before they appear; Isaac represents sonship—awareness that you are the father of your experiences; Jacob embodies the wrestling of mind until a new pattern is born. Judah and his brethren show your power to relate and organize your energies; Boaz and Ruth reveal courageous loyalty in action; Ruth is loyalty interpreted as fearless receptivity. David, the king, is your inner dominion—an awareness that governs thoughts and feelings. The subsequent line—Solomon, Roboam, and the rest—maps ages of growth, exile, and restoration, culminating in Joseph and Mary’s birth of Jesus—the Christ within. When you recognize that God is I AM, this lineage becomes your own living structure: a sequence of states moving toward the crowned consciousness that no longer depends on outward events but on inner realization.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and trace the lineage from Abraham to Christ as inner states moving within you. Assume the I AM as the driver of that lineage and feel the birth of Christ—the kingdom within—now.