Study Audio Download

Matthew 1:1–25 The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus Christ

[Study Aired February 24, 2025]

Introduction

Today, we shall begin the study of the Book of Matthew which gives an official account of our Lord Jesus Christ’s life here on earth from His birth to His ascension. It is not clear as to who wrote the Book of Matthew. However, the earliest reliable tradition links it to Matthew, the tax collector, one of the twelve apostles that Jesus appointed, who appears in the book himself. To us, we know that the author is the Holy Spirit since all those who wrote the Bible were moved by the spirit. 

In studying the Book of Matthew, we shall focus on what the spirit is teaching us since it is the spirit behind the written accounts that gives life and not the written account itself. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

In studying the Book of Matthew, we shall make use of similar accounts recorded in the other three Gospels (Mark, Luke and John) to bring in the additional information they provide to make our understanding complete. 

The Gospel of Matthew describes the Lord as a lion of the tribe of Judah. Like a lion, the Lord did not turn back from all the trials and tribulations that He encountered in this life. He will not rest until He makes our enemies (our flesh) a footstool, that is, defeat our enemies. What He starts, He is able to bring to completion!!

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

Pro 30:30  the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 

Isa 31:4  For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. 

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

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

Usually, the genealogy of a person is traced backwards from the sons to the father. However, if the person is a king, the pedigree usually proceeds forward from the ancestry. Here in Matthew 1:1, we can see clearly the kingship status of our Lord Jesus Christ as His roots are traced from His fathers to Himself. 

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Book of Luke, on the other hand, focuses on our Lord Jesus as a man just like us, and therefore, his genealogy account (Luke 3:23 – 38) starts from Jesus and traced back to Adam.

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 
Luk 3:24  Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

In the Bible, there are two places where the phrase “the book of the genealogy” occurs. One is in the Old Testament, and the other one is in the New Testament. In the Old Testament (Genesis 5:1), it has to do with the birth or origin of Adam.

Gen 5:1  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 

In the New Testament, it is found here in Matthew 1:1 where we are talking about the birth or origin of our Lord Jesus Christ. What this observation implies is that the first one relates to Christ as the first Adam, and the second one in the New Testament (Mat 1:1) is Christ as the last Adam, a life-giving spirit./p>

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

This is all to let us know that to know Christ, we must first know the first Adam. That is to say that we must know our carnal state of our flesh before we are given to know Christ in the spirit.

It is instructive to note that here in verse 1, our Lord Jesus Christ is reported as the son of David and that of Abraham. We know that David’s son Solomon was the one who inherited David’s kingship. Therefore, saying that Jesus is the son of David is to say that Jesus is like Solomon. In Solomon’s life, he did two significant things. He spoke words of wisdom and also built the holy temple. We know that Jesus is the embodiment of words of wisdom which is the word of God and that He is the one who prepares our hearts and minds as the temple of God to sit in.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 

In likewise manner, Jesus being mentioned here in verse 1 as Abraham’s son means He is likened to Isaac. In Isaac’s time, he carried out two significant things which show us what our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh to do. Isaac was technically offered as a sacrifice on the altar which signifies the sacrificial offering of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and the sins of the whole world. 

1Jn 2:2  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 

Isaac also married Rebecca who came from his kindred or relative. 

Gen 24:2  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 
Gen 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Gen 24:4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 

This shows us our Lord Jesus’ marriage to the church consisted of those who are of His kindred, that is, those who are clothed with His righteousness.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  

Mat 1:2  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 
Mat 1:3  and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 
Mat 1:4  and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 
Mat 1:5  and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 
Mat 1:6  and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 

What is significant about this account of the fathers is the mention of four women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba (wife of Uriah the Hittite).  In any of the genealogical accounts in the Old Testament, no woman was mentioned and more especially when these women were foreigners whom the Israelites consider as sinners. Three of these women are foreigners who became part of the commonwealth of Israel. Tamar was a Canaanite who was a daughter-in-law to Judah, and she committed the sin of incest. Rahab was a harlot and a citizen of Jericho, whom the Israelites defeated immediately after crossing the Jordan river. Ruth was a Moabitess whose nation was forbidden to enter the assembly of the Lord even to the tenth generation.

Deu 23:3  “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever, 

In the case of Bathsheba, her name was not mentioned in this genealogy. However, we know that she was the wife of Uriah, the Hittite, a foreigner who became a citizen of Israel. Bathsheba was involved in an adultery with King David. The question is, why were these women mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ? 

In the scriptures, a woman signifies a church. In the case of these four women, we are talking about Babylon who is a harlot. The number four means the whole of the matter under consideration. Thus, it is the whole of the church system of this world that has gone astray as a harlot to her husband Jesus. Jesus’ ancestry involving these women is to show us that technically, Jesus came out of the harlot church to establish the church of the first born or the New Jerusalem signified by Mary. As He is, so are we. We must come out of the harlot church to become part of the church of the firstborn.   

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

On another perspective, we can say that the fact that these women are foreigners (except Bathsheba who had links to a Hittite, a foreigner) is to reveal to us that the gentiles were part of the Lord’s plan right from the start of the establishment of the kingdom of God here on earth. It also implies the Lord’s plan of destroying the middle wall of partition between the Gentiles and the people of Israel. 

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

In this genealogy from Abraham to David, we have fourteen generations. The number fourteen means spiritual progress. It signifies that we have not attained yet but we are definitely making spiritual progress. It is important to note that it was only David that he was referred to as king in the fourteen generations mentioned. It is in David that we see the man after God’s own heart and how the Lord picks us up with all our frailties to establish us as kings in the kingdom of God. That is spiritual progress. 

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  

Gen 31:41  Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

David being given the title of “king” is to reveal to us that David is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ as king because of the following: (1) David as king was chosen by God, (2) David was a warrior king, and (3) David as king was rejected by men. We can see that our Lord Jesus being chosen by God as King of Kings is a man of war and that He was rejected by men.

Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 
Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 
Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  

Mat 1:7  and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 
Mat 1:8  and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 
Mat 1:9  and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 
Mat 1:10  and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 
Mat 1:11  and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 

It is important to note that this set of fourteen generations ends up with the deportation to Babylon. This set is of fourteen generations because David is double counted as the father of Solomon. As indicated, the number fourteen means spiritual progress. This implies that the deportation to Babylon is all part of our growing up in Christ as the Lord’s elect.

Gen 31:41  Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

A closer look at the names of the kings shows the absence of some of the kings as listed in 1 Chronicles 3:11-12. Those missing were Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah. 

1Ch 3:10  And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 
1Ch 3:11  Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 
1Ch 3:12  Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
1Ch 3:13  Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,   

To understand why they were missing here in this account by Matthew, we need to look at the lives of these kings.

1Ki 22:51  Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 

1Ki 22:52  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother (Jezebel), and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: 
1Ki 22:53  For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

2Ki 1:2  And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.  

Ahaziah was the son of Jezebel and he was one of the worst kings in Israel. He served Baal just like his mother Jezebel. In Revelation, the Lord says concerning the children of Jezebel (that is, those who follow Jezebel doctrines) that He will kill them with death and that was what happened to Ahaziah – he died an unnatural death. Ahaziah was therefore not fit to be a king and therefore Matthew did not include his name in Jesus’ lineage.  

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 
Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 
Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.  

Joash or Jehoash was the son of Ahaziah but his reign was delayed because his grandmother Athaliah killed all the royal heirs except him because he was hidden by his aunt. Athaliah therefore reigned in Judah until when Joash was seven years old and was made king by Jehoida, a priest. During the early part of his reign, he repaired the temple and destroyed Baal worship. However, over time, he allowed idolatry to grow and even went as far as had Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who made him king, stoned to death for rebuking him. He was killed by his own servants. Athaliah was cast in the mold of Jezebel and Joash being the grandson was not different from her or Jezebel. His wickedness because of his Jezebel spirit, coupled with his unnatural death made him not fit to be king in the lineage of Jesus. 

2Ch 24:24  For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 
2Ch 24:25  And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. 

Amaziah was the son of Joash who took the reins of government when his father was unable to rule on account of sickness. After defeating the Edomites in the valley of salt, he brought back the idols of Edom and worshipped them. A conspiracy was formed against him which caused him to flee, but his life was ended by assassins. He was not regarded as being fit for a king in the lineage of Christ, and therefore Matthew omitted his name. 

2Ch 25:1  Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2Ch 25:2  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. 
2Ch 25:3  Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.

2Ch 25:14  Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. 

2Ch 25:27  Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

All these kings not mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy died an unnatural death. Spiritually, this unnatural death refers to being put to spiritual death through serving another Jesus propagated by false apostles parading as angels of light in the corridors of Babylon. We must leave Babylon and be very resolute in our stand on false doctrines to stand the chance of being counted as king. 

Mat 1:12  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 
Mat 1:13  And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 
Mat 1:14  And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 
Mat 1:15  And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 
Mat 1:16  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 
Mat 1:17  So 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. 

In this set of fourteen generations, a close scrutiny of the list compared with the set given in 1 Chronicles 3:15-19 shows that Jehoiakim’s name is missing here in Matthew. This is because Jehoiakim was made king by Pharaoh of Egypt and not by the Lord, and therefore his name was taken out from the genealogy of the kings. Here we are reminded that the birth of Jesus in our lives marks a giant leap in spiritual progress after escaping from being held as captives in Babylon or the physical churches of this world, to be welcomed in the New Jerusalem.

Gal 4:19  My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 

It is important to note that in this list, Mary is mentioned as the wife of Joseph. Mary represents the church of the first born or the new Jerusalem. This is contrasted with the four women in the first list of Jesus’ lineage where the four women signify the whole of Babylon or the physical churches of this world. It is through the New Jerusalem signified by Mary that Christ is formed in us through what every joint supplies. We must remember that our Lord Jesus Christ’s outgoings were of old, from everlasting and none can declare that generation but in the fullness of time, our Lord came as man, born of a woman to deliver us from our sins. 

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.    

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

In the Book of Luke, we are given a more detailed account of how Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost as follows:

Luk 1:26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 
Luk 1:27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 
Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luk 1:29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 
Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 
Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 
Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 
Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 
Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 
Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 
Luk 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 
Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible. 
Luk 1:38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 

Mary being highly favored among women signifies that she represents the New Jerusalem or the church of the first born. It is through what every joint supplies that the church gives birth to Christ within each of His elect. 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

The fact that Mary knew no man when she conceived Jesus means that the birth of Christ in His elect is all the work of God from the very beginning to the end. It is therefore not of Him that wills or runs, but of God showing mercy to us that counts.

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

We therefore bring nothing to the table. Does Mary saying that be it unto me according to thy word suggest that she played a part in the birth of Christ for her own salvation and that of all humanity at large? Absolutely No!! That is why we must have confidence in the Lord that what He starts, He is able to bring to completion. We may not be where we want to be in the Lord as of now, but let’s not focus on our shortcomings and struggle with sin but let’s keep trusting, hoping and expecting until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts!!  To Him be all the Glory!!

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

Mat 1:19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 
Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 
Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 
Mat 1:22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 
Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 
Mat 1:24  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 
Mat 1:25  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. 

Joseph being a just man is the same as Job being called a righteous man. Joseph being a just man means wanting to do the right thing. It has nothing to do with the righteousness that comes through Christ. This is because we know from the Book of Job that Job himself confessed that he was a vile man when the Lord came to Him through His judgment.

Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 40:3  Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Job 42:5  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 
Job 42:6  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.  

Joseph wanted to put Mary away secretly and did not want to make her a public example. As he was pondering on this, the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream to explain the whole situation. This shows us one of the key principles to unlock the mysteries of the kingdom of God. We must ponder or meditate on the word of the Lord, and it is through this that the Lord opens our understanding to the truth of His words just like what happened to Joseph. 

In my own experience, there are several times that I do not have a clue as to what the Lord is saying in His words. However, as I lay down to sleep or drive to the office, I try to think about what I have read. I may not have the answers immediately but one day, it suddenly dawned on me what the Lord was trying to say, just as the angel of the Lord came to Joseph to bring understanding to Him. On other times, it is what our brothers and sisters (angels of the Lord) say that unlock the truth in our heavens. They themselves may not know that the Lord is sending them to unlock the truth to us. That is why we are given this admonition:

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

Here in Joshua 1:8, we are given another key, that is, desiring to do according to all that is written. It is then that the Lord makes our way prosperous. Making our way prosperous means being given the power not only to comprehend, but also to obey.  This was what happened to Joseph as shown in verses 24 and 25, where Joseph woke up from sleep and did according to what the angel had told him. 

May the Lord make our way prosperous to do according to all that He is showing us. Amen!!