Genesis 2:4-25 Psalm 128 Proverbs 1:7 Matthew 1:1-17 Audio Bible Reading

Genesis 2:4-25:
This passage provides a detailed account of the creation of man and the Garden of Eden. It begins by describing how God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God then plants a garden in Eden and places the man there to work it and take care of it. God also causes trees to grow, including the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river watering the garden flows from Eden, parting into four headwaters. God commands the man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that he will die if he does. God then decides that it is not good for the man to be alone and forms all the animals and birds, bringing them to the man to be named. However, no suitable helper is found among them. God subsequently creates a woman from one of the man's ribs to be a companion for him. The passage concludes with the man and woman, both naked, feeling no shame.

Psalm 128:
Psalm 128 is a song of ascents that blesses those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways. It promises that such people will eat the fruit of their labor, enjoy prosperity, and be happy. The psalm continues to bless the reader with the prosperity of Jerusalem and the well-being of Israel, picturing a fruitful wife, numerous children, and long life to see one’s grandchildren, all within the context of God’s peace upon Israel.

Proverbs 1:7:
This verse states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. It underscores the foundational principle in the book of Proverbs that true knowledge and wisdom begin with a reverence for God, and contrasts the attitude of the wise with that of fools who reject such wisdom.

Matthew 1:1-17:
This passage contains the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage through Joseph back to Abraham. It is structured around three sets of fourteen generations: from Abraham to David, from David to the exile to Babylon, and from the exile to the birth of Christ. This genealogy establishes Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David as well as His rightful place in Jewish history as the Messiah. It emphasizes His fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and David and highlights the inclusivity of His lineage, which includes several notable women and Gentiles, underscoring the universal nature of His mission.