Matthew 1:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The name given to the child says what He came to do: save His people from their sins.
The Context of Matthew 1:21
An angel speaks to Joseph in a dream, after he has learned that Mary is with child and is quietly planning to release her. The angel steadies him, tells him to take Mary as his wife, and gives him the name the child must carry.
What Does Matthew 1:21 Mean?
Before the baby is born, His name and His work are already settled. Joseph is told what to call Him, and the reason follows at once: He will save His people from their sins. The name is chosen to carry a promise, weightier than sound or family memory. The One coming will reach the deepest trouble we have, the sin that no effort of ours fully clears, and He will deal with it Himself.
The name Jesus means 'the Lord saves,' and Matthew tells us plainly that this is why He came. His teaching mattered, and so did His healing, yet above all He came to save us from our sins, and He would do it by giving His own life. From the very first page, the Gospel tells us where it is going, and it is good news for everyone who knows they need to be saved.
Matthew 1:21 in the Original Language
Iesous (Ἰησοῦς), 'Jesus' -- the Greek form of Joshua, 'the Lord saves'; the name itself names His mission.
Where Matthew 1:21 Echoes in Scripture
The name reaches back to Joshua, who led Israel into the promised land. The angel reads it forward to a greater rescue. Years later Peter would say of Him, 'neither is there salvation in any other' (Acts 4:12).
How to Apply Matthew 1:21 Today
The name we say so easily is itself a promise. When we are weighed down by what we have done, this verse tells us the One we are calling on came for exactly that, to save His people from their sins. We do not have to clean ourselves up first; saving us is the very reason He came.