Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 1:21

"And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." — Matthew 1:21 (ASV)

Verse 21 His name JESUS. The name Jesus is the same as Saviour. It is derived from the verb signifying to save. In Hebrew it is the same as Joshua. In two places in the New Testament it is used where it means Joshua, the leader of the Jews into Canaan, and in our translation the name Joshua should have been retained (Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8). It was a very common name among the Jews.

He shall save. This expresses the same as the name, and on this account the name was given to him. He saves men by having died to redeem them; by giving the Spirit to renew them (John 16:7–8); by His power in enabling them to overcome their spiritual enemies, in defending them from danger, in guiding them in the path of duty, in sustaining them in trials and in death; and He will raise them up at the last day, and exalt them to a world of purity and love.

His people. Those whom the Father has given to Him. The Jews were called the people of God, because He had chosen them to Himself, and regarded them as His peculiar and beloved people, separate from all the nations of the earth. Christians are called the people of Christ, because it was the purpose of the Father to give them to Him (Isaiah 53:11; John 6:37), and because in due time He came to redeem them to Himself (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:2).

From their sins. This is the great business of Jesus in coming and dying. It is not to save men IN their sins, but FROM their sins. Sinners could not be happy in heaven. It would be a place of wretchedness to the guilty. The design of Jesus was, therefore, to save from sin:

1. by dying to make an atonement (Titus 2:14); and,
2. by renewing the heart, and purifying the soul, and preparing His people for a pure and holy heaven. And from this we may learn:
   1. that Jesus had a design in coming into the world—He came to save His people—and that design will surely be accomplished. It is impossible that in any part of it He should fail.
   2. We have no evidence that we are His people, unless we are saved from the power and dominion of sin. A mere profession of being His people will not answer. Unless we give up our sins, unless we renounce the pride, pomp, and pleasure of the world, and all our lusts and crimes, we have no evidence that we are the children of God. It is impossible that we should be Christians if we indulge in sin and live in the practice of any known iniquity.
   3. That all professing Christians should feel that there is no salvation unless it is from sin, and that they can never be admitted to a holy heaven hereafter, unless they are made pure by the blood of Jesus here.

{1} "JESUS" or, "saviour"