Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph's Righteous Choice
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18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife.
25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Mary is pledged in marriage to Joseph when she is found to be pregnant. Matthew tells the reader something Joseph does not yet know: the child has been conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph is righteous and unwilling to disgrace Mary publicly, so he plans to divorce her quietly.
Before he acts, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream. The angel calls him Joseph, son of David, and tells him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. Her child is from the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s first understanding of the situation must give way to what God now reveals.
The angel also gives the child’s name and explains His mission. Joseph is to call Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. The deepest need this child comes to meet is our need for rescue from sin. His birth is more than the resolution of a painful misunderstanding between Mary and Joseph.
Matthew says these events fulfill the Lord’s word through the prophet: the virgin will bear a son who will be called Immanuel. He explains the name as God with us. In Jesus, God has come near to His people as their Savior.
Joseph wakes and does what the angel commanded. He takes Mary as his wife, has no union with her before the birth, and gives the child the name Jesus. The passage does not record a speech defending his decision. It records his obedience. God provides the Savior; Joseph receives the responsibility God gives him in this remarkable birth.
How We Know
Isaiah 7:14 gives the sign of a son called Immanuel in a message to the house of David. Matthew explicitly quotes that promise and identifies its fulfillment in Jesus’ birth. He also states that Mary’s conception is through the Holy Spirit and that Joseph has no union with her before the birth. The claim of a virgin birth comes from Matthew’s account itself.
Questions
1 Why does Joseph initially plan to divorce Mary quietly?
AnswerHe is righteous and unwilling to disgrace her publicly. He has not yet received the angel’s explanation of her pregnancy.
2 What does the angel tell Joseph about the child?
AnswerThe child is conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph must name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.
3 What does Immanuel mean?
AnswerIt means God with us. Matthew connects Jesus’ birth with the Lord’s promise of a son through the prophet.
4 How does Joseph respond when God corrects his understanding?
AnswerHe does what the angel commands, takes Mary as his wife and names the child Jesus. His obedience follows the word God gives him.
What This Means for Us
Jesus comes to save His people from their sins. We can bring Him more than a request for easier circumstances; we can confess the wrong from which we need rescue. God with us is good news for people who cannot make themselves clean.
Joseph also shows a willingness to obey when God corrects him. When Scripture exposes a mistaken judgment or a wrong course in our own lives, let us listen and act. We need not defend a decision merely because it was our first one.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, God with us, save us from our sins and teach us to trust You. Give us humility when Your Word corrects us and willing hearts to obey what You make clear. Amen.