Matthew chapter 1
I. Verse 1-17 - The Genealogy of Christ.
II. Verse 18-25 - The birth of Jesus Christ.
A. Verse 18.
1. Espoused - engaged. This usually lasted between 10-12 months.
2. Before they came together - in marriage. But any unfaithfulness during this period was considered adultery.
3. Child - not a fetus, or mass of flesh.
4. The engagement period of Joseph and Mary we can suppose to be typical of young people in those days. Although they were engaged to be married, they did not have regular communication with each other like so many young people today have. Luke 1:56, Mary lived with Elizabeth for three months after she was with Child of the Holy Ghost.
5. What is the proper order?
a. Mary was told by the angel that she would bear a child. Mary told Joseph. The angel told Joseph. Mary went to Elizabeth and told her and stayed three months.
b. Mary was told by the angel that she would bear a child. She went to Elizabeth and told her and stayed for three months. She came back and either told Joseph, or he saw, for she was now three months along. Joseph considered putting her away. The angel told Joseph.
c. I believe "b" is the proper order.
B. Verse 19.
1. Joseph, her husband. They were considered man and wife although they were not married.
2. Put her away privately. Joseph had every right to doubt his wife's faithfulness. She was away for three months.
3. Just. Joseph was a good, gentle, peaceable man, and loved Mary very much. So much, he decided not to expose her publicly, but privately (without telling why) to not complete the marriage vows.
4. A look at Mary. She knew she was innocent of any wrongdoing, but evidently never expressed any concern or over worry about her circumstances. Those who fully trust in Christ will have to go through hard times, sometimes being wrongfully accused, but God will always hold them up, and keep them from being destroyed.
C. Verse 20.
1. Why did Joseph (in verse 19 and 20) think about not making Mary a public example?
a. The punishment according to Deut. 22:23,24, was that Mary would be stoned to death.
b. If Mary is stoned to death, the baby would also die, and this is abortion!
c. Joseph didn’t believe in abortion, or killing an innocent child because of the sins of grown-ups.
d. Therefore, Joseph decided he would put Mary away privately: she would not be stoned to death and the unborn child would live.
e. It was after Joseph had decided to put Mary away privately (divorce her) that the angel of the Lord appeared to him, telling him not to be afraid of completing the marriage with Mary because she had been faithful, not only to him, but also to God. That God had chosen Mary for the sacred task of bring God into the world in the form of Jesus Christ.
2. Thought on these things. Joseph didn't act hastily, but slowly considered what he must do. Note: God gave Mary this careful thinking husband, not some quick tempered fool.
3. The angel. This was a messenger. Likely from the number of angels who were reserved as God's messengers. An angel can be a pastor, or anything or anyone that delivers God's message.
4. Dream. This was a common way of discovering God's will before the Bible was completed. Now we discover God's will by reading His Word.
5. The message. The angels' message is from the middle of verse 20 to the close of verse 23.
III. Some truths about Mary.
A. She was not a perpetual virgin. She had other children, Matt. 12:46-48.
B. She was not free from original sin. This false doctrine was proclaimed at the close of the council of Trent A. D. 1570 (See An Interpretation of the English Bible by B. H. Carroll, volume 4, The Four Gospels, page 65.)
C. The assumption of Mary is false. This doctrine proclaims that Mary's body was not allowed to see corruption, but was taken to heaven in a glorified form. This false doctrine claims that Mary is now in heaven, making intercession for sinners because Jesus is too angry to do it Himself.