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Matthew 1:18-24
1. Note verses 18 and 19. In the first, Joseph is pledged to be married and in 19 he is her husband – this may strike us (and a Greco/Roman reader of the day) as a contradiction. As is typically the case in Matthew, the author is assuming that the audience is well aware of Jewish practices and customs, and understood the unusual situation of this transitional stage between the formal pledging and exchanges of vows, and the consummation and beginning of life together.
2. Some Christian tradition teaches that Joseph was an old man, with grown children of his own. There is nothing in the text (here or in Luke’s) that suggests that, although nothing makes that impossible either. The origin of this tradition comes from the third century and seems related to the growing belief that Mary was always a virgin and that Jesus was an only child of hers. Again, while this tradition is possible, it’s not supported by the texts and seems far too late to be given much credence.
3. Verses 18-19. Mary returns to Nazareth – perhaps in her 4th month or so – and she is “found to be with child.” Whether such was visible or whether Mary so informed Joseph, we aren’t told, but the Greek here seems to imply the former. In our modern American society, this would be far from shocking but in this Jewish society, this was simply UNHEARD of and a profoundly immoral and sinful situation! Technically, the biblical prescription for such was not just divorce but stoning to death (the victim laid on the ground while huge rocks were dropped, crushing bones and organs, until finally the one who was wronged would ‘end it all” by dropping a huge stone on the head of the victim, killing them). But, in fact, that had not been the practice for centuries – instead, the woman was simply divorced and shunned. OBVIOUSLY, Joseph does not know how his beloved came to be with child (it seems Mary did not tell him – why we simply aren’t told). He “resolved to divorce her quietly” in other words, without any public charges, without any “scene.” It would involve the thrice, “I divorce you” written notice. It should be noted that Joseph would not have been the only “shocked” and “disturbed” one! Parents, siblings, friends, villagers – they all would have been horrified by her pregnant situation.
4. Divorce in Jewish society at this time was highly controversial (not unlike the abortion issue today or the slavery issue 200 years ago). Most Jews believed that a man could divorce his wife for ANY reason and need only give her a written notice with, “I divorce you” written 3 times. He could take what he wanted (typically his sons and all the property) and leave his wife with whatever he wanted to leave her (typically the daughters and maybe a goat). But there was a MINORITY view that spouses could divorce only for sexual infidelity and desertion (spouses not infrequently just “left” – leaving no idea where they had gone). Joseph’s situation would meet either position.
5. Verses 20-21. An angel (unlike Luke, Matthew doesn’t supply us with the name of this angel) to appears “in a dream.” This, too, differs from the angel who appears to Mary. “Do not fear to take Mary home as your wife.” This is a reference to the third stage of Jewish marriage – she was already his “wife” but he had not “taken her home” in the third phase. "Take HOME as your WIFE" would seem to imply to have sexual union with her but this is not specifically stated. The angel (in the dream) “explains” that the Child is “from the Holy Spirit” and that the Child is the Messiah – the Savior (the major them of the Gospel of Matthew).
6. Verse 22. “To fulfill….” This is a major theme for Matthew. Jesus fulfills God’s promise! The phrase “This took place to fulfill…” occurs 12 times in the Gospel of Matthew. Here we have a reference to Isaiah 7:14 and is one of 47 Old Testament quotes found in the Gospel of Matthew!! The Isaiah passage uses the term “alma” which means a woman past puberty but is a virgin. The title (not name!) of Immanuel means, “God with us” – a beautiful title for the Gospel of “Lo, I am with you always!”
7. Verse 23-24. Joseph “did as he was commanded, and took Mary home as his wife – but he had no sexual union with her until she gave birth to the Son.” Technically, the angel didn’t tell him to “take her home,” only to “not be afraid to take her home” but Joseph clearly embraces the gospel of the angels’ message.
Thoughts?
Pax
- Josiah
1. Note verses 18 and 19. In the first, Joseph is pledged to be married and in 19 he is her husband – this may strike us (and a Greco/Roman reader of the day) as a contradiction. As is typically the case in Matthew, the author is assuming that the audience is well aware of Jewish practices and customs, and understood the unusual situation of this transitional stage between the formal pledging and exchanges of vows, and the consummation and beginning of life together.
2. Some Christian tradition teaches that Joseph was an old man, with grown children of his own. There is nothing in the text (here or in Luke’s) that suggests that, although nothing makes that impossible either. The origin of this tradition comes from the third century and seems related to the growing belief that Mary was always a virgin and that Jesus was an only child of hers. Again, while this tradition is possible, it’s not supported by the texts and seems far too late to be given much credence.
3. Verses 18-19. Mary returns to Nazareth – perhaps in her 4th month or so – and she is “found to be with child.” Whether such was visible or whether Mary so informed Joseph, we aren’t told, but the Greek here seems to imply the former. In our modern American society, this would be far from shocking but in this Jewish society, this was simply UNHEARD of and a profoundly immoral and sinful situation! Technically, the biblical prescription for such was not just divorce but stoning to death (the victim laid on the ground while huge rocks were dropped, crushing bones and organs, until finally the one who was wronged would ‘end it all” by dropping a huge stone on the head of the victim, killing them). But, in fact, that had not been the practice for centuries – instead, the woman was simply divorced and shunned. OBVIOUSLY, Joseph does not know how his beloved came to be with child (it seems Mary did not tell him – why we simply aren’t told). He “resolved to divorce her quietly” in other words, without any public charges, without any “scene.” It would involve the thrice, “I divorce you” written notice. It should be noted that Joseph would not have been the only “shocked” and “disturbed” one! Parents, siblings, friends, villagers – they all would have been horrified by her pregnant situation.
4. Divorce in Jewish society at this time was highly controversial (not unlike the abortion issue today or the slavery issue 200 years ago). Most Jews believed that a man could divorce his wife for ANY reason and need only give her a written notice with, “I divorce you” written 3 times. He could take what he wanted (typically his sons and all the property) and leave his wife with whatever he wanted to leave her (typically the daughters and maybe a goat). But there was a MINORITY view that spouses could divorce only for sexual infidelity and desertion (spouses not infrequently just “left” – leaving no idea where they had gone). Joseph’s situation would meet either position.
5. Verses 20-21. An angel (unlike Luke, Matthew doesn’t supply us with the name of this angel) to appears “in a dream.” This, too, differs from the angel who appears to Mary. “Do not fear to take Mary home as your wife.” This is a reference to the third stage of Jewish marriage – she was already his “wife” but he had not “taken her home” in the third phase. "Take HOME as your WIFE" would seem to imply to have sexual union with her but this is not specifically stated. The angel (in the dream) “explains” that the Child is “from the Holy Spirit” and that the Child is the Messiah – the Savior (the major them of the Gospel of Matthew).
6. Verse 22. “To fulfill….” This is a major theme for Matthew. Jesus fulfills God’s promise! The phrase “This took place to fulfill…” occurs 12 times in the Gospel of Matthew. Here we have a reference to Isaiah 7:14 and is one of 47 Old Testament quotes found in the Gospel of Matthew!! The Isaiah passage uses the term “alma” which means a woman past puberty but is a virgin. The title (not name!) of Immanuel means, “God with us” – a beautiful title for the Gospel of “Lo, I am with you always!”
7. Verse 23-24. Joseph “did as he was commanded, and took Mary home as his wife – but he had no sexual union with her until she gave birth to the Son.” Technically, the angel didn’t tell him to “take her home,” only to “not be afraid to take her home” but Joseph clearly embraces the gospel of the angels’ message.
Thoughts?
Pax
- Josiah