Matthew - Week 3

An Unexpected Pregnancy 

READ 

Matthew 1:18 

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Modern translations say Joseph and Mary were “engaged,” but it was a more serious thing than in the western world today. It was legally binding and was called a “betrothal.” Although considered husband and wife from that time on, they did not begin living together until about a year later. Unfaithfulness during this time was considered adultery and punishable by death.  

REFLECT 

Imagine Joseph’s shock when he learned that during this time when they were not living together that Mary was pregnant. What would you have done in his situation? 

RESPOND 

Join with another follower of Jesus and read Matthew 1:18-25 so you will gain more from the verses and comments being made on this important passage. 

A Righteous Man 

READ 

Matthew 1:19 

19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 

Joseph decided to divorce Mary quietly rather than make a public example of her. This says much about Joseph. Another man in his situation would have likely had the guilty party stoned to death, but not Joseph. This shows the love he had for Mary. She was especially chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, and Joseph was the right kind of man for this situation.  

REFLECT 

Does this increase your appreciation of Joseph?  

RESPOND 

Mary’s husband may have been only a carpenter, but he was an honorable person. One’s life is always a testimony about their words. 

Joseph Do Not Be Afraid 

READ 

Matthew 1:20-21 

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream and told Joseph he should not be afraid to continue the relationship with Mary. Joseph was told that the child in her had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was even told what to name the child—“Jesus.” This name means “The LORD saves,” or “Jehovah is salvation.” Such a message from an angel had never been heard in the history of mankind. One is left wondering at this point if Joseph would believe the dream.  

REFLECT 

What would you have expected Joseph’s reaction to be hearing of something that was totally unreasonable by the human mind? 

RESPOND 

For the preciousness of all human life, read Psalm 139:13-14. Talk with a fellow believer about these verses and how precious all life is to God. 

God With Us 

READ 

Matthew 1:22-23 

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

Matthew wrote his Gospel to show the Jewish nation that Jesus was qualified to be the Messiah. At this point he quotes from the Jewish scriptures. The verse cited is from Isaiah 7:14 in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. The child was to be called “Immanuel.” The Hebrew meaning of “Immanuel” is “God is with us.”  

REFLECT 

This passage of Scripture reveals the importance of Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in the New Testament. 

RESPOND 

Think ahead to the crucifixion of Jesus and read Psalm 22 to see how many verses in that passage refer to what occurred at the time of His crucifixion. 

The Birth of Jesus 

READ 

Matthew 1:24-25 

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. 

Joseph was a man of God and did what the angel of the Lord told him to do. Some teach the perpetual virginity of Mary; that is, that she never had sexual relations with Joseph after the birth of Jesus. The words “until her son was born” in the original text as well as in translations indicate otherwise. Some also believe Mary was sinless in order to give birth to a sinless Savior, but that is contrary to Romans 5:12 and Mary’s own words when she refers to Jesus as “God my Savior” (see Luke 1:47). 

REFLECT 

Do you realize that Mary referred to Jesus as her Savior? 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 13:54-56 and John 7:1-10 to see the normal understanding would conclude that these passages refer to brothers (and sisters) born after the virgin birth of Jesus. The New Testament letters of James and Jude (shortened name for Judas) were written by what would be considered Jesus’ half-brothers. John 2:12 reveals that “his brothers” are distinguished from “his disciples.”