Mat 1:22-23 | KingComments | STEP | These verses are a combination of mystery, dignity, simplicity and beauty. In the time that the house of David has sunk into disregard and poverty, heaven begins to move in relation to the promises. The events are described in a way that impresses the heart and leads to worship. The Eternal One becomes Man and is presented here as the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham. He does not come in the splendor of Solomon, nor with countless holy angels in His entourage. He makes Himself nothing and takes the form of a slave because He comes to serve. At the birth of the Lord Jesus it is striking that the Holy Spirit is the origin ( ) and that He works in accordance with the Word ( ). The Spirit and the Word always work together. They are always in agreement and harmony with each other. They are never separate from one another and impossible to be in conflict with one another. Although Joseph is betrothed to Mary, he is still called “her husband” ( ; cf. : “your wife”). This indicates that ‘betrothed’ is practically equivalent to being married as far as the connection is concerned. The official marriage, however, has yet to take place, which means that there may be no sexual intercourse while betrothed. When Joseph then notices that Mary is pregnant, this can mean nothing other to him than that she has committed fornication. This gives him the right to divorce her ( ). Joseph does not act impulsively, but “considers” the situation. This fits with the characteristic described of him. We read of him that he is “righteous”. This gives the Lord the opportunity to clarify the situation to Joseph. Through an angel sent by Him, he explains to Joseph in a dream what has happened and what is yet to happen. Because Joseph is the important person here in view of the law, the angel appears here to him. In the Gospel according to Luke it says that the angel appears to Mary ( ). Also, the angel comes to him here in a dream and not as with Mary during the day and visible. Joseph is emphatically addressed by the angel as “son of David”. This underlines the legitimate right of the Lord Jesus to the throne of David, for according to the law He is Joseph’s heir. The angel also speaks of the fact that the Son who was conceived in Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit. That is to say, He is the Son of God, for the Holy Spirit is God. Joseph is commissioned to give Mary’s Son the name “Jesus”. That name means ‘Yahweh the Savior’, or ‘Yahweh is salvation’. That name declares Who He is: Yahweh , the God of the covenant, and what He is: Savior or salvation. From that follows what He will do: He will save His people from their sins. How perfectly the Lord Jesus lived up to this great and glorious Name! Then come the first quotations from the Old Testament ( ). They are introduced here by the words “to fulfill”. In what Matthew says here, it becomes apparent that it was not Isaiah who prophesied, but God through Isaiah. The first quotation points to the extraordinary circumstance that a virgin becomes pregnant without the involvement of a man. The second quotation comes from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which is written mainly in Hebrew. This second quotation gives the special name “Immanuel” with the impressive meaning that God is coming among His people. In the Lord Jesus, God and man are brought together. The fulfillment of the prophecy lies seven hundred years after its pronouncement. God delivers on His promises, even though their fulfillment seems to take a long time. Joseph has no doubt whatsoever about what God has revealed to him. He obeys without contradiction out of love for Him and out of love for Mary. Instead of divorcing his wife, as he had initially intended, he takes her to himself. He is married to her, but has no sexual intercourse with her until the Son is born. Everything revolves around the arrival of the Son on earth. To this end, Joseph renounces what in itself would be permitted. Everything shows that he has his own relationship with God. God can address him directly. Joseph gives the Child the name Jesus. After the Lord Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary do have sexual intercourse. Mary does not remain a virgin. There is talk of brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus ( ). Divine intervention in this special case does not set aside the institution of the Creator (cf. ).

‏ Matthew 1:22-23

The Birth of Jesus Christ

These verses are a combination of mystery, dignity, simplicity and beauty. In the time that the house of David has sunk into disregard and poverty, heaven begins to move in relation to the promises. The events are described in a way that impresses the heart and leads to worship. The Eternal One becomes Man and is presented here as the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham. He does not come in the splendor of Solomon, nor with countless holy angels in His entourage. He makes Himself nothing and takes the form of a slave because He comes to serve.

At the birth of the Lord Jesus it is striking that the Holy Spirit is the origin (Mt 1:18) and that He works in accordance with the Word (Mt 1:22-23). The Spirit and the Word always work together. They are always in agreement and harmony with each other. They are never separate from one another and impossible to be in conflict with one another.

Although Joseph is betrothed to Mary, he is still called “her husband” (Mt 1:19; cf. Mt 1:20: “your wife”). This indicates that ‘betrothed’ is practically equivalent to being married as far as the connection is concerned. The official marriage, however, has yet to take place, which means that there may be no sexual intercourse while betrothed. When Joseph then notices that Mary is pregnant, this can mean nothing other to him than that she has committed fornication. This gives him the right to divorce her (Mt 5:32 ; Mt 19:9).

Joseph does not act impulsively, but “considers” the situation. This fits with the characteristic described of him. We read of him that he is “righteous”. This gives the Lord the opportunity to clarify the situation to Joseph. Through an angel sent by Him, he explains to Joseph in a dream what has happened and what is yet to happen.

Because Joseph is the important person here in view of the law, the angel appears here to him. In the Gospel according to Luke it says that the angel appears to Mary (Lk 1:28). Also, the angel comes to him here in a dream and not as with Mary during the day and visible.

Joseph is emphatically addressed by the angel as “son of David”. This underlines the legitimate right of the Lord Jesus to the throne of David, for according to the law He is Joseph’s heir. The angel also speaks of the fact that the Son who was conceived in Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit. That is to say, He is the Son of God, for the Holy Spirit is God.

Joseph is commissioned to give Mary’s Son the name “Jesus”. That name means ‘Yahweh the Savior’, or ‘Yahweh is salvation’. That name declares Who He is: Yahweh, the God of the covenant, and what He is: Savior or salvation. From that follows what He will do: He will save His people from their sins. How perfectly the Lord Jesus lived up to this great and glorious Name!

Then come the first quotations from the Old Testament (Isa 7:14 ; Isa 8:8 ; 10). They are introduced here by the words “to fulfill”. In what Matthew says here, it becomes apparent that it was not Isaiah who prophesied, but God through Isaiah. The first quotation points to the extraordinary circumstance that a virgin becomes pregnant without the involvement of a man. The second quotation comes from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, which is written mainly in Hebrew. This second quotation gives the special name “Immanuel” with the impressive meaning that God is coming among His people.

In the Lord Jesus, God and man are brought together. The fulfillment of the prophecy lies seven hundred years after its pronouncement. God delivers on His promises, even though their fulfillment seems to take a long time.

Joseph has no doubt whatsoever about what God has revealed to him. He obeys without contradiction out of love for Him and out of love for Mary. Instead of divorcing his wife, as he had initially intended, he takes her to himself. He is married to her, but has no sexual intercourse with her until the Son is born. Everything revolves around the arrival of the Son on earth. To this end, Joseph renounces what in itself would be permitted. Everything shows that he has his own relationship with God. God can address him directly. Joseph gives the Child the name Jesus.

After the Lord Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary do have sexual intercourse. Mary does not remain a virgin. There is talk of brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus (Mk 6:3). Divine intervention in this special case does not set aside the institution of the Creator (cf. Gen 1:28).