SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 1:18-25
Mary became pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, knowing that he was not the father, wanted to divorce Mary but in a quiet way. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child she carries is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.
Joseph believed the angel. He took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.
BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25
7a) Joseph’s immediate thought was to divorce Mary, but he cared for her, so he was willing to do it quietly so she would not be disgraced.
b) An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.
8a ) Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, meaning “the Lord saves” or “Yahweh is Salvation.” Immanuel means “God with us.” While Joshua saved his people from marauders in the Promised Land, Jesus would save his people for all of eternity.
b) Everything. Knowing God is wtih me and the Lord saves me gets me through the tough times and days of my life.
9 ) That no matter what I do, I am saved. I will go to heaven. All I have to do is believe in Jesus and his salvation (Romans 10:9). It truly is that simple.
10 ) Joseph believed the angel. He did not divorce Mary. Instead, he took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25
I love the obedience. Of course, it helps to have an angel deliver news. Still, what would happen if we obeyed just as readily?
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25
Luke tells us about Jesus’s actual birth. Matthew just tells us about the conception.
In the Jewish culture, couples were often engaged quite young, even as children. Betrothals followed, which was the next step towards marriage. Once you were betrothed, separation was only by a divorce. Finally, the marriage took place.
The virgin birth is a hard concept for people to grasp, which is why it’s denied. What you need to remember is all things are possible through God (Matthew 19:26). Mary’s pregnancy is a miracle by God.
Since Mary was pregnant not by Joseph, Joseph is understandable upset (wouldn’t you be). He seeks a divorce from her, which is when God (once again) steps in to preserve Jesus’s lineage. An angel visits Joseph to explain the situation and what he is to do.
Jesus was a common name at the time. It means the salvation of Yahwah. Today, it is much more significant. Jesus is to save his people (all people) from sin.
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said.” This is a theme of Matthew and the first time of many you will see this phrase used.
Meaning of Immanuel
You can debate all day long what Immanuel means. However, what matters most is what Immanuel means to you. God is with you in the pain, the sorrows, the circumstances, the hurts, the joy, the wins, the losses, in death, in death of a loved one, in birth of your child, and the list goes on. Every hour, every minute, every second of every day, of every week, of every month, of every your of your life. God is with you. When you truly grasp that, nothing on this side of heaven will shake you.
Joseph obeys after the angel appears. Jesus’s parents are now set in place.
Is Mary of David’s Line?
There is debate as to Mary’s lineage. Scholars say she is of David’s House and of the tribe of Judah because she is descended from Nathan, the third son of David and Bathsheba. Joseph, on the other hand, is from the line of David via Solomon. This point is debated with bible scholars because it is not explicity stated. BSF stays away from the debate altogether. To me, it seems logical that both are descended from David because God wants to make sure there is no doubt. Contact me today!