Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 20 Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
This passage from Matthew tells the story of the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, which in that time was more than today’s engagement—it was a formal and legally binding agreement to marry, almost like marriage itself, though the couple did not yet live together. Joseph discovers that Mary is with child before they come together as husband and wife. According to the Law of Moses, a betrothed woman found guilty of sexual relations with another man could be publicly accused of unfaithfulness, and the prescribed punishment was stoning at the city gate (Deut. 22:23‑24). This was a public execution meant to uphold justice and demonstrate the consequences of breaking God’s commands. Joseph faces a difficult choice. He is described as “a righteous man” (v.19), meaning he wanted to do what was just and faithful. He does not want to harm Mary, so he plans to quietly separate from her.
Under first-century Jewish law, dissolving a betrothal (or marriage) did not require a public court process. A betrothal (kiddushin) was legally binding, but distinct from full marriage (nissu’in). A man wishing to end a betrothal could privately issue a writ of divorce (get), formally releasing the woman without exposing her to shame or legal danger.
An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream. The angel explains that the child Mary carries is from the Holy Spirit. This is not an ordinary birth, but a miraculous one, showing that God Himself is acting in the world. Mary’s child will save people from their sins. The angel instructs Joseph to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus.
The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” Matthew emphasizes that this event fulfills a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel” (v.23). The word “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.” From the very beginning, this birth shows both the miraculous power of God and the faithfulness of His plan. God is acting openly and powerfully in human history to bring salvation to all people.
Their faithful obedience shows that God’s plan unfolds according to His timing. Throughout salvation history, God has always prepared His people carefully for each major movement. The Hebrews spent 420 years in Egypt, growing in number and forming a nation. The sacrificial system was established to teach them about holiness, sin, and the need for atonement. In the fullness of time, all of this preparation led to the birth of Christ, the ultimate Sacrifice. What may have seemed long or slow to human eyes was actually God’s careful work to bring salvation to perfection.
In these verses, Matthew also connects Jesus’ birth to the larger story of Israel. The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy shows that God’s plan of salvation has been consistent from the Old Testament through the New. Jesus’ arrival is the moment when God comes among us in the most personal way possible, not as a distant force, but as a child who will grow, teach, suffer, and ultimately save.
Joseph’s obedience and Mary’s faith highlight the human cooperation with God’s plan. Both are models for trusting God, even when circumstances are uncertain or difficult. Their story reassures us that, although God’s promises may seem slow from our perspective, they are always fulfilled perfectly in His time.
Let us open our hearts to God’s presence today, trusting that He is with us in our own lives, guiding, protecting, and leading us toward what is true and right.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son into the world. Help us to respond with the faith and obedience of Mary and Joseph. May we recognize Your hand in our lives, follow Your guidance, and welcome Your presence into every part of our journey. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011), Mt. 1:18-23; Deut. 22:23-24.
- A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard et al. (1953).
- The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al. (2018).
- The Navarre Bible: Matthew, Faculty of the University of Navarre (2008).
- The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. Raymond E. Brown et al. (1990).
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