Imagine the scene. One moment you’re planning a wedding, and the next, it seems that your spouse-to-be has been unfaithful. What now? Joseph, descendant of King David, wrestled with this very dilemma one night.
The (supposed) transgression was serious. Joseph and Mary were engaged, which according to Jewish law, was a binding contract. Under Mosaic Law, Mary could have been stoned to death if found guilty of adultery (Deut 22:23-24). Such an outcome, however, wasn’t what Joseph wanted. He was righteous, certainly, meaning he endeavoured to uphold God’s standards. Yet he was also compassionate (see Hosea 6:6). Therefore, he resolved to divorce Mary privately and not “disgrace her” (Matt 1:19).
Charles Quarles makes an interesting comment on Joseph’s decision:
“Joseph did not want Mary to suffer the humiliation of a public divorce because he was a ‘righteous man’ (Matt 1:19). Many first-century Jews might have objected that if Joseph were truly righteous, he would seek a public divorce and expose Mary to the shame that her alleged sin deserved. However, Matt 1:19 introduces the reader to a different kind of righteousness, a righteousness that is more than mere fidelity to the law, a righteousness that has love, mercy, and kindness at its heart.”1
As Matthew reinforces throughout his gospel, we can’t be truly faithful to God without loving people and showing mercy (Matt 5:7, 44; 9:13; 12:7; 22:37-39; 23:23). And Joseph’s decision was certainly merciful in light of what he thought had happened.
After Joseph had mused over what to do, he dropped off to sleep and received an unexpected guest: an angel of the Lord (v. 20)! Note, this wasn’t the angel of the Lord (a theophany, or manifestation of God himself). The angel that appeared to Joseph explained Jesus’ supernatural conception, encouraged Joseph to marry Mary, and highlighted that Jesus would “save his people from their sins” (v. 21). Awesome stuff. And significantly, the angel called Joseph “son of David” (v. 20). Though Joseph was a labourer, David’s royal line wasn’t finished or forgotten by God. Rather, the line was continuing through Joseph and about to culminate in Jesus!
What can we learn from this passage?
God will guide the steps of the godly. Joseph was thinking about divorcing Mary quietly, but God sent him an angel to change his mind. We can trust God to lead us, and if we’re committed to him, to reorient us back onto the right track if we’re going the wrong way.2
Furthermore, as Joseph discovered, it is worth following God and obeying his instructions, even if those instructions don’t make sense to us at the time. God’s plans are good.
Feel free to share your thoughts below!
0 Comments