Perspectives -Joseph

Questions to answer:

-What was an engagement process in NT?

-Any historical facts about Joseph’s life?

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Joseph’s perspective of Jesus Birth

Joseph described as just man (Mat 1:19)

Considered what happened to Mary and what divorce would do to her (Mat 1:20). God sends an angel to him in a dream .

Talk about angels?

Angel identifies Joseph with David and gives him the future plans for Jesus-save people from their sins. The Holy Spirit conceived the child. His response to this? He did what?-no his response was to obey the angel.

Research engagement in New Testament times.

Joseph resolved to divorce her quietly. He made the decision after thinking through the ramifications. This wasn’t a sinful decision to divorce her but it would have made his life simpler. He wouldn’t have to answer the questions that would come about for the rest of his life and answer questions from future kids. He could move on to someone else and not have to deal with the headache of how and why baby came about . This was a selfish decision on his part, not a sacrificial one. He choose to go down a road that was less cumbersome for his life and not what God wanted as evidenced by the visit from the angel.

jewish engagements lasted a year before the marriage cermony. If she was found to violate the Law from OT Mary would have been stoned (Deut 22:20-21)

Introduction of Jesus in verse 21 echos again when Jesus says he will be with us. I am with you always. God will be with us.

Matthew 3. The Virginal Conception: God Becomes Human (1:18–25)

Too often those who have rightly contended for Jesus’ full deity have created a God to whom they do not feel close rather than one who became human in every way like them but without sin (Heb 4:15). As God “with us,” Jesus enables us to come boldly before God’s throne (Heb 4:16) when we accept the forgiveness of sins he made available (Matt 1:21) and develop an intimate relationship with him.

joseph