Matthew 1:18-25

Introduction

Continuing where we left off last week

Difficulty of the season for some — hint at Mom’s story

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Many things we could point out

Mary’s faith — prominent in Luke’s account

Christs’s humility — born to a teen mom (probably a 13 year old), apparently out of wedlock, in a backwoods town

3 things about Joseph

The character of Joseph (v. 18-19)

Joseph and Mary’s betrothal is more than an engagement (not consummated til the wedding one year after engagement, still called husband and wife, only broken by divorce)

Mary has apparently been unfaithful

Joseph faces a dilemma

He is righteous — he’s unwilling to wed himself to sin by marrying an adulterer

He is also merciful — he doesn’t want to expose Mary to public disgrace. Under OT law, she could’ve been stoned. Under Roman rule, it was outlawed, which is why the Sanhedrin took Jesus before Pilate when they wanted him crucified.

He makes a decision: divorce her quietly (only 2-3 witnesses for suspected adultery)

He attempts to reflect the heart of God who is just, but merciful.

I think so many of us struggle to hold this in tension. I think the problem is not thinking too much of one, but too little of the other.

The choice of Joseph (v. 20-24)

An angel appears and Joseph has a new choice. It’s the choice Christians and non-Christians today have, though in different forms.

Will you trust that Jesus is “God with us” and act accordingly?

Reminds me of the reference from Isaiah 7

Ahaz is king of Judah and is being attacked from the north He and the people are afraid, and he’s tempted to call to Assyria for help

Isaiah shows up and says not to ally with Assyria because God will be with them, and will prove it through a sign: a virgin will give birth to a boy and name it Emmanuel.

Ahaz is faced with a choice: trust in God, or go the way of the world?

We all face the same choice. Long story short…Ahaz chooses poorly.

Joseph chose more wisely, but it’s the same choice we have…

To the non-Christian: will you accept Jesus is “God with us,” or will you reject him?

God is a god of justice, but he’s also a god of mercy and he offers that through Jesus.

Only God could provide both the means of justice and mercy.

It’s why Jesus being “God with us” is not just wonderful; it was necessary. God had to live among us to live a sinless life and provide a sacrifice in our place. If you haven’t chosen him, I’m pleading that you accept Jesus.

Joseph had to do so by carrying out his marriage commitment to Mary. Today, you need to do so by making a commitment to follow Jesus as Lord in baptism.

It’s not enough to trust without acting accordingly.

The confession of Joseph (v. 25)

The baby would be called by the title “Emmanuel” (God with us), but his name was to be “Jesus” (Yahweh saves).

Many Jewish boys at the time had that name—the parents were pointing to hope that God would save them from the Romans, but the angel says God will save them (and us) from much more.

Joseph’s naming of Jesus is a confession that he believes God is the God who saves.

The name & title of Jesus show us that God forgives, but does not forsake, those who call on him.

Matthew begins and ends with the promise of God with us. It bookends in 28:20 when Jesus promises “I will be with you always.” Do you believe that?

To the Christians: when our faith is tested, will we trust that Jesus is “God still with us” and act accordingly?

The difficulties we go through are very different from Joseph’s but we still have the chance to confess to the world by our faithful living that he is with us always.

Mom’s faithfulness at my birth

When you walk through difficulties what kind of message does your life preach to those around you?

Exhortation

When your faith is tested, continue to trust Jesus.

If you want to put your trust in Jesus for the first time and receive God’s gift of mercy by confessing Jesus as Lord, meet me in the back.

If you want prayer as you walk through trials, meet prayer team in the back.

Communion

Verses 1-17 show that Jesus was Son of Man. Verses 18-25 show that he was the Son of God. Matthew doesn’t attempt to explain how he is fully God and fully man, but affirms that he is.

This is a profound truth for us. This is why we can trust that he is able to save.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” — Hebrews 4:15

In the midst of every temptation and every trial, he continued to fully trust in the Father, and this is why we can know that we can trust him.