Zachariass duty was to burn the incense, which was done twice a day (Exodus 30:7-8). This late 15th-century Flemish miniature shows the annunciation to the shepherds. It will be easy to look at the other Gospels to see what they say about the birth of Jesus. The virgin's name was Mary. Identifying the subject matter and the main character in the story helps us stay close to the point of the story, or at least to do justice to the tone of it. Most of the observations will raise questions that you will try to answer (Bible study involves learning what kind of things to look for, what kind of questions to ask). Therefore the word begotten must not be understood to mean that he had a beginning, but that his nature is divine. This son would be great, "be called Son of the Most High," receive from God the throne or royal authority of his ancestor David, and "reign over the house of Jacob . Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14, a prophecy that was made more than seven hundred years earlier. Remember, Matthew began the genealogy by calling Jesus the son of David. And as we shall see, Jesus received the legal right to this title because of his relationship to Joseph, son of David. You see, we were so excited about Ramon coming into the world that we wanted to announce his birth to everyone as soon as possible. 1:18-25. a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. I have already mentioned the account in Luke 1. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Matthew 1:18 Context Matthew 1:18 - The Birth of Jesus - Bible Hub Everything about this incarnation was to be supernatural, or it would not work. A Chronology of Jesus' Birth - Proclaim & Defend The name Jesus, like the name Joshua, would mean the Lord saves, or shortened would mean he saves. This is why the significance of the name is then explained, For he shall save his people from their sins.. The very first words from Elizabeth reflect the greeting the angel gave Mary. The Messiah would save Israel from her enemies (Psalm 106:10). Annunciation to the shepherds - Wikipedia This was to show that the couple remained pure until they were united. We read in Psalm 130:8: He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. (Psalm 130:8) But now Gods people include all who put their trust in Jesus, Jew and Gentile together. The event provides further evidence that the angel had brought a message from God. A horn (strength and rulership) of salvation has been raised up (Psalm 18:2; I Samuel 2:1,10; Daniel 7:24; Psalm 132:17). The time of the Messiah was here! There is no greater news than that. The point is made to explain how Elizabeth, just meeting Mary, knew that Mary was pregnant though she had just conceived and knew whom Mary carried before Mary was able to tell her. a MATT. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. This is a short passage, and so the story line is easy to identify. By the time she returned home, she would have begun to show. It was the moment of decision, and Joseph chose to obey God. Whenever something like this occurs, something so removed from human experience, there is usually some revelation from God that will set their hearts at ease and encourage their faith response. Another subject you may wish to think about, if you have time, is the importance of dreams in the Bible as a means of divine revelation. Though she is of humble origins, she realizes that she will now occupy a significant place in history. The Old Testament prophecy, the angelic revelations, the account of the event, and the other witnesses and explanations of it, all declare that the birth of Jesus was completely supernatural, because He is not a mere mortal. Matthew 1:18-25 NIV - Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son - This - Bible What evidence was given so that we might be fairly confident that Joseph was not the father of Jesus? Excited for her cousin, Mary immediate set out for Zacharias and Elizabeths home in the hill country of Judah. In other words, these dreams are not ordinary dreams capable of various interpretations. Access 50+ premium resources. God miraculously came to earth through Jesus to save us from our sins. Retail: $39.99. In This Passage: Mary was a young woman from Nazareth, engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. He once again was able to speak and he used the moments for his first words to praise God on high. Names like Hosea, Isaiah, and Joshua, to name but a few, are all based on this verb. The gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the eternal Son of God who was with God in the beginning and indeed was God. Matthew 1:18-25 ESV - The Birth of Jesus Christ - Bible Gateway The greeting the angel gave her was a puzzling one. To be told this by one of Gods angels was even more puzzling. He will reign with peace and righteousness. 4:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 1:26; 2:39; 4:16; John 1:45. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. It was a miracle of Gods love for us. Why should they seek the answer among the dead? The child Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God in the womb of Mary. Enter code FAITH. The birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25) - The identity of Jesus - CCEA New International Version (NIV). It was miraculous in its conception, it was miraculous in the angels announcement, and it was miraculous in the prophecy that it fulfilled. He upheld the law, but he also showed mercy to Mary. And it was not an easy decision. What child is this? Miraculous births and divine parents in the time of "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." In this verse, God is making a promise to Abraham that he would make him into a great nation. And this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' What was Josephs reaction when he found out that Mary was pregnant? With the emphasis being on the work of God like this, the birth can only be seen as supernatural. where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. The Announcement of the Birth of Jesus - Claude Mariottini The explanation is put in for the readers of the account that this supernatural birth is a fulfillment of a prophecy from God. Betrothal was a legally binding relationship lasting an entire year which could only be broken by divorce. Look at verses 22-23: All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us. (Matthew 1:22-23). The birth of John was a big event; after all, it is not every day that an elderly woman gives birth. Access 50+ premium resources. MATTHEW 1:18 KJV "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When 7:17], [ch. God had cursed a former Jewish king named Jeconiah and told him that none of his descendants would ever sit on the throne of Israel again but he also told King David that his royal line would forever rule on the throne of Israel. But that difficulty may be the reason that an angelic revelation was required. It was all of God to show that salvation is all of God. So around 6 a.m. that morning, I swung by our home, printed out a bunch of birth announcements on blue paper, stuffed them into our pre-stamped and pre-addressed envelopes, and dropped them off at the post office on the way back to the hospital. 5They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6(V)And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho will (W)shepherd my people Israel.. When they asked Zacharias, though signs, Zacharias confirmed in writing that the name of the child would be John. 2Now (N)after Jesus was born in (O)Bethlehem of Judea (P)in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[c] from (Q)the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, Where is he who has been born (R)king of the Jews? Birth Announcement for the Ages | Ray Fowler .org This simple, direct, immediate obedience is a hallmark of Josephs character. This means Joseph would divorce her before the minimum number of witnesses, which would be two, and he would not press any charges. Luke 1:26-38 NIV - The Birth of Jesus Foretold - Bible Gateway Jesus conception was a miracle. Now the angel tells Joseph what has already taken place. But the Son, the divine Son, was sent into the world from heaven by the Father. The Old Testament counted such unfaithfulness as adultery, an offense which was punishable by death if Joseph chose to press charges. 11And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Lesson 1: An Angel Announces Jesus' Birth - Group And thus were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, and Zadok, and Abiathaar the high priests and of all the rulers.[Antiquites of the Jews, VII.xiv.7] It appears that the guards of the Temple followed the same schedule (II Kings 11:4-9). ESV Text Edition: 2016. Consider this most popular one: O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, but at the time of the angels visit she was a virgin she had not had sexual relations with a man. As part of this First Presidency Christmas Devotional that sets the pattern for our celebration, I will speak of the prophetic announcements of His birth. God brought Jesus into the world without the help of a human father. It is a common subject of Christian art and of Christmas . Who will you share Jesus with this Christmas season? This was sufficient evidence that God could accomplish anything He desired. Two stand out above the rest. After all, it took the disciples a long time to come to grips with this. The first seven verses of the chapter tell the story of the birth of Jesus. C. Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), Of course Joseph didnt know all this, so what was he to do? Where did Joseph and Mary have to stay? She didnt announce it, perhaps in fear of being made a spectacle or to wait until she had proof that others could not help but acknowledge that she in her old age was pregnant. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[ a] took place in this way. The dreams at the birth of Jesus are clearly revelation. Other passages in Matthew will spell out the application--give to the poor, give thanks to God, pray, or a number of things like that. 22All this took place to fulfill(G) what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel[d](H) (which means God with us). And he gave him the name Jesus. He didnt want her to suffer any harm. Again Matthews account indicates that Joseph and Mary did have normal sexual relations as husband and wife after Jesus was born. Start your free trial today! The second command for Joseph is found in verse 21: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:20-21) Jesus was a popular boys name at the time, similar to the name John today. 18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. . From his hand signs, the people figured out that he had seen a vision, but they knew nothing more than this. So what did he do? The core of the revelation is that what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. This is completely supernatural, of course, and beyond any human comprehension. For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Berean Literal Bible It was Elizabeth who greeted her (remember that Zacharias was unable to speak). Matthew 1:18-25 - This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came ab What proof was offered to Mary? GODS WORD Translation (GW). There were three steps to a Jewish wedding in those days. But spend as much time as you can observing what the text is saying, how it says it, what it is not saying, what it is emphasizing, and the like. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Announcement Of The Birth Of Jesus To A Virgin - SermonCentral The Birth of Jesus Is Announced 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: They were declared to be godly people, not by their own view or by their neighbors, but so stated in Gods judgment. But if not Joseph, then who? Copyright 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by Gods Word to the Nations Mission Society. Matthew 1:18-2:23 ESV - The Birth of Jesus Christ - Bible Gateway The prophecy. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell-- But most important of all, Zachariass son would be the prophet who prepares the way for the Messiah! Mary is still a virgin. The word from God was that there was no reason to fear these two northern kings--they were smoldering brands or stubs of wood. 20But after he had considered this, an angel(C) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream(D) and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Someday everyone will acknowledge that Jesus Christ was not simply a good man from Nazareth, not simply a teacher or a prophet, but God in mortal flesh. Even though they are not officially married yet, they are already considered husband and wife. They should seek the living God. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling (D)to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. What was the answer? The prophet was called to go and meet the king as he checked the water supply for the siege. Mary lived in the small town of Nazareth a poor town in the poor district of Galilee. Some argue that because this is such a special prophecy it has only one fulfillment, the birth of Jesus. The one person Israel has been looking for well over a thousand years. He would simply give her a written certificate of divorce and send her on her way. Once sin is dealt with, then the results of the sin can be taken care of as well (and there will be deliverance from the problems that sin has caused). Now Mary already knew this. War was coming; extinction was possible; but God was guaranteeing a future for the royal Davidic family by an unexpected birth: a virgin would conceive and have a son. The threat was from an alliance being made between the king of Damascus (Rezin) and the king of Israel (Pekah) against the king of Judah in Jerusalem (Ahaz). The rituals for burning the incense are fixed and the time to perform the duties was well known. In fact, the prophet offered a sign to the king. Since a virgin birth had never occurred in all the history of man, we can understand why Mary did not consider this possibility. Lesson 1: An Angel Announces Jesus' Birth. 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Though Mary did not ask for evidence, the angel told her that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived in her old age after many years of being barren. Even though it was probably too soon for Mary to tell, she is confident that she carries the Son of God in her womb. 1; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; 17:3; [ver. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. There he became strong in courage and understanding; a strength he would need for his mission. The import of the angels words was that Mary had already conceived or would conceive shortly. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But at this point we should simply recall how Jesus so often said things like I am from above, you are from below, or that God sent His Son into the world. There was a birth in Bethlehem to be sure. Danielle Bernock Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Nov 10, 2020 The New Testament begins with the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. The final section would then report the obedience of Joseph in marrying Mary and naming the child Jesus.. Christ, then, is a title indicating that Jesus is the anointed king, the promised Messiah. 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel appears to Mary at Nazareth in c.6BC (see Map 4). These four books tell us about the arrival of the Messiah who is Jesus the Christ. God miraculously came to earth through Jesus to save us from our sins. This one is divine. And John does not mean divine in any watered down sense of godlike; rather, he means that in this aspect Jesus is truly unique. Rather than accept what he was told, he grabbed for the first proof that what he was told could not be true he and his wife were too old to have children. On the dashboard, you can adjust how often you are notified of changes to La Vista's website. If we had to identify a principle actor in the narrative, it would have to be the Lord, moving behind the scenes to bring about the birth of Christ. What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment in Christ shows how precise this distinction would be. Next came the betrothal. The first is Galatians 4:4, which says In the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. It was on time because God prophesied it; it was a birth through a woman, without a human father, and it was for the purpose of redemption. A good general work to look for (it may be temporarily out of print) is the work by Roland de Vaux, Ancient Israel (published in paper back in two volumes by McGraw-Hill; one volume on religious institutions and one on social institutions--like marriage). (A) 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce(B) her quietly. The message to Mary about Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26-38) He gave him the name Jesus. Epistles. After Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth ( Matthew 2:23; Luke 2:39 ). The one who follows John would be the light to the dark world (Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 9:2; 60:1-3,19; Malachi 4:2). But it is God who is at work in the narrative: God the Holy Spirit brings about the conception in Mary, the angel from God reveals the mystery to Joseph and gives him the instructions, and all of this is a fulfillment of what God had prophesied hundreds of years earlier. 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. The Announcements of John and Jesus' Births
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