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Her Husband Joseph

While both Matthew and Luke have stories about Jesus’ birth, Matthew has Joseph’s story while Luke has Mary’s. Here are some things to ponder from Matthew’s version, Joseph’s story of faithfulness. I think we can see reasons in this brief passage why Joseph was chosen for this crucial role

Matthew 1:18, “The birth of Jesus the Messiah happened in this way”. By the time this was written, the church had long recognized Jesus. Before (Mark’s version) they were content to tell of his ministry, death and resurrection. Now, they also wanted to know about his birth. 

Matthew 1:19, Joseph is “righteous,” not self-righteous. He had to be terribly hurt either because he actually loved Mary or because, culturally, he and his extended family would feel betrayed by what must seem like infidelity. He did not make a public case out of this because his righteousness showed itself in kindness and mercy. I think we may assume that he continued to model this behavior throughout his time with the child Jesus.

Matthew 1:20, After he had decided on his plan of action, his plan was interrupted. Like the Joseph of Genesis, this Joseph has dreams. An “angel of the Lord” honors him directly by telling him the nature of this child and that he should “not be afraid” to take Mary as his wife. Why would he be afraid? Was it because he would not know if he could trust her in the future? Was it because of what the village and family would think?

Matthew 1: 21-23, “You are to name him.” Joseph will also have a part in Jesus’ birth: his naming. And, he will name him after a famous, faithful leader from Israel’s past, Joshua. (Jesus is the Greek version of that name.) The name means “he saves, delivers, rescues” which is what the first Joshua did. But this Joshua/Jesus will rescue in a much more profound way than the first could, because this Jewish child will be God as well as human. Unlike Isaiah’s Emmanuel (“God with us”) whose birth would mark deliverance from the Assyrians as a sign of God’s presence, Joseph’s Emmanuel will mark the presence of God himself. He will be greater than Joshua or David or Solomon because Emmanuel is not his name; it is who He is.

Matthew 1:24-25, Joseph was faithful both in taking Mary as his wife and in giving the Son the name above every name.

Let us honor faithful Joseph who had the courage to do the righteous thing when his culture and people would have expected him to merely do the right thing.

Dr. Tim Crawford
Dean, College of Christian Studies, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor