December 22, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Righteous Man

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, in the birth and life and death of Jesus, Your Word is plain. May I hear and respond gladly to him.

Read Matthew 1:18-25

[18] This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. [19] Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. [20] But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream 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. [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.” [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: [23] “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). [24] When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. [25] But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Reflect on the example of Joseph and the outworking of righteousness in family relationships.

 

This account of the birth of Jesus concentrates on the role of Joseph, “a righteous man” (19), whose own vivid memories of these events may have been the source of Matthew’s nativity story. The Protestant tradition has often failed to recognize the importance of Mary’s wonderful faith and obedient submission to the will of God—and the role played by Joseph at the beginning of the Gospel has been even more overlooked. He was “betrothed” to Mary (18, NASB), a status reflecting an agreement between two families regarding the marriage of the couple; the woman remained in her father’s house during this period and no sexual intercourse took place, but the relationship was binding and much stronger than the modern practice of engagement. 
Consider Joseph’s dilemma! The discovery of a partner’s unfaithfulness always brings pain, a profound sense of betrayal and hurt and an anger that is difficult to control. In Jewish village culture it threatened public humiliation for both Mary and her intended husband, who would lose face in this situation. Yet Joseph’s righteousness is displayed in his compassionate concern for his young bride: he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace” (19). However, before he can execute his plan to “divorce her quietly,” God intervenes with the assurance that the conception is the work of the Holy Spirit and Joseph (with a faith and obedience no less than that of his young bride) takes the pregnant Mary into his home as his wife and cares for her until the birth of the child, to whom he gives the name Jesus (25).
As we approach Christmas, let us honor the faith and kindness of righteous Joseph, who surely models a form of male identity characterized by compassion, gentleness and submission to the will of God from which we need to learn today.

This account of the birth of Jesus concentrates on the role of Joseph, “a righteous man” (19), whose own vivid memories of these events may have been the source of Matthew’s nativity story. The Protestant tradition has often failed to recognize the importance of Mary’s wonderful faith and obedient submission to the will of God—and the role played by Joseph at the beginning of the Gospel has been even more overlooked. He was “betrothed” to Mary (18, NASB), a status reflecting an agreement between two families regarding the marriage of the couple; the woman remained in her father’s house during this period and no sexual intercourse took place, but the relationship was binding and much stronger than the modern practice of engagement. 

Consider Joseph’s dilemma! The discovery of a partner’s unfaithfulness always brings pain, a profound sense of betrayal and hurt and an anger that is difficult to control. In Jewish village culture it threatened public humiliation for both Mary and her intended husband, who would lose face in this situation. Yet Joseph’s righteousness is displayed in his compassionate concern for his young bride: he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace” (19). However, before he can execute his plan to “divorce her quietly,” God intervenes with the assurance that the conception is the work of the Holy Spirit and Joseph (with a faith and obedience no less than that of his young bride) takes the pregnant Mary into his home as his wife and cares for her until the birth of the child, to whom he gives the name Jesus (25).

As we approach Christmas, let us honor the faith and kindness of righteous Joseph, who surely models a form of male identity characterized by compassion, gentleness and submission to the will of God from which we need to learn today.

 

Apply

How would you feel in Joseph’s place in verse 19? In verses 20 and 21? What would you say to family and friends? To God?

Closing prayer

Father, I am humbled to read about Joseph, a godly man. May I aspire, above all else, to be a godly person, for Your glory.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store