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Scott's Reference Library
Matthew 1:18 through Matthew 1:25 (NIV)
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. 19Because Joseph her husband was a
righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind
to divorce her quietly.
20But 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. 21She will give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save
his people from their sins.”
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will
call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and
took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth
to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 18-25
Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this
lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when
compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ’s becoming man is to be
adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should
partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of
original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it
is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God’s time to come
with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most
delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told
that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was to call his name
Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that
name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the
guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit
of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse,
and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their
sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who
is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him,
speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute. By applying the
general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives,
particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find
this safe and comfortable.