The Virgin Birth of Jesus Through Mary
March 16, 2022
Commentary
Engaged means that Mary was already bound to Joseph, although they were not yet actually married. Hebrew marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. The marriage vows were said at the time of engagement and required a divorce to end them. The individuals however did not begin to live together but instead the woman continued to live with her parents and the man with his for a one year waiting period.
The virgin birth of Christ is undoubtedly the most essential doctrine underlying His deity. Mary and Joseph were in this one year waiting period when Mary “was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost” (v. 18). Being a good moral upright man and knowing the child did not belong to him, Joseph decided to divorce Mary privately and not create a public scandal. However, while he considered what should be done “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream” and told him that Mary’s condition was not caused by man, but through the Holy Spirit (vv. 19-20). The name of the child Jesus means “Jehovah saves” (vv. 21-22). This is the purpose of Christ’s coming.
The angel orders Joseph to take Mary as his wife and he violated all customs by immediately taking Mary into his home rather than waiting till the one year of engagement had passed. He brought her home and began to care and provide for her but there were no sexual relationships between them until after Jesus’ birth. Thus, Mary was truly a virgin which fulfills the prediction of Christ’s virgin birth (Isa. 7:14) and is one of the most essential doctrines of the Bible (vv. 23-25)
Application
It is only because of the “virgin birth” of Jesus that He is special and can be my Savior. If His conception had been through an ordinary man who was a sinner, He could have never saved me.
Matthew 1:18– 25 (NET)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. 20 When he had contemplated 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 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, 25 but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.