Page 10 - April 2026 - Truth & Tidings

o far in this series we have focused Just like that, all his dreams of the life
on Luke’s Gospel, but as we are tak- they had planned together were shattered.
Sing events in chronological order, The carpenter Joseph had been working
we will need to shift to Matthew for this on their new modest dwelling, hoping
article. Luke has given us Mary’s perspec- that the years ahead would be filled with
tive of the infancy narrative; Matthew pleasant memories inside it. But now
shares what was going on from Joseph’s everything had changed. Joseph needed
standpoint. He was struggling with the a new plan, or so he thought.
news about Mary and wondering what he
should do next. But one night, in a dream, Dreaming Up a Plan
Joseph learned that Mary’s child, although “And her husband Joseph, being a just
not his, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, man and unwilling to put her to shame,
that this son would save His people from resolved to divorce her quietly” (v19 ESV).
their sins, that Scripture regarding the Under Old Testament law, the penalty
Messiah from Isaiah’s prophecy was being for unfaithfulness before marriage was
fulfilled, and that the child would actually stoning (Deu 22:20-21), but by Joseph and
be Emmanuel, God with us. What Joseph Mary’s time, divorce, based on Deuteron-
1
heard in his sleep was really the stuff of omy 24:1, was the norm. Notice that even
dreams. But the stuff in Joseph’s dreams though their marriage was not complete,
was all true. a divorce was still required to terminate
their relationship. The betrothal stage in
Shattered Dreams Jewish law was considered binding. Once
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took “betrothed” (v18), the man was already
place in this way. When His mother Mary the “husband” (v19) and the woman was
had been betrothed to Joseph, before they called his “wife” (vv20,24). The marriage
came together she was found to be with would be completed once the husband
child” (Mat 1:18 ESV). Of course, Joseph took his betrothed to his home in a public
did not know the rest of verse 18: “she ceremony (cf. 25:1-13).
was found to be with child from the Holy But Joseph was not interested in moving
Spirit.” However, it is likely that Mary told forward, but rather backward. Since news
Joseph about Gabriel’s appearance to her, of Mary’s pregnancy began to spread,
including this detail. If so, he obviously he decided for the alternative: a private
did not believe her report. It soon became divorce before two or three witnesses.
apparent to him and everyone else that A public trial was required if he filed a
Mary was expecting a child. All Joseph 1 R.T. France, Matthew: Tyndale New Testament
knew was that the soon-to-be-born baby Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
was definitely not his. And he was right. Eerdmans, 1985), 77.

106 TRUTH kTidings April 2026