Matthew 1:18-25 continued…

Joseph, then, obeyed the voice of God, and went and took Mary as his wife. He too had a heart similar to Mary’s, after the Angel came and confirmed Mary’s words to him. There does not seem to be a moments hesitation. In order to save he and Mary from some embarrassment they probably had their marriage soon after Joseph’s receiving the message.

It is so very important to believe the Word of God. It tells us these things of Jesus. His coming into the world, just like the rest of us, but as the seed of God, not of man. Note what verse 22 tells us, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet…”.

The virgin birth of Jesus is acknowledged by the Holy Spirit in the writing of Scripture, and in the conception of Jesus. Mary knew herself to be a virgin (Luke 1:34). Her virginity was evidence of her godliness. Her virginity protected the divine nature of the Son of God. If he would have been born of Joseph, or any other man he would have no divine nature.

The baby which was conceived by the Spirit of God was declared to be a “Son” by the Angel before this baby was born (Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21). This was a long time before there was ‘ultra sound’, or any medical technology we know of in 2007. Joseph is to name Him Jesus; “He shall save His people from their sins”. The name ‘Jesus’ means “Jehovah will save”. In Hebrew it is the name ‘Joshua’.

The birth of this very special baby by the virgin is in fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. In particular Isaiah 7:14. Matthew’s Gospel continues throughout the Gospel to connect Jesus to the Old Testament. There are more Old Testament references in the Gospel of Matthew than in all the other Gospels. There are at least 100 references to the Old Testament with at least 93 actual references in this Gospel. This strongly shows us God’s power to keep His Word and fulfill His promises. Mary was indeed a virgin at the time of conception and at the time of the birth of Jesus. Immanuel – ‘God with us’ – God became man and dwelt among us.

There was a consummation of the virgin birth by Joseph’s determined action to be the husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus. In essence the action was an act of obedience – obeying the messenger of God who came and confirmed the words of Mary. Joseph protected the virginity of Mary until after the child Jesus was born. There are some who want to continue to maintain the virginity of Mary even after the birth of Jesus, but this is fallacious; it has no merit at all up against the Scriptures. The fallacy of it is seen in the final verse – 25. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”. It is seen in chapter 12:46; and again in chapter 13:55-56; and again in Mark 6:3. To deny the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is to deny the truth which Jesus Himself spoke unto us. “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30); “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Who would or should even call Him a “Good man” if He told us nothing but lies? I am so thankful that the Word of God is true, trustworthy, completely reliable, and every word is God-breathed. Jesus was more than a ‘good man’; He is the God-man.

The virgin birth of Jesus is declared by the Old and New Testaments. It is believed by God’s people, by all who know His Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It does not matter who denies it or rejects it; it is the truth. Because of the virgin birth of Jesus we have further evidence of the reality, validity, and power of the life of Jesus. The way the world has been changed by the person, and the witness of Jesus is evidence of the truth of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are fulfilled because of this truth. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is consummated every time a sinner is born of God.