Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. BUT WHILE HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS. Who would not feel for him after receiving such intelligence, and before receiving any light from above? As he brooded over the matter alone, in the stillness of the night, his domestic prospects darkened and his happiness blasted for life, his mind slowly making itself up to the painful step, yet planning how to do it in the way least offensive-at the last extremity the Lord Himself interposes. BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM, SAYING, JOSEPH, SON OF DAVID. This style of address was doubtless advisedly chosen to remind him of what all the families of David's line so eagerly coveted, and thus i...

20._And while he was considering these things _We see here how seasonably, and, as we would say, at the very point, the Lord usually aids his people. Hence too we infer that, when he appears not to observe our cares and distresses, we are still under his eye. He may, indeed, hide himself, and remain silent; but, when our patience has been subjected to the trial, he will aid us at the time which his own wisdom has selected. How slow or late soever his assistance may be thought to be, it is for our advantage that it is thus delayed. _The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream _This is one of two ordinary kinds of revelations mentioned in the book of Numbers, where the Lord thus speaks: “If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even ap

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 sa...

Verse Matthew 1:20. _THAT WHICH IS CONCEIVED_ (or formed) _IN HER_] So I think γεννηθεν should be translated in this place: as it appears that the human nature of Jesus Christ was a _real creation_ in the womb of the virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The _angel of_ _the Lord_ mentioned here was probably the angel Gabriel, who, six months before, bad been sent to Zacharias and Elisabeth, to announce the birth of Christ's forerunner, _John the Baptist_. See Luke 1:36....

HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS - He did not act hastily. He did not take the course which the law would have permitted him to do, if he had been hasty, violent, or unjust. It was a case deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and character of his chosen companion. God will guide the thoughtful and the anxious. And when we have looked patiently at a perplexed subject, and know not what to do, then God, as in the case of Joseph, will interpose to lead us and direct our way. Psalms 25:9. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - The word “angel” literally means a messenger. It is applied chiefly in the Scriptures to those invisible holy beings who have not fallen into sin: who live in heaven (1 Timothy 5:21; compare...

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 1:1 JESUS THE CHRIST BY HUMAN ANCESTRY, (Parallel passage: Luke 3:23.) MATTHEW 1:1 THE BOOK OF THE GENERATION. As St. Matthew was writing only for Jews, and they, by reason of their Old Testament prophecies, looked for the Messiah to be born of a certain family, he begins his Gospel with a pedigree of Jesus. In this he mentions, by way of introduction, the two points to which his countrymen would have special regard—the descent of Jesus from David, the founder of the royal line, him in whose descendants the Ruler of Israel must

BUT WHILE HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS,.... While he was revolving them in his mind, considering what was most fit and proper to be done, whether to dismiss her publicly or privately; while he was consulting within himself the glory of God, the peace of his own conscience, and the credit of Mary, BEHOLD THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM; probably the same Angel which appeared to Zacharias, and brought him tidings that his wife should have a son, and who also appeared to Mary, and acquainted her that she should conceive, and bring forth the Messiah, Whose name was Gabriel, Luke 1:11. If we will believe the Jews, this Angel must be Gabriel, since he is the Angel who they say d דממנא על חלמא "is appointed over dreams"; for he appeared to JOSEPH IN A DREAM, which is one of the ways and methods in which the Lord, or an Angel of his, has a

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. The King and the Offer of the Kingdom. Chapter s 1-12. _ 1. Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1 .) 2. From Abraham to David. (Matthew 1:2 .) 3. From David to the Captivity. (Matthew 1:6 .) 4. From the Captivity to the Birth of Christ. (Matthew 1:12) 5. The Birth of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:18 .)_ CHAPTER 1 The first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew is divided into two parts. In the first to the seventeenth verse we find the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and in the last

THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. In Mt., Joseph has the principal rô le; in Lk., Mary. Six inspired dreams are narrated in Mt., three of them with the angel of Yahweh. Five are in chs. 1 and 2, the sixth in Matthew 27. Early writers like Justin Martyr claimed credence for the virgin birth of Jesus because records of pagan religion were full of similar marvels. Philo is witness for similar Jewish beliefs about the patriarchs. One curious early idea was that Mary conceived by a shaft of Divine light through the ear. Matthew 1:18. Holy Ghost: in the OT sense, the power of God in active exercise. Matthew 1:19. righteous: conscientious in observing the Law, and (yet) not willing, etc. Lk. mentions no scruples and no thought of repudiation....

THE LINEAGE OF THE KING (Matthew 1:1-17)...