Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 1:18-25. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on Deember 8, 2024.
Scandal. That’s the word that best describes the situation in Matthew 1:18–19.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:18-19, ESV)
To understand the full weight of this moment, we need to grasp what betrothal meant in the first century. Today, we think of engagement as a promise to marry, but it’s not legally binding. If a couple breaks off an engagement, there’s no legal action required. But in Joseph and Mary’s time, betrothal was much more serious. Families arranged marriages, often when the bride and groom were young. Once betrothed, they were legally bound as husband and wife, even before living together. To break a betrothal, one had to go through a formal divorce.
And this is why Joseph, upon discovering Mary was pregnant, resolved to divorce her. Legally, it was the only way to handle what appeared to be unfaithfulness. In that culture, Mary’s situation wasn’t just embarrassing—it was devastating. A woman found guilty of adultery could be ostracized, rejected, or worse. Even today, pregnancy outside of marriage can be a scandal in certain communities. I remember growing up in a church where “Family Meetings” were called to address situations of church discipline. Though meant for restoration, let’s be honest—some people were just there for the gossip.
Joseph, however, was different. He was both just and gracious. Justice required him to act—he could not simply overlook what seemed like unfaithfulness. Yet he chose to divorce Mary quietly, sparing her from public humiliation. Most of us, when wronged, demand justice. But when we are the ones in the wrong, we beg for mercy. Joseph displayed both justice and grace, reflecting the very character of God.
Romans 3:23 tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 follows with, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God is just—sin must be punished. But He is also gracious—through Jesus, He provides salvation. Joseph’s response mirrors God’s own justice and mercy.
But then, the revelation came.
“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21, ESV)
This was no ordinary pregnancy. This was the Incarnation—God becoming man. A mystery beyond human understanding. Joseph obeyed immediately, taking Mary as his wife and naming the child Jesus. Just as Joseph responded to God’s revelation, we, too, must obey God’s Word, for it is His revelation to us.
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