Title Joseph and Christmas (Matthew 01:18-25)
Content Christmas brought joy to everyone, but for Joseph, it must have been an embarrassing and painful event rather than joy. Because the woman who was betrothed was conceived independent of her. Unlike today's betrothal, Jewish betrothal, called "Kidusing," could be called husband and wife from the day they were engaged (verse 19). If the fact of conception is revealed, the woman will be stoned beyond shame. You will be beaten to death, and it would not have been easy to wash away your unclean thoughts if we lived together. So Joseph said, "I wanted to hang up. What kind of person would Joseph be?
1. Joseph was a righteous man (verse 19). Forgiving the infidelity of a loved one is actually more difficult. A feeling of revenge rather than forgiveness may be more cruel. You may feel more betrayed because you loved them. But Joseph did not reveal it, but rather wanted to cut it off. It must have been because he was someone who truly knew how to love. That is why the Bible testifies that he is “the righteous one” representing his character.
2. Joseph followed God's will (verses 20, 22). The Joseph of the Bible emphasizes the faith of his obedience above all else. First, he was a man who could hear the word of God.
He was able to follow the will of the Lord because he knew how to hear the will of the Lord even through the dream of a dream. And he did as he was commanded and brought his wife. We do not say that knowledge is faith. There must be action.
3. Joseph was a man of patience (verse 25). Love is long-suffering (1 Corinthians 13:4), the fruit of the Spirit is long-suffering (Galatians 5:22), and there must be patience in hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). , you must run the race of faith with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1) and perfect your patience (James 1:4). Few of the many themes of the Bible emphasize more than patience. Patience is the measure of maturity and the core of faith. The Bible says Joseph was a man of patience. Although he lived together (verse 25), it is written that they did not lie with each other until the birth of a son.