Title: Joseph the Righteous (Matthew 01:18-25)
Contents After living in the world in a complicated way for a week, I hope that you will come to church on Sundays and be helpful both physically and spiritually. Today's topic is "Joseph the righteous". Paul said in Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, not even one."
However, on the first page of the first page of the New Testament, Matthew refers to Joseph as a 'righteous man'. Maybe Matthew didn't read Romans, but Matthew must have read the Psalms too. Paul's Romans 3:10 is marked as Psalm 14:1-3, 5:1-3.
If you study the Bible, the level of the righteous is recognized by the Old Testament Age, the New Testament Age, and the middle age of the Old and New Testaments. So I'm going to start talking at that level.
1. The level of the righteous
First, in the Old Testament Age, the Old Testament Age was about keeping God's Word and ordinances well. If you find a person who did this in the Bible, then in Genesis 6:9, Noah was called a righteous man, and in the New Testament, in Luke 1:6, John the Baptist's parents (Zacharias and Elnisa Beth) were called righteous. They are people who have kept the Word and the ordinances well.
Second, in the New Testament era, God gave us a new way (law). In other words, he sent Christ to this earth, washed away the sins of people for not living according to God's word, and justified all who believe by his resurrection (Romans 4:25). This is God's new covenant, so if you believe that it is a New Testament, you will be given the blessing of justification.
The third is a person who worked hard for the birth of Jesus and tried to save him like Joseph in the middle age (between the New Testament and the Old Testament). (Matthew 1:19, Joseph, Luke 2:25, people like Simeon).
Fourth, those who were recognized indirectly. Abraham (Genesis 15:6) was also justified by faith in the Word of God, and Enoch and Elijah were people who lived without sin for 300 years and ascended to heaven. Job Daniel, who overcame difficult trials, was also said to be righteous (Ezekiel 14:14).
2. Joseph's righteousness
First, a person who prayed and forgave to save people. If you look at the text only superficially, it does not appear to be very righteous, but according to the law of Moses at that time, if you file a complaint with the presbytery of the city where Joseph lives, the presbytery sets up a court, selects judges, prosecutors, lawyers, etc. If the accused is summoned and the facts are confirmed, the judge orders the soldiers who watch over the gate to sound a trumpet. (There are four types of cases in which Israel blows the trumpet at the gate. First disaster, festival. Second, riot. Third, relief. .Fourth, when the death penalty is declared at the trial) When the trumpet sounds at the gates, many people gather. Then, above the gates, the chief judge's death sentence is read.
“Listen to Israel, the plaintiff Moya was betrothed (betrothed) to Moya and Moi Moi at the Moi Moi Moir meeting place. As soon as she finished committing Israel’s inexcusable sin, so many people who had gathered there stoned each other. He was buried in a caravan. Joseph wanted to do this, but he prayed and made up his mind. Let's all live according to our wishes. The woman lives with her good friend, the other man lives, and the young life in her womb can be saved. The authority was in his hands, but he decided to save it.
Second, the one who kept Mary according to God's command. Since human passions must not be mixed with the divine work of redemption conceived by the Holy Spirit, God has ordained Mary to protect and keep her until she bears a son. It is a more difficult penance than Job's Passion. The command to suppress the lust that burns like the furnace of youth in the 30s and only to protect the perfect Mary under the heavens is the most difficult of Joseph's three pillars of righteousness and the most precious of Joseph's qualifications to be righteous.
Third, those who labored in the birth and seal of the Lord. Moving on to chapter 2 of the text, when Herod killed a child under the age of two in Bethlehem, he fled to Egypt to escape the tribulation. According to legend, while Joseph was fleeing to Egypt, his donkey fell from hunger, Mary also fell from hunger, and when only the young Lord was nursing Mary, there is a scene where an angel comes down and gives strength. After overcoming these difficulties, he went to Egypt and returned to his home country five years later, but he did not live in Jerusalem, but went to Nazareth to live. Because the Lord also healed leprosy and performed miracles, he went and lived in Nazareth, where sinners lived, because he feared that he would be in danger again if the rumors spread. He deserves to be righteous.
3. Fruit of the righteous
The prophet Jeremiah wrote the word of God in Jeremiah 5:1 like this: “If you find one man who goes to and fro in the streets of Jerusalem, who does justice in that wide street, and seeks the truth, I will buy this city.” He said that it is heavier than all the assets of industrial facilities, educational facilities, and Yesung.
A savior was born on this earth. If Joseph had filed a complaint according to his feelings, the birth of the Lord would have been difficult, and neither Mary nor the Lord would have seen the light as the devil wanted.
He destroyed the devil's schemes. Joseph's efforts to save people silenced the devil. His labors have tarnished Herod's blade.
Misunderstandings were resolved and the glory of God was revealed. As we came to know the work of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Savior and the work of salvation for all people began, and the eternal glory of God appeared. Joseph's prayer revealed the will of God.
If you want a sincere blessing, you need to forgive and try to save your life from the family. You must forgive your wife and live. The husband must also forgive him. Children must forgive and live, and parents must also be tolerant and live. Because David forgave and spared his father-in-law Jo (the ruler) Saul, God gave David his resignation for 400 years. He made Shem and Jabeth, who were tolerant of their father, the progenitor of the revival of humanity.