Matthew 1:18-25

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Angel’s Announcement to Joseph

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Joseph was righteous in his obedience to the Lord.

  2. Joseph was righteous in his treatment of Mary.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Trust God when you’re slandered.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the purpose of the Gospel of Matthew?

  2. How does this passage show that Jesus Christ is both God and Man?

  3. What does the name of Jesus mean?

  4. Did Mary remain a virgin after the birth of Christ?

  5. Why didn’t the angel rebuke Joseph for planning to send Mary away?

  6. Should you fight back in your own defense, when people speak lies about you?

ANSWERS

  1. To prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the royal Son of David, Who was promised in the scriptures.

  2. He is God because He was conceived supernaturally of the Holy Spirit. He is man because He was born naturally of Mary.

  3. Jesus means “The Lord is salvation” or “The Lord is Savior.”

  4. No. See Matthew 1:25 and Matthew 13:55-56.

  5. Because God does not require us to believe the incredible without divine revelation.

  6. No, trust God when you’re slandered. He will give you strength to graciously stand strong.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Joseph’s life was characterized by consistently doing what was right before God. Discuss how difficult it must have been for him to trust and obey God in this situation. Are you willing to fully obey God, even in difficult areas?

  2. When May returned pregnant after a 3-month visit to her cousin Elisabeth’s house, Joseph must have assumed she had an affair. Under Jewish law, Mary could have been publicly exposed and put to death for adultery. This would have saved Joseph’s reputation, and have been perfectly legal! Yet because of his love for Mary he decided to send her away privately. As Christians, our love for people should cause us to treat them even more kindly than may be required.

CHALLENGE

  1. Could it be said of you, “He was a just man” or “She was a righteous woman”?

KEY VERSES

  • “Joseph her husband was a just man.” Matthew 1:19

  • “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

  • “‘They shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23

Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 1:18-25