His Name

HIS NAME

SCRIPTURE: READ Matthew 1:18 - 25 and Luke 1:26 - 35

*Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall

save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call

his name JESUS.

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Birth Of Jesus Christ

1. On this wise = In this manner

2. His Mother Mary

Luke 1:28 And the angel [Gabriel] came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

B. Mary

1. Espoused = Betrothed, or engaged to be married.

a. By contract.

b. Required a divorce to break the contract.

c. There was commonly an interval of ten or twelve months, among the Jews, between the contract of marriage and the celebration of the nuptials.

This time was to allow them to get to know one another without a

sexual relationship.

2. Found with Child

a. How could this be seeing that she was a virgin?

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know

not a man?

b. Of the Holy Ghost

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall

come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

c. Prophesied over 700 years earlier.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

C. Joseph

1. Mary’s husband (v. 19)--- The word in the original does not imply that they were married. It means here the man to whom she was espoused.

2. A just man --- Justice consists in rendering to every man his own. Yet this is evidently not the character intended to be given here of Joseph. The meaning is that he was kind, tender, merciful; that he was so attached to Mary that he was not willing that she should be exposed to public shame. Barnes’s Notes

3. Considered putting her away?

a. Privily

He sought, therefore, secretly to dissolve the connection, and to restore her to her friends without the punishment commonly inflicted on adultery. Barnes’ Notes

b. Punishment for adultery --- public stoning

c. The law of Moses gave the husband the power of divorce, Deuteronomy 24:1. It was customary in a bill of divorce to specify the causes for which the divorce was made, and witnesses were also present to testify to the divorce. But in this case, it seems, Joseph resolved to put her away WITHOUT specifying the cause; for he was not willing to make her a public example. This is the meaning here of “privily.” Both to Joseph and Mary this must have been a great trial. Joseph was ardently attached to her, but her character was likely to be ruined, and he deemed it proper to separate her from him. Mary was innocent, but Joseph was not yet satisfied of her innocence. We may learn from this to put our trust in God. He will defend the innocent. Mary was in danger of being exposed to shame. Had she been connected with a cruel, passionate, and violent man, she would have died in disgrace. But God had so ordered it that she was betrothed to a man mild, amiable, and tender: and in due time Joseph was apprised of the truth in the case, and took his faithful and beloved wife to his bosom. Barnes’ Notes

4. He thought on these things.

a. 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. Barnes’ Notes

b. An angel of the Lord appeared.

Matt. 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.