Joseph A Righteous Father

Joseph a Righteous Father– Matthew 1:18-25

Introduction: Adoption Agencies look for a good father to care for adopted children. They investigate their criminal background, family history, mental state of being, financial dealings, and so forth. Adoptions agencies look for a man that has honesty, integrity, and good intentions. Similarly, God looked for a good father to care for His one and only son, Jesus. That is why He choose Joseph who is described in Matthew 1 as a “righteous man.”

I. Joseph a Humble Carpenter from Nazareth: “18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. “ (Matthew 1:18)

1. Many find it difficult to believe that God would choose a humble carpenter from Nazareth as the foster father as His only Son.

A. A Carpenter

i. The term for carpenter means a general carpenter.

ii. There was much construction work opportunity in the area so it is likely that they were not destitute.

iii. They were poor because at the Temple Joseph and Mary offered the alternative sacrifice permitted to mothers who were too poor to afford a lamb, two turtle-doves or pigeons (Luke 2:24).

B. From Nazareth

i. Like the Disciple Nathaniel (John 1:46) many Jews did not expect anything good to come from Nazareth.

ii. Nazareth was a small, poor, and insignificant town along a trading route.

iii. Jews considered the people of Nazareth as rude, rustic, and irreligious.

iv. Jews scorned the people of Nazareth for mixing with Gentiles.

v. The people in Nazareth rejected Jesus as a prophet because of His humble background.

“54 Coming to his hometown [Nazareth], [Jesus] began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him” (Matthew 13:54-57)

2. Principle: God does not need the rich and powerful to fulfill His plans. In fact God constantly uses the weak and humble to accomplish His plans. God can use any person in his kingdom and for His purposes, no matter what their ethnicity, background, and social economic. Righteousness is what God seeks.

II. Joseph is a Descendant of King David “20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)

1. God chose Joseph because he was a descendent of David

A. Luke affirms this fact in Luke 2:4: “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.”

2. This is important because God promised a future king from David’s line that will establish and eternal kingdom. The Jews were eagerly anticipating this savior King.

A. Nathan prophesies the following in 2 Samuel 7:12-13 to King David: “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

B. The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary in Luke 1:32-33 that Jesus “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

3. Principle: God fulfills His promises. He is faith and brings salvation through His son Jesus the descendant of King David. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised descendant of King David.

III. Joseph is a Righteous Man: “19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)

1. Joseph is a righteous man because he obeyed the Law of God (i.e. requirements of purification)

A. Luke 2:22: “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

B. Luke 2:39-41: “When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the [Jesus] grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.