Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18-20
Matthew 1 [10.] Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
Matthew 1 [18.] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1 [22.] Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
Meaning:
Matthew has just traced Jesus’ family line down to “Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus” (Matthew 1:16). Now he explains how that birth came about. Luke tells the story from Mary’s side (Luke 1:32-33); Matthew tells it from Joseph’s, showing a good man faced with a crisis and an angel who turns his fear into faith.
- “after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together”
A Jewish engagement was far more binding than an engagement today. The couple were legally committed and could be called husband and wife, but they did not yet live together. Ending the engagement required a formal divorce. During this period Mary “was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit”. Matthew tells the reader the truth at once, but Joseph did not yet know it. All he knew was that the woman pledged to him was expecting a child that was not his.
- “being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example”
Joseph was “righteous”, meaning he respected God’s law. He could not simply carry on as though nothing had happened. Yet his righteousness was joined with mercy. He refused to shame Mary in public and planned to end the engagement quietly. Joseph lived out what the prophet described: “What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Jesus would later say, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
- “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream”
The word “behold” calls the reader to look closely. God stepped in while Joseph was still thinking things over. This is the first of several dreams through which God guides Joseph in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ early life (Matthew 2:13; Matthew 2:19-20). Like his namesake Joseph in Genesis, this Joseph is a man to whom God speaks in dreams.
- “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid”
The angel calls him “son of David”, reminding him of his place in the royal line. Through Joseph, Jesus would be the legal heir of David. Joseph’s fear was understandable: taking Mary as his wife would expose him to gossip for the rest of his life. But the angel gives the reason he need not be afraid: “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” The child is God’s own work. The angel goes on to give the child’s name and mission (Matthew 1:21), and Matthew links the event to Isaiah’s prophecy of the virgin who would bear a son (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14).
The Significance of Matthew 1:18-20
- Righteousness with mercy
Joseph shows that goodness is more than keeping rules. He held firmly to what was right, yet he would not humiliate someone he believed had wronged him. In our own conflicts, we can seek what is right without seeking to shame others.
- Trusting God when life makes no sense
Joseph’s plans were overturned by something he could never have expected. God did not leave him to work it out alone; he spoke to him at the right moment. When our circumstances are confusing, God can make his way known, and his word removes our fear.
- The wonder of the incarnation
The child in Mary’s womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. As John writes, “The Word became flesh, and lived among us” (John 1:14). God entered human life in the most humble and vulnerable way.
Cross-References:
Luke 1:32-33: "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High." The angel’s message to Mary.
Micah 6:8: "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" The balance Joseph showed.
Isaiah 7:14: The prophecy of the virgin’s son, quoted by Matthew in the verses that follow.
John 1:14: "The Word became flesh, and lived among us." The meaning of the child’s conception.
Conclusion: Matthew 1:18-20 tells how Mary, engaged to Joseph, was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a righteous and merciful man, planned to end the engagement quietly, but an angel told him in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because her child was from God. His story shows righteousness joined with mercy and fear replaced by trust in God’s word.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible