Matthew 1:18-25
The promised King enters the world by divine initiative to save His people from their sins and dwell with them as Immanuel.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20 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.
21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
The promised King enters the world by divine initiative to save his people from their sins and dwell with them as Immanuel.
Matthew narrates the origin of Jesus the Messiah by showing that his conception is from the Holy Spirit, his legal Davidic naming is given through Joseph, and his birth fulfills Scripture as God comes to save his people from their sins.
First-century Jewish betrothal and marriage customs form the social context. Betrothal was a binding covenantal commitment, so Mary's pregnancy before Joseph and Mary came together created a serious public and legal crisis.
The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus the Messiah
Jesus is the promised Messiah, royal Son of David, Son of Abraham, virgin-born Immanuel, and Savior who comes by God's initiative to save his people from their sins.