Anchor My Faith

The Faith of Mary

Scripture: Matthew 1:18

With this lesson we begin a new section, Sec10, which covers Matthew 1:18 – 25. This section is primarily concerned with the fact that Mary returns pregnant from her three-month visit with Elizabeth and Joseph knows that he is not the father. Joseph wants to divorce her quietly, but God wants him to accept her pregnancy and be a father to the child. We will learn how God accomplishes this and we will also learn why Jesus must be allowed to live.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18 ESV). Matthew introduces his topic by saying, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.” He begins by informing us that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, which means they have a marriage agreement, in which they have mutually bound themselves to each other. This is a legal agreement, which can be broken only by divorce.

The marriage agreement was probably made at her father’s house, where she remained for a period of time of possibly ten to twelve months, before she was taken home to the house of Joseph. Here in the west we refer to this time as being engaged to be married, but it is not legally binding as being betrothed. It is a time of becoming more acquainted with each other. This period of time would be especially important if this was an arranged marriage as was that of Mary and Joseph. During this time Mary and Joseph did not have sexual activity and any activity outside the contract was considered adultery and guilty person(s) shall be stoned to death. Since Mary had become pregnant during this period of time by someone other than Joseph, she would be guilty of committing adultery.

If you were Mary and betrothed to Joseph, how willing would you be to become pregnant during this time knowing that you would be guilty of adultery and could be stoned to death. To become pregnant, Mary had to have a strong confidence in God to deliver her. She was putting her reputation, her honor, and her life at stake in agreeing to this pregnancy. Would you be able to do that? Think about Joseph. He had to believe that Mary had engaged in this act of evil. How would you react if you were Joseph? Clearly Joseph had the Law on his side to have Mary stoned to death as we read in Deuteronomy 22:23 – 24 (ESV): “If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” I wonder what Mary was thinking as she traveled back to Joseph from visiting Elizabeth with the news that she was pregnant by an act of God. If you were Joseph would you have believed her?

Prayer

Father, you asked Mary to accept the most distressing and humiliating situation that could be conceived for a woman and unless you protect her, under the law, she would face death. What an act of faith on the part of Mary to be obedient to your call on her life. This example makes it so clear that there are times when you might call us to be engaged in some very life threatening situations, possibly even some that may end our lives. This is nearly impossible for us here in the western church to accept. We have become too accustomed to our comfort and safety to risk so much to obey you. Father, have mercy on us.