MARY HAD NO SEXUAL RELATIONS UNTIL AFTER JESUS' BIRTH

MARY HAD NO SEXUAL RELATIONS UNTIL AFTER JESUS' BIRTH (Matthew 1:25)

Complex circumstances challenge wisdom, strain relationships, stir emotions erratically, and put faith to the test. Yet, Joseph’s faith endured. He obeyed God and accepted pregnant Mary as his fiancée,[1] exactly as instructed.

Even though Joseph abandoned his plan to separate from Mary, he “had no sexual relations with her until after she gave birth.”[2] The words “until after" imply Joseph and Mary later carried out their intimate marital responsibility to each other. They fulfilled God’s interactive design for married couples. As the apostle Paul instructed the spouses within the Corinthian church,

The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.[3]

Scriptural references to Jesus’ siblings further indicate Joseph and Mary did not remain celibate following Jesus’ birth.[4]

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

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[1] Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded” and accepted Mary as his fiancée, instead of separating from her as he had planned (Matthew 1:24 Bagby Translation). They did not become husband and wife at that time, for Luke notes they remained “engaged” some time later when they departed for Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-5 New American Standard – 1995 Update).

[2] Matthew 1:25 Bagby Translation

[3] 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 New American Standard – 1995 Update

[4] Matthew 13:55-56; 12:46-47; Mark 3:31-32; Luke 8:19-20; John 7:3-5,10

THEY WILL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL

THEY WILL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL (Matthew 1:23)

“They will call His name Emmanuel,”[1] Matthew cites from Isaiah. Yet, two verses earlier Matthew had the angel telling Joseph, “You will call His name Jesus.”[2] Did Matthew contradict himself?

No, the Scriptures disclose several names connected with Jesus. Joseph “called His name Jesus,”[3] exactly as the angel had instructed. However, Jesus’ followers utilized additional names related to His nature and character.

When conceding the absolute authority of Jesus, His disciples[4] called Him Lord,[5] a translation of the Greek word kúrios.[6] When acknowledging Jesus’ status as the Anointed One,[7] His disciples spoke of Him as Christ,[8] a transliteration[9] of the Greek word Christós.[10]

Pointing out Jesus’ deity, Matthew drew attention to Isaiah’s reference to Him as Emmanuel, an English transliteration of the Greek name Emmanuál (ĕm-mä-nü-ā́l),[11] itself a transliteration of the Hebrew name Imanuél (ĭm-ā́-nü-ḗl),[12] which means “God with us.” The apostle John described Jesus similarly as “the only begotten God,”[13] Deity born into a human body.

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com 
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

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[1] Matthew 1:23 Bagby Translation; Isaiah 7:14

[2] Matthew 1:21 Bagby Translation

[3] Matthew 1:25 Bagby Translation

[4] The term disciple means “learner” and referred to believers who followed the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes the word described John the Immerser’s disciples, who followed John’s teachings concerning Jesus (Matthew 9:14).

[5] Matthew 14:30

[6] For information regarding the Greek word kúrios, see the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby), “Chapter 3 – Birth of Jesus, Rescuer of His People,” heading “Of the Lord (Matthew 1:20).”

[7] For a discussion of the anointing of Jesus by the Father, see the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby), “Chapter 10 – Jesus Fulfills All Righteousness,” heading “Spirit of God Descending (Matthew 3:16).”

[8] Matthew 11:2-5

[9] When transliterating, instead of translating a word, a translator spells out an approximation of the original language’s pronunciation of the word using the alphabet of the second language. For more details regarding transliteration, see the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby), “Appendix 3: Glossary.”

[10] For information about the Greek word Christós, see the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby), “Chapter 2 – Kings & Scoundrels: Jesus’ Ancestors,” heading “Christ (Matthew 1:1).”

[11] Emmanuál (ĕm-mä-nü-ā́l),  )Emmanouh/l

[12] Imanuél (ĭm-ā-nü-ḗl), lawnmu

[13] John 1:18 New American Standard – Updated (1995)

A VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE

A VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE (Matthew 1:23)

“The Lord Himself will give you a sign,” the prophet Isaiah wrote about seven centuries prior to Jesus' birth, “A virgin will be with child and bear a Son.”[1]

Matthew presented Isaiah’s statement as proof that God had arranged the birth of Jesus.

“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[2] Mary responded, bewildered after the angel, Gabriel, announced to her she would conceive a Son.

Gabriel answered straight to the point, explaining, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”[3]

Contemplation Points

• When Gabriel explained to Mary, "Nothing will be impossible with God," what did he imply?
• Do you live as though you believe that implication?
• If so, how have you demonstrated your conviction?

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[1] Isaiah 7:14 New American Standard - Updated; Matthew 1:23

[2] Luke 1:34 New American Standard - Updated

[3] Luke 1:37 New American Standard - Updated

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

CALL HIS NAME JESUS

CALL HIS NAME JESUS (Matthew 1:21)

Origin of the Name “Jesus”

The name Jesus came to English through Latin. Jerome,[1] in his 405 A.D. Latin Vulgate translation of the Scriptures, spelled our Savior’s name I-e-s-u-s (yā-sǘs), a Latin transliteration[2] of the Greek name Iesoús (yā-sŏǘs),[3] itself a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic name Yeshúa (yĕh-shǘä).[4] Not until 1592 A.D. did the Clementine Vulgate translation introduce the J-e-s-ú-s (yā-sǘs) spelling in its Latin revision of Jerome’s work.[5]

The Jews Spoke Aramaic

Jews living in Judea spoke Aramaic at the time the angel delivered God’s messages to Mary and Joseph. Several events produced that puzzling piece of history.

Aramaic, a Semitic (i.e., Shemitic) language closely related to Hebrew, emerged around 2000 B.C. through descendants of Aram, a son of Shem, Noah’s oldest son.[6] Hebrew, also a Semitic language, developed through descendants of Eber,[7] a great-grandson of Shem and great-nephew of Aram.[8]

By the era of the Assyrian Empire (911-612 B.C.), merchants and diplomats throughout southwest Asia spoke Aramaic as their preferred professional language. Following Babylonia’s conquest of Assyria,[9] Aramaic became one of the official languages of the Babylonian Empire (612-539 B.C.).

During the Babylonian deportation,[10] the exiles from the Kingdom of Judah began to speak Aramaic, blending Hebrew into their Aramaic speech. As a result, a Hebrew dialect[11] of Aramaic developed. Hebrew and Aramaic shared alphabetic characters and contained similar vocabulary, which facilitated the evolution of the new dialect.

After the deportees returned from Babylonian exile to their Judean homeland (538 B.C.), they retained their distinct Hebrew dialect of Aramaic. Centuries later, during the Roman occupation of Judea, Jews continued to speak Aramaic as their first language. Hence, Mary and Joseph would have conversed daily in Aramaic.

Rescuer of His People

“You will call His name Jesus, for He, Himself, will rescue His people from their sins,”[12] the angel directed Joseph.

Since Joseph and Mary communicated in Aramaic day-to-day, the angel would have directed Joseph to call the Child by the Aramaic name Yeshúa (yĕh-shǘä),[13] a diminutive[14] of the Hebrew name Yehoshúa (yĕh-hŏ-shǘä).[15] The rationale for God’s choice of the Aramaic name Yeshúa lies within the Hebrew language. In Hebrew, Yehoshúa means “Yáhweh rescues.”[16] Accordingly, the angel declared to Joseph that God named His Son Yeshúa, “For He, Himself, will rescue His people from their sins.”[17]

Contemplation Points

1. Have you ever found yourself in a hopeless situation in need of rescue?  

2. If so, what emotions did you feel?

3. What actions did you take in hope of finding rescue?

4. What bond do you now feel toward your rescuer?

5. How strong a bond exists between you and Jesus, your spiritual Rescuer?

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[1] Jerome served as a Roman Catholic priest.

[2] When transliterating, instead of translating a word, a translator spells out an approximation of the original language’s pronunciation of the word using the alphabet of the second language. For more details regarding transliteration, see “Appendix 3: Glossary” in the book Born to Die (by ChuckBagby).

[3] Iesoús (yā-sŏǘs),  )Ihsou=$

[4] Yeshúa (yĕh-shǘä), uvwy

[5] The Clementine Vulgate of 1592 A.D. revised Jerome’s 405 A.D. Latin Vulgate translation and became the standard Bible text of the Roman Catholic Church until 1979 A.D., when the Nova Vulgata replaced it.

[6] Genesis 5:32; 10:22

[7] Eber, sometimes spelled “Heber”

[8] Genesis 10:21,24-25,31

[9] For additional information regarding Babylonia’s conquest of Assyria, see “Chapter 2 – Kings & Scoundrels: Jesus’ Ancestors,” heading “The Babylonian Deportation (Matthew 1:11)” in the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby).

[10] For additional information regarding the Babylonian deportation, see “Chapter 2 – Kings & Scoundrels: Jesus’ Ancestors,” heading “The Babylonian Deportation (Matthew 1:11)” in the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby).

[11] Dialect – a regional style of spoken language distinguished by distinctive pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, or any combination of the three characteristics

[12] Matthew 1:21 Bagby Translation

[13] Yeshúa (yĕh-shǘä), uvwy

[14] Diminutive – a shortened or altered form of a name

[15] Yehoshúa (yĕh-hŏ-shǘä), uvwhy; In the Old Testament, a man named Yehoshúa led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the promised land of Canaan. Translators typically render his name as Joshua.

[16] In Exodus 6:3, God called Himself by the name Yáhweh (yä́h-wĕh, hwhy), which means “the Existing One.” Some translators weakly transliterate this Hebrew word as Jehovah instead of Yáhweh.

[17] Matthew 1:21 Bagby Translation

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

OF THE LORD

OF THE LORD

Matthew portrayed the angel who spoke to Joseph as one “of the Lord.”[1] Kuríou (kür-ḗ-ŏŭ),[2] the Greek word translated “of the Lord,” forms the genitive[3] case of the Greek word kúrios (kǘr-ē-ŏs).[4] Kúrios described a person who had absolute authority over something or someone he possessed. Speakers of ancient Greek frequently used kúrios in reference to the owner of slaves.

Depending on the context in which a writer employed kúrios, it could mean sir, ruler, owner, or master. However, when applied to Deity,[5] translators most often utilize the word “Lord.” Among God’s relationships with us are Ruler, Owner, Master, and Lord.

Contemplation Points

1. Are you "of the Lord?"

2. If so, how does your behavior reflect on God as your 

• Ruler?
• Owner? 
• Master? 
• Lord?

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

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[1] Matthew 1:20 New American Standard - Update

[2] Kuríou (kür-ḗ-ŏŭ)

[3] The Greek grammatical genitive case denotes possession or a relation similar to possession as in “the son of the craftsman” (Matthew 13:55 BT).

[4] Kúrios (kǘr-ē-ŏs)

[5] The word deity means "god."

ANGEL APPEARED TO JOSEPH

AN ANGEL APPEARED TO JOSEPH

After Joseph decided to end his marriage commitment to Mary, God sent an angel to intervene. Through a dream, the angel confirmed to Joseph, “That which is in her has been created through the Holy Spirit.”[1]

           

The Greek word translated “angel” in the New Testament, ánggelos (ä́ng-gĕ-lŏs),[2] means “messenger.” The Hebrew word translated “angel” in the Old Testament, málok (mắl-ôk),[3] also means “messenger.” In the course of everyday life, these words referred to anyone who delivered any communication on behalf of someone else.

God created thousands of angels, His personal messengers who reside in Heaven.[4] As spirit beings,[5] they have neither male nor female gender,[6] but do possess greater abilities than human beings.[7]

Throughout history, God sent angels to Earth to carry out special assignments. He occasionally deployed angels to destroy those who did not obey Him. For example, He dispatched two angels to destroy the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.[8]

On the other hand, many of the tasks God assigned His angels involved aiding people who remained faithful to Him.[9] For instance, He sent an angel to protect the city of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. That particular angel carried out his task with a preemptive strike, slaying 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in the middle of the night.[10]

However, God most often dispatched angels simply to communicate a message, as with Mary and Joseph.

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

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[1] Matthew 1:20 BT

[2] Ánggelos (ä́ng-gĕ-lŏs), a&ggelo$

[3] Málok (mắl-ôk), ialm

[4] Psalm 148:1-5

[5] Hebrews 1:13-14

[6] Matthew 22:30

[7] Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 2:6-7; 2 Peter 2:9-11

[8] Genesis 19:12-29

[9] Genesis 24:40; Psalm 78:40-51; 91:10-11; Daniel 6:21-22; Acts 5:18-20; 12:5-8; Hebrews 1:13-14

[10] 2 Kings 19:31-36

MARY IS PREGNANT!

MARY IS PREGNANT!

Mary Was Engaged to Joseph (Matthew 1:18)

Destined to become companions for life, Joseph and Mary would have come to know each other well as cousins[1] growing up in the small town of Nazareth.[2] Although the Scriptures do not specify the age of Mary or Joseph when they betrothed,[3] such marriage engagements typically took place when about eighteen years old.[4] Ten or twelve months usually passed between the time a couple officially promised themselves to one another and the wedding celebration.[5] Meanwhile, Mary would have lived with her parents in anticipation of the appointed day Joseph would take her to his own home as his wife.

The legal ramifications of a marriage engagement among the ancient Jews differed from those of our society. Once engaged, the betrothal legally bound both parties, even though they would not consummate the marriage until the wedding day. Conditions of the pledge demanded that the woman’s possessions immediately become the legal property of the husband-to-be, a type of guarantee and dowry. Moreover, cancellation of a marriage engagement required a formal, legal divorce.

Joseph Planned to Separate from Her (Matthew 1:19)

Upon returning to Nazareth from her visit with Elizabeth,[6] Mary would have shown physical signs of pregnancy as she entered her second trimester, a first opportunity for Joseph to notice her condition. Agonizing as he discovered his fiancée apparently had intimate relations with another man, Mary’s explanation must have sounded ridiculous to him. Angered, grieved, and humiliated, Joseph contemplated how to proceed.

Termination of a betrothal required a legal divorce and Hebrew law classified sexual breach of a marriage engagement as adultery, punishable by death through stoning.[7] In spite of the situation, Joseph still cared for Mary’s welfare. He planned to end their relationship discreetly instead of making a public example of her, which demonstrated his kind and sensitive spirit.

Joseph’s righteous disposition stands out against the hypocritical actions of Judah, which appear in the Old Testament book of Genesis.[8] Judah found his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, pregnant but unmarried. Unlike Joseph, Judah promptly pronounced the severest punishment upon Tamar, unaware that he, himself, had fathered her child in a bizarre twist of events.

Joseph Did as Commanded (Matthew 1:24-25)

After Joseph decided to end his marriage commitment, God sent an angel to intervene. Through a dream, the angel confirmed to Joseph, “Do not be afraid to accept Mary as your fiancée, because that which is in her has been created through the Holy Spirit.”[9]

Complex circumstances challenge wisdom, strain relationships, stir emotions erratically, and put faith to the test. Yet, Joseph’s faith endured. He obeyed God and accepted Mary as his fiancée,[10] exactly as instructed.

All for Jesus,

cbagby@BurningHeartBibleStudies.com
www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com

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[1] Jewish civil law permitted first cousins to marry. God never prohibited such marriage in His Scriptures. For a list of intimate relationships forbidden by God for the Israelites, read Leviticus 18:5-24. For additional information regarding the family relationship of Joseph and Mary, see the book Born to Die (by Chuck Bagby), “Chapter 2 – Kings & Scoundrels: Jesus’ Ancestors,” heading “Jacob Fathered Joseph (Matthew 1:16),” subheading “Overlapping Family Lines.”

[2] Luke 1:26-27; 2:4-5

[3] A betrothal refers to a marriage engagement.

[4] New Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Volume 1, Translated by Michael Rodkinson, New Talmud Publishing Company, 100 Boylston St., Boston, MA, USA, (1896, p. 133, Tract Aboth, Tosephtha-Aboth of R. Nathan, Mishna EE)

[5] Genesis 24:55; Deuteronomy 20:7; Judges 14:7-8

[6] Luke 1:5-56

[7] Deuteronomy 22:23-24

[8] Genesis 38:1-26

[9] Matthew 1:20 Bagby Translation

[10] Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded” and accepted Mary as his fiancée, instead of separating from her as he had planned (Matthew 1:24 Bagby Translation). They did not become husband and wife at that time, for Luke notes they remained “engaged” some time later when they departed for Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-5 New American Standard - Updated).