.gif)
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]
[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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your desire to please God and to understand His Scriptures. Subscribe to free e-mails of this blog at www.BurningHeartBibleStudies.com.