Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verse 18: Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, became pregnant by the Holy Spirit before they came together as husband and wife. This miraculous conception was the beginning of the birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Verse 19: Joseph, being a righteous man, did not want to publicly shame Mary for her pregnancy. He planned to divorce her quietly to protect her reputation.
Verse 20: An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that Mary’s pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit. The angel instructed Joseph to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus, signifying his role as the Savior.
Verse 21: The angel explained to Joseph that Mary would give birth to a son who would save people from their sins. This fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah’s coming.
Verse 22: The events surrounding Jesus’ birth were in fulfillment of the prophecy that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, who would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Verse 23: The prophecy of the virgin birth and the name Immanuel was a sign of God’s presence among His people through the birth of Jesus.
Verse 24: Joseph obeyed the angel’s command and took Mary as his wife, demonstrating his faith and trust in God’s plan for their lives.
Verse 25: Joseph refrained from consummating his marriage with Mary until after she gave birth to Jesus, as instructed by the angel. He named the child Jesus, as directed, fulfilling the prophecy of the Savior’s coming.