Matthew 1:18-25 – What A Man Should Be – Bible study

Matthew 1:18-23 What A Man Should Be It is the Sunday before Christmas and our minds are probably and properly thinking about the birth of Jesus. In the story that we call Christmas, there are three prominent individuals. The One above all is the Babe in the manager. Jesus is not just a character in the Christmas story. He is the Christmas story. No mere mortal, whether real or imaginary, should ever be exalted in such a manner as to dim glory of that Holy Child for the coming of the Messiah has sealed the eternity of every human being. Because Jesus came, now every soul will spend eternity in heaven or in hell. The second most prominent individual would be Mary, the mother of Jesus. Indeed, the angel Gabriel called her "blessed among women" \#Luke 1:28\ and while we do NOT worship her, bow to her, pray to her, or use her name to curry favor with God; she was a righteous woman who set forth an example of selflessness, sacrifice, and suffering to be obedient to God. But the third most prominent individual in the birth of Jesus we speak very little of. That would be Joseph, Jesus step father. Some discount Josephs role in the birth of Jesus. After all, Joseph did not in any way contribute to the conception of Jesus. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit gave Seed to Mary to produce the Body that Jesus lived within. Yet, while many other men both in the Christmas story and since have failed to accept their leadership role and responsibilities, Joseph did not. Joseph, like Mary, was an example of selflessness, sacrifice, and suffering to be obedient to God. Lets consider Joseph this morning. I. Who He Was A. He was a poor man. 1. I do not know that anyone has ever desired to be poor; but as someone said, "God must really love the poor because He made so many of them." 2. How do I know that Joseph was a poor man? Because of the offering he brought. a. \#Lev 12:2-8\ required two offerings when a son or daughter was born. (1) A lamb for a Burnt Offering (2) A pigeon or a turtle dove for a Sin Offering. b. However, if a man could not afford the lamb, he could bring substitute another pigeon or turtledove for the lamb, meaning he would bring a pair of turtledoves or pigeons. c. Notice what Mary and Joseph brought in \#Luke 2:24\. Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. d. That means this was a man of humble means. e. But we need to add to that thought another. B. He was a working man. 1. One day, Jesus was teaching and the people, listening to the words that Jesus spoke, asked: Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenters son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 2. Joseph was a carpenter, a worker of wood. 3. These two thoughts together present a picture of the kind of people that God most often uses, i.e. poor, , common, hard-working people. a. Jesus was not born into a palace or to an aristocratic family, but into a home where when the Babe cried, the mothernot a nannygot up and walked the floor. Where the father got up early to do the chores and then headed out to the mill or to factory to work. b. God uses ordinary people. I think we sometimes forget that Peter was a fisherman, Matthew a tax collector, and Paul supplemented his income by making tents. c. The worship of Christ is not improved by wealth or hindered by poverty. Indeed, most often it is the opposite which is true. d. Do you think your status, your abilities, or your looks will either impress or displease God? (1) No, my friend. It will not. (2) Whatever you are or have was given to you by God, and God only takes note of how you live with those things and what you do for Him, with or despite them. C. He was a just man. Matt 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things. 1. God, not Matthew, called Joseph a just man. 2. That means he was a man who did right. a. We need to understand that when the Bible calls a man just it does not mean just according to mans law or in his own eyes. b. It means that person did right in the eyes of God. c. Of course those two should parallel, but they seldom seem to do so. (1) Hard to say that "I am proud to be an American." (2) I can say that I am thankful and happy to be an American, but with the divergence of Americans laws and Gods laws, it becomes more and more difficult to be proud of America. 3. So does this mean that Joseph was some kind of theologian? a. No. Joseph was not trained in the Word of God any more than most of you are. b. In fact, most grade school children who attend Sunday school and church at the Green Pond Baptist Church would have been exposed to far more of the Bible than Joseph. (1) Joseph had no Bible to read. The New Testament had not even been given yet. (2) Joseph had no Sunday school to attend. (3) Joseph had no Christian literature or books to read. (4) Joseph had no Christian radio or DVDs to aid him. c. Josephs knowledge of things of God came from two sources: (1) Joseph probably went to synagogue for a single service on Saturday. That would be kind of like morning worship here today. (2) Joseph probably had a mother and father who taught him about God. Moms and dads, dont underestimate the influence you have on your childrenfor good and for bad. D. \#Matt 1:19\ He was a merciful man. 1. While the law called for stoning, Joseph wanted to just divorce Mary privately. 2. He did not seek vengeance or retribution against the woman he thought had done him wrong nor did he want her to be humiliated by others. II. What He Did Matt 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. A. Joseph believed and obeyed God. 1. We should not take for granted that Joseph first believed. a. You say, "Well, an angel came to confirm the truth." b. With the message Gabriel brought, it would still take a lot of faith to believe. c. Yet, Joseph did believe with a rock-solid faith. d. How do I know? Because his actions demonstrate his faith. 2. But Joseph also obeyed. a. He married Mary, and then kept his hands off of her. b. There were around 6 more months of pregnancy when the two were married, but Joseph did not touch his wife until after Jesus was born. 3. Joseph did not keep his hands off of her AFTER Jesus was born. a. A verse already referenced, \#Matt 13:55\, tell us Mary and Joseph had four other sons and we dont know how many "sisters." b. Sorry, but the notion that Mary was a "perpetual" virgin as believed by the Catholics is just plain wrong. 4. This deed also tells us something about the man, Joseph. a. Joseph denied himself. b. He put God and others before himself. B. Joseph fulfilled prophecy. 1. This was not so much about what Joseph did but what God did with Joseph. 2. Like Abrahams servant: Ge 24:27 I being in the way, the LORD led me. 3. Joseph fulfilled at least three prophecies: 1. He got Mary to Bethlehem to deliver Jesus. 2. He fled to Egypt to protect Jesus. 3. When it was safe, Joseph brought his family back to Nazareth to live. 4. Did Joseph know that he was fulfilling prophecy while he was doing so? 1. Probably not. 2. He was just in the way of faith and obedience. so that God could use him. C. Joseph believed and protected the Child. Matt 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 1. Joseph fled to Egypt at the command of God, leaving everyone and everything he had behind. 2. This is more of the selfless and sacrificial spirit. 3. His family meant more to him that job, possession, and location. 4. Yet this deed tells us another truth about the man, Joseph. a. Joseph was courageous. b. Joseph knew full well that he was setting himself at odds with a king; yet, he valued not his life, but the lives of those he loved. (1) Herod banished one wife and son, killed another wife and family members. (2) Herod wanted to be certain weep when he died so he gathered up a group of distinguished men and had the all killed the moment of his own death. D. \#Luke 2:41-52\ Joseph believed and worshiped God. 1. The last story we have of Joseph was when Jesus was 12. 2. Joseph brought his family, including Jesus, to Jerusalem for the annual feast. 3. Someone might say, "Well, yeah but God commanded that." 4. God commands it today as well, but most people do not obey it! Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. III. Where He Wasnt A. I find it interestingnot doctrinally sound but interesting not only to look at what the Bible says, but also at what it does not say. 1. There is no mention of Joseph being around after Jesus was found in the temple at the age of 12 \#Luke 2:41-52\. 2. That leads us to conclude that Joseph died before Jesus began His public ministry. B. Why was Jesus not there? 1. The Bible does not say, but I have a suspicion. 2. I believe God took Joseph because Joseph would not have allowed Jesus to have been treated like He was. 3. Could Joseph have stopped it? a. No, but he could have raised a ruckus. b. So God took Joseph. c. Someone asks, "As punishment?" d. No. As a reward. e. What an honor it would be for God to have to remove us because He knew we would do what was right no matter what it cost us! f. Remember, it is not a bad thing for a Christian to go to heaven. From our perspective, it may be a sad thing but never a bad thing. C. And I believe God knew from the beginning that although Joseph was the right kind of man to raise the Christ Child, he would not be the kind of man to leave on earth for the crucifixion of Jesus. Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Understand, the Christmas story is first and foremost about Jesus; however, it is not just about Jesus and who He is. Christmas is also about us and who we are. I do not find it amazing that God had to remove Joseph from the crucifixion. I find it amazing that He did have to remove every man in Israel! Where were the other Josephs? Are we a Joseph?