Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 1:24
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Being raised from sleep – Having fully awoke.
Did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him – That is, he took Mary to wife. Probably this was done immediately, since he was now convinced of her innocence, and, by delay, he would not leave any ground of suspicion that he had not confidence in her.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The will of God (as we heard) was revealed to Joseph in a dream. It is God that giveth a power to sleep, and a power to awake; therefore it is said, being raised from sleep, he showed both his faith and obedience; his faith in the Divine revelation, a certainty of which he had doubtless by some extraordinary Divine impression, and his obedience to the Divine precept.
He took unto him his wife, that is, he took her unto his house, (for betrothed virgins used to abide at their own friends houses till the consummation of the marriage), and owned her as his wife, yet not fully using her as such, for the text saith he
knew her not (a modest phrase used from the beginning of the world, as appears from Gen 4:1, to express the conjugal act)
till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. Some make a great stir in determining whether he knew her afterwards, yea or no. Some of the ancients were stiff in their opinion that he did not, so are the popish writers, and many protestant interpreters. Mr. Calvin I think determines best, that none will move such a question, but such as are unwarrantably curious; nor contend for either part, but such as are unreasonably quarrelsome. For as, on the one side, none can conclude that she had more children from the word
till, further than they can conclude, from Psa 110:1, that Christ shall not for ever sit at his Fathers right hand, (the word until being a particle only exclusive of a preceding time, not affirming the thing in future time), nor doth the term firstborn conclude any born afterward; so, on the other side, there are no cogent arguments to prove that Mary had no more children by Joseph. We read of the brother of our Lord, Gal 1:19, and of his mother and his “brethren,” Mat 12:47; and though it be true brethren may signify kinsmen, according to the Hebrew dialect, yet that it doth so in these texts cannot be proved. The Holy Ghost had made use of the virgin for the production of the Messias; why after this her womb should be shut up, and Joseph take her home to be his wife, and not use her as such I cannot tell, nor yet what reproach it could be to Mary or to our Saviour, marriage being Gods ordinance, and the undefiled bed honourable: and those who think our Saviour would have been dishonoured in any others lying in the same bed after him, seem to forget how much he humbled himself in lying in that bed first, and then in a stable and a manger. We know he knew her not till Christ was born, whether he did afterward or no we are willingly ignorant because God hath not told us.
And he called his name Jesus: this is added to declare his obedience to the command received by the angel. We shall meet with more circumstances relating to the birth of Christ when we come to the two first chapters of Luke.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. Then Joseph, being raised fromsleepand all his difficulties now removed.
did as the angel of the Lordhad bidden him, and took unto him his wifeWith what deep andreverential joy would this now be done on his part; and what balmwould this minister to his betrothed one, who had till now lain undersuspicions of all others the most trying to a chaste and holywomansuspicions, too, arising from what, though to her an honorunparalleled, was to all around her wholly unknown!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Joseph being raised from sleep,…. That is, being awaked out of sleep, “that sleep”, into which he either naturally fell, whilst he was meditating on the affair of Mary’s being with child; or rather into which he was cast by the Lord, on purpose that he might have a revelation of the will of God to him in a dream; and rising up from his bed or place where he was, immediately and without any delay,
did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him; firmly believing that it was a messenger of God that was sent to him, and that this matter was of the Lord. Wherefore he
took unto him his wife, that is, he publicly married her, whom he had before espoused, took her to his house, or continued her there, lived with her as his wife, and owned her to be such, and henceforwards had no more thoughts of putting her away.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Took unto him his wife ( ). The angel had told him not to be afraid to “take to his side” Mary his wife (1:20). So when he awoke from his sleep he promptly obeyed the angel and “took his wife home” (Moffatt). One can only imagine the relief and joy of Mary when Joseph nobly rose to his high duty toward her. I have tried to sketch Mary’s problems in Mary the Mother of Jesus: Her Problems and Her Glory.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The or his sleep [ ] . The force of the definite article; the sleep in which he had the vision. So Rev., “Arose from his sleep.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Then Joseph being raised from sleep,” (egerthais de ho Joseph apo tou hupnou) “Then when Joseph was raised up from sleep,” out of sleep, during which he saw the angel of the Lord that appeared to him in the dream, Mat 1:20.
2) “Did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him,” (epoiesen hos prosetaksen auto ho angelos kuriou) “He did as the informing angel from the Lord had directed or instructed him” He obediently proceeded to follow the instructions this ministering servant of God had delivered to him, Heb 1:1-2; Heb 1:14.
3) “And took unto him his wife:” (kai parelaben ten gunaika autou) “And took alongside of him, in his personal care, his wife (Mary).” This means he proceeded to marry her, without fear, to whom he had been betrothed, espoused, or engaged. With reverent joy he took her in marriage tenderly to care for her as his wife, awaiting the birth of the child Jesus. His heart now needed have no more fear or shame for God had spoken, revealed himself through His angel to Joseph Though she had returned from a some months visit with Elizabeth, visibly pregnant, a matter that disturbed him, God’s message of coming fulfilled prophecy through the child to be born, drove away his fear, and gave him faith in a coming unparalleled honor, Mat 1:20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24. Joseph, being raised from sleep The ready performance, which is here described, serves not less to attest the certainty of Joseph’s faith, than to commend his obedience. For, if every scruple had not been removed, and his conscience fully pacified, he would never have proceeded so cheerfully, on a sudden change of opinion, to take unto him his wife, whose society, he lately thought, would pollute him. (114) The dream must have carried some mark of Divinity, which did not allow his mind to hesitate. Next followed the effect of faith. Having learned the will of God, he instantly prepared himself to obey.
(114) “ Laquelle un peu auparavant il ne vouloit recevoir, et lui sembloit qu’il se fust pollue en conversant avec elle;” — “whom a little before he refused to receive, and seemed to him that he would be polluted by conversing with her.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) Took unto him his wife.These few words cover a great deal. They imply the formal ratification of the betrothal before witnesses; the benediction by a priest; the marriage-feast; the removal from the house that had hitherto been her home to that of Joseph. They imply also that what had seemed evidence of guilt among the neighbours of that home, brought with it to Josephs mind no ground for blame. To them, if they were not told the history, and it is not probable that they were, it must have been deemed an act of exceptional mercy and forbearance. The reverence implied in what the next verse records must have roused their wonder.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took to himself his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth a son, and he called his name JESUS.’
Note how it is made clear that this was a genuine dream. There is no suggestion that the angel had actually been present, except in his thoughts. Thus far from so-called ‘legendary accretions’ the opposite is the truth. On the other hand Joseph had no doubt that a messenger from the Lord had spoken to him, and the result was that he altered his plans and invited Mary to be wedded to him and come to live with him. ‘He took to himself his wife’. But what he did not do was ‘know’ her, that is, have sexual relations with her. And he did not do so ‘until she had brought forth a son’. The Greek construction used here clearly indicates that after that he did so. Had there been any truth in the idea of her perpetual virginity this would have been the point at which it would have been emphasised.
‘Called His name Jesus.’ Joseph’s naming of Jesus was important. It was his final act by which he acknowledged Him as his son. From then on no one could deny it. Compare Isa 43:1, ‘I have called you by name, you are Mine’. Jesus was now the acknowledged heir to the throne of David. Passing on the heirdom through an adopted son was perfectly acceptable.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The result of the angelic vision:
v. 24. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. As soon as he awoke from sleep, he was immediately, energetically active and set about to act upon the divine instructions. He took Mary home as his wife, he celebrated the betrothal with all customary Jewish ceremonies. She who was his wife by betrothal now was given this position in the eyes of the whole world. But the marriage was not consummated at that time:
v. 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he called His name Jesus. Joseph did not enter into the natural relations of marriage with Mary until her son, the promised Messiah, had been born. It is a moot question whether Mary and Joseph ever lived together in the usual matrimonial intercourse and begot children. The Roman Catholic theologians and a great many Protestant commentators argue with much spirit that the first-born son of Mary was her only son. Some have held with one of the early Church Fathers that the “brethren” of Jesus mentioned in various passages. Mat 12:46; Mat 13:55; Mar 3:31; Luk 8:19; Joh 2:12; Joh 7:5; Act 1:14; Gal 1:19, were the cousins of the Lord, the sons of Alphaeus, Joseph’s brother, and of Mary, the wife of Alphaeus, the sister-in-law (not sister) of the mother of the Lord. Others have held that they were the stepbrothers of Jesus, by a former marriage of Joseph. As a matter of fact, the question is of little import and can have no doctrinal significance. It is not for historical, exegetical, or dogmatic reasons, but only for motives of relevance that men have been prompted to insist upon the alleged fact of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
The evangelist concludes the narrative by stating that he, Joseph, called the name of Mary’s son Jesus, thus following the divine command, assuming the legal paternity of the child, and incidentally expressing his hopeful belief in the Savior of mankind.
Summary. Jesus Christ, the son and legal heir of David, beyond whom His genealogy can to Abraham, the father of the faithful of all times, was conceived and born of Mary, the virgin mother, after Joseph, His foster-father, had been instructed through a wonderful angelic vision as to God’s interposition.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 1:24. Being raised from sleepbidden him Awaked out of sleepdirected him.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mat 1:24 . ] from the sleep in which he had had the vision.
.] The course of the thought proceeds simply, without any participial construction, by means of the epexegetic and .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
There is a great sweetness and modesty in the original word, for knowing her not. And the chastity of scripture language, is ever to be admired and esteemed. How much it teacheth a chastity of conversation among the people of God; even, when necessity at any time constrains us to speak of what relates to the present infirmities of our poor fallen nature. When it is said, that Mary continued in the single state unto the birth of Christ; it saith no more than what the prophecy declared. A virgin was to conceive, and a virgin bring forth a son. This was literally accomplished. So that no question should arise concerning the chastity of the virgin, until the birth of CHRIST was accomplished. Very much hath been both said and written, in respect to the cohabitation of Mary with Joseph, after the birth of CHRIST. But the scriptures are wholly silent upon the subject. And therefore it becomes the Church of GOD to be silent also. Whether Mary did, or did not, continue in a single state, is no article of faith. All the after events of her life were to herself; and not to the Church. And it should seem, from the words of the Lord Jesus to her, at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, as if the Lord would discourage his people from ascribing unsuitable honors to the virgin. Though she was declared by the angel to be highly favored and blessed among women, in being singled out for the high honor in the miraculous conception; yet, in all other points, Mary stood upon the same footing with every child of GOD in the Covenant. And that Mary herself considered it as such, and looked for salvation, as all others of the redeemed do, in and by CHRIST, is evident from the song she sung upon the occasion: Mary said, My soul doth magnify the LORD, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my SAVIOR. Luk 1:46-47 , etc.
REFLECTIONS.
PAUSE, Reader! at this opening of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the SON of GOD; and while beholding the relation of the pedigree of CHRIST, after the flesh, who was made not after time genealogy of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life; well may we both cry out, with the astonishment of the Prophet, Who shall declare his generation? Oh! for grace to discover the wonderful relationship between Christ and his people; and to exult with the Church, in the glorious truth: Unto us a child is born: unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and he shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor; the Mighty GOD; the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!
And, Reader! as we have both such abundant cause, so let us seek from the Lord all suited grace, to bless him for the discovery here made; how the human nature of Christ was produced, by the body which GOD the FATHER prepared him; and by the overshadowing power of GOD the Holy Ghost, by which. he was conceived in the womb of the virgin. Let us both bless God for the gracious revelations of this stupendous event; whereby the necessity of atonement, and the infinite importance of it, is most fully shewn. And oh! thou dear Lord Jesus; never, never, may any of the children lose sight of thine infinite condescension, who, though in the form of God, and with whom it was no robbery to be equal with GOD: yet didst thou make thyself of no reputation, and took upon thee the form of a servant, and was found in fashion as a man, and didst humble thyself even to the death of the cross!
Lord Jesus! give us to know thee, to love thee, to delight in thee, by every endearing name, and office, and character, in which thou standest revealed to thy people. Thou art indeed Emmanuel; GOD with us; God in us; GOD for us! Thou art JEHOVAH our righteousness. Thou art indeed JESUS, for in that sweet name is comprehended every other. And what endears it yet more to our hearts, thou hast commanded us to call thee so; For in this blessed scripture it is said, Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for He shall save his people from their sins. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Ver. 24. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel, &c. ] As well assured that it was of God, whom he was ready pressed to obey without sciscitation. Iussa sequi, tam velle mihi, quam posse, necesse est. (Lucan.) If some princes will not endure that subjects should scan their laws, but require absolute obedience: if generals excuse not in a soldier the neglect of their commands, but severely punish even prosperous disorders: if Jesuits exact blind obedience of their wretched novices (our Throgmorton dared not give up the ghost till he had obtained leave of his superior), a should not we much more obey God in his commands, counsels, promises, prohibitions, comminations, all?
a In articulo mortis nolebat obire, non impetrata a superiore venia.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24. ] , from his sleep the sleep which was on him when he had the dream.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 1:24-25 . Joseph hesitates no more : immediate energetic action takes the place of painful doubt. Euthymius asks: Why did he so easily trust the dream in so great a matter? and answers: because the angel revealed to him the thought of his own heart, for he understood that the messenger must have come from God, for God alone knows the thoughts of the heart. : rising up from the sleep ( ), in which he had that remarkable dream, on that memorable night, he proceeded forthwith to execute the Divine command, the first, chief, perhaps sole business of that day. . He took Mary home as his wife, that her off-spring might be his legitimate son and heir of David’s throne.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
24.] , from his sleep-the sleep which was on him when he had the dream.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 1:24. , did) sc. without delay.- …, as, etc.) Hence the command of the angel and the performance of Joseph are described in the same words in this passage, and in ch. Mat 2:13-14; Mat 2:20-21.- , took unto him his wife) sc., with the same appearance to those without, as though they lived together according to common custom.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
angel
(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
did: Gen 6:22, Gen 7:5, Gen 22:2, Gen 22:3, Exo 40:16, Exo 40:19, Exo 40:25, Exo 40:27, Exo 40:32, 2Ki 5:11-14, Joh 2:5-8, Joh 15:14, Heb 11:7, Heb 11:8, Heb 11:24-31, Jam 2:21-26
Reciprocal: Deu 22:24 – he hath humbled Mat 2:14 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE ANGEL AND THE GUARDIAN
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him.
Mat 1:24
I. The Divine Child.If to a person of tolerably good nature any little child is an interesting object, how much more, when we are invited devoutly to consider the cradle and swaddling bands of our Lord, to watch Him growing in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man, and to pray that by Gods infinite mercy it may not yet be too late, even for such as we are, to become so far like that little child that we may not be cast out of the kingdom of Heaven.
II. The entrusted guardian.The same Gospels which show us Jesus Christ in His cradle show us also certain holy persons waiting round that cradle, and all those persons are intended to be our examples. The first is the blessed Virgin; another is Joseph, who, from Christs birth to his own death, which was at least more than twelve years, and very likely a good deal longer, was the entrusted guardian of our Lord: the minister of God, especially called and raised up to watch over that holiest childhood and youth, and to protect His blessed mother. He must have been, more than almost any one, prepared and made meet for Gods Kingdom, who was permitted for so long a time to exercise a ministry so near to God Himself.
III. The lesson of obedience.Poor as Joseph and Mary were, they managed to afford one journey every yearand not a very short oneto Jerusalem, to the Feast of the Passover. It was the law of Moses, and they knew that obedience is blessed: therefore they contrived somehow to keep that law. Obedience to the Divine will was the keynote of Josephs character. From the very first he did as the angel of the Lord bade him.
The Rev. John Keble.
Illustration
A lesson in obedience may be drawn from an incident of the war in Egypt. The enemy was strongly encamped at Tel-el-Kebir. Lord Wolseley determined to attack them by night, and entrusted to a young naval officer, Lieutenant Rawson, the important duty of leading the Highland Brigade to a certain point in the enemys entrenchment, directing the line of march by the stars. The plan was successful, but not without a fearful struggle. One of the first to fall mortally wounded was the noble-hearted young Rawson. Lord Wolseley galloped to the place where he was lying, and took his hand. General, I hope you are satisfied; I did my best to lead them straight? said the dying man. Nothing could have been done better, was the reply, and poor young Rawson passed away.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1:24
Verse 24. Did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him denotes that what follows in this verse and the next will be in obedience to the command of the angel. Raised from sleep Is explained by the fact that In ancient times God used various means in communicating His will to the people (Heb 1:1) and one of them was by dreams. After the dream bad delivered the desired information to Joseph, it was time for him to arise out of sleep and proceed with the program pointed out by the angel.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 1:24. Then Joseph
did. He believed, therefore he obeyed. Thus early in the Gospel is obedience represented as the fruit of faith.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Joseph is no sooner assured that Mary is with child by the overshadowing power of the Holy Ghost, but he instantly obeys the Lord’s command, and takes Mary to him, without further disputing or delaying.
Learn thence, That a gracious person,when once satisfied in God’s word of command, disputes no further, but instantly complies with the will of God, even in the most hazardous and difficult duties.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Mat 1:24-25. Joseph did as the angel had bidden him This sudden change of his resolution, shows his great faith and ready obedience to God. When God speaks to our hearts, we speedily and cheerfully do what before we not only scrupled, but thought, perhaps, most inconvenient and unpleasing, and even contrary to the dictates of reason. And took unto him his wife That is, he took her home to his house. Nevertheless, in expectation of this wonderful event, and out of reverence to this sacred birth, he knew her not as his wife, though she dwelt under his roof; but she continued a pure virgin till at least Jesus was born. On what terms they afterward lived, says an eminent divine, is of so little importance to us, that one cannot but wonder it should have been the subject of so much debate. It is sufficient for us to know that she was a virgin, not only at the time of Christs conception, but at his birth, as the prophecy foretold she should be. The evangelist, therefore, wisely contented himself with recording this, without affirming any thing further, either way, on this delicate subject. We must observe, however, that the expression, Till she had brought forth her firstborn son, does not necessarily imply that he knew her afterward, any more than the Lords words to Jacob, Gen 28:15, I will not leave thee till I have done all that which I have spoken to thee of, imply that the Lord left Jacob after he had fulfilled his promises to him; or what is said, 2Sa 6:23, of Michal, Sauls daughter, that she had no child till the day of her death, that she bore a child or children afterward; nor will the expression, her firstborn son, prove that she had afterward any more children, being in Scripture applied continually to the person that first opened the womb, as the phrase, is, whether there were any more children or not. Indeed, the Greek here, , , is literally, her son, the firstborn, or that firstborn, viz., that person eminent and dear to God above others that were the firstborn, whom all the firstborn in the Old Testament prefigured, whom the angels adore, Heb 1:6, and in whom those that believe become the firstborn, and the first fruits of Gods creatures. Nevertheless, when it is considered what is the great end of marriage, that Joseph took Mary to wife by the command of God himself, and that his law not only permits, but even enjoins husbands to perform the marriage duty, it is, as Dr. Whitby observes, not easy to be conceived, that he should live twelve years with her he loved so well, and all that time deny that duty which was not to be diminished when the wife was less beloved: especially as no just reason whatever can be assigned for such conduct. Be this as it may, we may safely conclude with St. Basil, an ancient father of the Church, that till she had brought forth her firstborn her virginity was necessary: but what she was afterward let us leave undiscussed, as being of small concern to the mystery.