Betrothal Desiring Determined Disgrace Divorce Example Expose Husband Intended Joseph Kind-hearted Mind Minded Planned Privately Privily Public Publick Publicly Purposed Quietly Release Resolved Righteous Secretly Shame Unwilling Upright Wanting Willing Wish
1:19 Joseph her husband. Betrothal, according to the law (De 22:23,24), made him her husband before marriage.
A just [man]. Righteous and humane. To put her away publicly was to expose her to the penalty of death. Probably she had made her defense to him, but her story was so wonderful that he was in doubt.
Privily. Give her a bill of divorce. See De 24:1.
1:19 A just man - A strict observer of the law: therefore not thinking it right to keep her.
1:18-25 Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute. By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.
Determined Disgrace Divorce Example Husband Intended Joseph Kind-Hearted Mind Minded Planned Privately Privily Public Publicly Purposed Quietly Release Resolved Righteous Secretly Shame Unwilling Upright Wanting Willing
Determined Disgrace Divorce Example Husband Intended Joseph Kind-Hearted Mind Minded Planned Privately Privily Public Publicly Purposed Quietly Release Resolved Righteous Secretly Shame Unwilling Upright Wanting Willing
