MARY’S VIRGIN CONCEPTION AND VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Emmanuel,’

which translated means, God with us.   Matthew 1:23

Joseph was a righteous man, a descendent of David, and betrothed to Mary, who also was a descendent of David’s line to Messiah. Mary was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but Joseph thought her pregnancy was by another man (the only logical means: Luke 1:34). Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy proved he was not the father of the Child. This proves the virgin conception of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph to urge him to marry Mary since this was of the Holy Spirit. Translations that employ quotation marks close off the quote of the angel at the end of verse 21 (NAS/ESV/NKJV). However, if the quote by the angel continues through verse 23, then the angel was urging Joseph to take Mary as his wife based on the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. The angel quoting Isaiah should translate, “the whole matter has come to pass to fulfill the word of the Lord...” It was not only a virgin conception by the Holy Spirit, but it was also a virgin birth. Joseph sees that the prophecy had to be fulfilled. He took Mary as his wife and keeps her a virgin. He refrains from consummating the marriage until after she gives birth. “He did not know her until (e3wj) she gave birth to a son” (v. 25a). Mary could have had a virgin conception, but not virgin birth if she and Joseph had physically joined in marriage. So Joseph, being instructed by the angel through the Isaiah prophecy, restrained himself to postpone their honeymoon until after Jesus was virgin birthed. Praise God for godly examples who do what is right.

DeLane Miller