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Matthew 1Annunciation to Joseph

The birth of Jesus

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Birth

Read the passage and ask questions

Old Testament background

Kind of writing

New Testament foreground (esp. Matthew)

Purpose of Matthew

Ways of praying this passage

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Annunciation to Joseph

Matt. 1:18   Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. 20 When he had contemplated 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 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy

Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, 25 but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.

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OT Background

(i) Joseph: the name Joseph reminds the aware bible reader of another Joseph in the book of Genesis. That Joseph was a dreamer, threatened by his brothers, who went down to Egypt. Because of his position, Egypt became a place of refuge for his family. The character of our Joseph and the narrative surrounding him all come from Genesis 37-50.

(ii) Divorce was allowed by inference in Deut 24:1-4, although no legislation formally permits it. The rabbis discussed “warmly” the conditions under which a man might divorce his wife.

Betrothal, while not marriage, could be cancelled only by an official bill of divorce.

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OT Background

(iii) Son of David: the relationship with David immediately calls to mind the guarantee and promise to the house of David made by the prophet Nathan in 2 Sam 7 and the prayer version of it in Psalm 89.

David was the anointed shepherd-king of Israel-language significant in Mt. In the centuries before Jesus’ birth, people’s hopes focused on a restoration of the kingdom of David, as a mark of God’s continued faithfulness to his people.

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OT Background

(iv) Jesus is the Greek for Joshua, the name of Moses’ successor, who actually led the people into the promised land.

The name comes Hebrew/Aramaic and means “YHWH is salvation” or “YHWH saves/has saved.”

Messiah or Christ is not found in the Hebrew Bible pointing to an expected end-time agent of God’s salvation.

That language and expectation developed in the last two centuries before the birth of Jesus.

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OT Background

(v) The promise in Isaiah 7:14 is read as a messianic prophecy. In its original context, this text promised a successor to King Ahaz, born in the normal way. The Hebrew says ‘alma, which could be a young woman and/or a virgin.

The early Greek version of the OT (the Septuagint) used the word “virgin”, taken up here by Matthew because it fits with his account of Jesus’ conception.

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Kind of Writing

(i) Communication in a dream: the clear prototypes are Jacob (and his famous ladder) and Joseph (with the coat of many colours). Otherwise, the Bible is hesitant, not to say suspicious, of divination by dreams.

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Kind of Writing

(ii) Annunciation-type story: these stories show the following pattern.

! (1) appearance of an angel;

! (2) fear and/or prostration;

! (3) message;

! (4) objection;

! (5) sign.

OT: Ishmael Gen 16:7-12, Isaac 17:1-21; 18:1-12; Samson Jdg 13:3-21.

NT: John the Baptist Lk 1:11-20; Jesus Lk 1:26-38. Our version in Matt is missing one element, the sign: the angel comes in a dream and there is a message. Implied are (a) fear—“Do not be afraid” and (b) an objection—Joseph wants a divorce and the angel somehow knows this.

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Kind of Writing

(iii) Fulfillment of prophecy: fives times in chapters 1-2, Matt such the events described fulfilled something from the OT. The purpose is to underline continuity—i.e. God’s fidelity, even in the unexpected situation of a Jewish-Christian community of faith.

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NT Foreground

(i) Matthew is the only Gospel to give the meaning of the name Jesus. Intriguingly, he increases the occurrence of the name in the Passion Narrative from 17 to 40, perhaps because he wants us to hear the etymology and its meaning as we hear the story of Jesus’ death for us." Mark 14-15: 17 times" Matthew 26-27: 40 times

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NT Foreground

(ii) Emmanuel (lit. = God with us): as is well-known, the gospel’s first mention of Jesus includes this name and this Gospel closes with a final evocation: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)

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Immanuel

And that very night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham’s sake.” (Genesis 26:24)

Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15)

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Immanuel

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and

very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1–9)

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Immanuel

Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; (Isaiah 43:5)

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I am with you

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Emmanuel

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16–20)

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Purpose of Matthew (1)

Jesus was Son of God (the action of the Holy SpiritAnd son of David (the action of Joseph)Hence, the puzzle in Mt 21:45-46 (NB)

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Purpose of Matthew (2)

Joseph is righteous and merciful (see Mt 5:17-48)See Mt 9:13; 12:7Either Mary was unfaithful (Dt 22:13-19) or had been raped (Dt 22:25-27). In either case, marriage was “out”Angelic disclosure permits marriage

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Purpose of Matthew (3)

The name Jesus / Joshua It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psa 130:8)The function Emmanuel

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Purpose of Matthew (4)

The fulfillment of ScriptureSo Isaiah replied, “Pay attention, family of David. ...Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel. (Is 7:13–14)

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Purpose of Matthew (5)

The role of the Holy SpiritCf. Gen 1:2 (source of life) and Is 61:1 (initiator of the messianic age)Cf. Mt 3:11, 16 (Baptism); 4:1 (wilderness); 12:18 (Is 42:1); 12:28 (Spirit of God); 28:19 (Go forth...)

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Ways of Praying this Passage

1. It took some time for Joseph to accept the fact that in Mary there truly was Emmanuel - God with us.  God is with us now, but at times we struggle to perceive God’s presence. Where have you unexpectedly discovered the presence of ‘God with you’.  Recall those experiences and give thanks.

2. Joseph was confused and uncertain about what he should do. It was difficult for him to discern what his next step should be. Perhaps you have also had to make difficult journeys on the way to some decisions or commitments.  Recall that journey and the moments when it became clear to you what was being asked of you. Give thanks for the angels who helped you along the way.

3. Mary bore Jesus within her, unseen to all, and unacknowledged by most.In Joseph she found one who believed in the treasure that she bore.  We can be bearers of Jesus to others, and they to us.  When have you been a bearer of Jesus to another?  Who has been that to you?

4. The experience of having a gift that others do not see or recognise can be painful and isolating. Then someone comes, like Joseph to Mary, who gets to believe in what we have to offer.  Has that happened to you?  What was it like?

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A Prayer

ETERNAL GOD, in the psalms of David,in the words of the prophets,in the dream of Joseph,your promise is spoken.At last, in the womb of the Virgin Mary,your Word takes flesh.

Teach us to welcome Jesus, the promised Emmanuel,and to preach the good news of his comingthat every age may know himas the source of redemption and grace.

We ask this through him whose coming is certain,whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God for ever and ever. Amen.