Matthew 1:19,Matthew 1:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

The mystery of Christ's incarnation is to be adored, not pried into. If we know not the way of the Spirit in the formation of common persons, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of any one that is with child (Eccl. 11:5), much less do we know how the blessed Jesus was formed in the womb of the blessed virgin. When David admires how he himself was made in secret, and curiously wrought (Ps. 139:13-16), perhaps he speaks in the spirit of Christ's incarnation. Some circumstances attending the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

1:18-25 The birth of Jesus Christ happened in this way. Mary, His mother, was betrothed to Joseph, and, before they became man and wife, it was discovered that she was carrying a child in her womb through the action of the Holy Spirit. Although Joseph, her husband, was a man who kept the law, he did not wish publicly to humiliate her, so he wished to divorce her secretly. When he was planning this, behold, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David" said the angel,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

This passage tells us how Jesus was born by the action of the Holy Spirit. It tells us of what we call the Virgin Birth. This is a doctrine which presents us with many difficulties; and our Church does not compel us to accept it in the literal and the physical sense. This is one of the doctrines on which the Church says that we have full liberty to come to our own conclusion. At the moment we are concerned only to find out what this means for us. If we come to this passage with fresh eyes,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

(iii) The Jews specially connected the Spirit of God with the work of creation. It was through his Spirit that God performed his creating work. In the beginning the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and chaos became a world ( Genesis 1:2 ). "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made," said the Psalmist, "and all their host by the breath of his mouth" ( Psalms 33:6 ). (Both in Hebrew: ruwach ( Hebrew #7307 ) , and in Greek: pneuma ( Greek #4151 ) , the word for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:19

Then Joseph her husband ,.... To whom she had been betrothed, and who was her husband, and she his wife according to the Jewish law, Deuteronomy 22:23 though not yet come together, being a just man , observant of the law of God, particularly that which respected adultery, being wholly good and chaste, like the Patriarch of the same name; a character just the reverse of that which the Jews give him, in their scandalous F2 Teldos Jesu, p. 3. book of the life of Jesus; where, in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:19

To make her a public example - Παραδειγματισαι , to expose her to public infamy; from παρα , near, and δεικνυμαι , I show, or expose; what is oddly, though emphatically, called in England, showing up - exposing a character to public view. Though Joseph was a righteous man, δικαιος , and knew that the law required that such persons as he supposed his wife to be should be put to death, yet, as righteousness is ever directed by mercy, he determined to put her away or divorce her... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:19

Verse 19 19.As he was a just man Some commentators explain this to mean, that Joseph, because he was a just man, determined to spare his wife: (98) taking justice to be only another name for humanity, or, a gentle and merciful disposition. But others more correctly read the two clauses as contrasted with each other: that Joseph was a just man, but yet that he was anxious about the reputation of his wife. That justice, on which a commendation is here bestowed, consisted in hatred and abhorrence... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

JESUS THE CHRIST BY DIVINE ORIGIN . Recorded by Matthew only. The frequent similarity of language found in Luke 1:26-35 ( vide ' Synopticon ') is probably due to the fact that Joseph and Mary not unnaturally fell into the way of using the same words to express two messages of similar import. The object of this paragraph is to show that Messiah was in origin not of man but of God. This fact was accepted even by his reputed father Joseph, who was only convinced of it after... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

The birth of Jesus Christ. I. THE DISTRESS OF MARY . 1 . She was betrothed to Joseph. They had loved one another with a pure and holy love; now they were betrothed. The tie of betrothal was in the eyes of the Jews as sacred as that of marriage. The bridegroom had not yet taken home his bride; she was still in her parents' house. They were looking forward to the coming nuptials. It was the time upon which, years afterwards, men look back with such tender recollections—the time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:19

Then Joseph her husband ; and (Revised Version). The thought is slightly adversative ( δέ ); though this was "of the Holy Ghost," yet Joseph was about to put her away. Being a just man; righteous (Revised Version); i.e. who strove to conform to the Divine precepts manifested for him in the Law (cf. Luke 1:6 ; Luke 2:25 ). And not willing; i.e. "and yet not wishing ," though the Law, which he was striving to follow, seemed to inculcate harshness. This clause has been taken in... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 1:18-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:18-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:19

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