The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things ; when (Revised Version); ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος . The tense lays stress, not on the continuance of his meditation (contrast Acts 10:19 ), but on the fact that the determination to which he had already come ( vide supra ) was already in his mind at the time when the following event happened. "These things;" his determination and its causes. Behold ; unexpectedly. Though common in St. Matthew, it never lacks the connotation of... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:19
Justice is considerateness. Very little is known concerning Joseph the husband of Mary; and yet enough is known to reveal a character. And what more especially shows him up to our view is his determination to do what was right, but to do it kindly. According to Jewish ideas, betrothal was as sacred as marriage, and infidelities before marriage were treated as infidelities after marriage, and death by stoning was the punishment for such sins. It was customary for persons to be engaged, or... read more