The Life of Christ

LESSON 2

SECTION 11

Mt. 1:18-19 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

To put her away meant to give her a bill of divorcement.

• The way this was done was for the man to write out a formal divorce document called a “Get,” that read, “She is not my wife, and I am not her husband.” This entitled her to now marry another. 6

• It was to be declared orally before witnesses. The court system would have nothing to do with this proclamation; this was something the husband was to do apart from the legal system.

• The woman could respond by removing her outer garment to demonstrate that her husband has now removed his outer garment of protection and provision from over her life.

• It seems that during their earlier wedding ceremony, the husband had removed his outer garment and placed it over his bride. This symbolism is based upon Ruth 3:9; Ezek. 16:8,37; Hos. 2:3,9.

At one time in Jewish history a man in Joseph’s position would have had the option to have his wife stoned for adultery (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22-24). However, that would not be an option here for two reasons:

• First, at this time in history, only the Romans were allowed to institute capital punishment, and then only for civil crimes.

• Secondly, Deut. 22:22 indicates that both parties were to be stoned, implying that the male must also be located and sentenced to death.

• Since the man wasn’t present, to stone just the woman would have been inequitable.

• The better solution was to issue a divorce, and to do so privately would reduce the measure of scandal.

Mt. 1:20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been 1 conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

It is significant that God allowed Joseph to go through the fire of tribulation before finally sending the angelic messenger.

• Why didn't God send the angel before the conception as He did with Mary?

• Vs. 19 says that Joseph was a righteous man, and all righteous men must face their hour of testing.

• 2 Chron. 32:31 referring to Hezekiah says, "God left him, to try him that He might know all that was in his heart.”

6 Rabbi Menken, The Everything Torah Book (Adams Media, 2005), 108.

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