What are some things we can learn from Joseph's faith (the husband of Mary)?
Also, Matthew 1:24 and “They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: ‘a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons’” (Luke 2:24).
Matthew 1:18 - 21
ESV - 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
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Asked December 11 2020
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
I would say that we can learn the following from Joseph's faith: Faith allows us to display grace and kindness even under extreme pressure. (When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he did not want to make her a public example by having her stoned (as rigorous application of the Mosaic Law would not only have allowed, but required (Deuteronomy 22:21)), but resolved to divorce her quietly.) Faith opens us to receiving guidance and revelation from God. (Joseph's faith enabled him to be open to God's guidance, even under the circumstances that he was facing, where his trust in Mary was being put to a severe test.) Faith enables us to show courage. (The first words of the angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife -- despite whatever understandable apprehension he might have felt. Joseph heeded the angel's words, and put aside whatever fears or doubts he might have had.) Faith results in obedience. (Joseph's faith prompted him not only to receive God's guidance, but to repeatedly act upon it, as he did when taking Mary as his wife, taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt, and returning to Israel after Herod's death.) Faith allows us to be content with God's provision. (Joseph might have been justified in expecting God to provide material prosperity for His own Son and His earthly family, but he showed godly humility by the purification offering in accordance with Leviticus 12:8 that was offered for Jesus (two pigeons, instead of a lamb)(Luke 2:24), as well as by being content with continuing to pursue his trade as a carpenter, and training Jesus in that same vocation, despite his knowledge of Jesus' identity as the Son of God (Mark 6:3).)
Jack Gutknecht
“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly” (Matt. 1:18-19). Joseph was surely kindhearted, given his willingness to divorce Mary quietly when he learned of her pregnancy. He could have asked for her execution on grounds of adultery. He was a kindly, charitable man, treating Mary gently in her time of need (Matt. 1:19; Luke 2:1-7).
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