Matthew 1:22-25 22Now this all this happened in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, 23“Behold, the virgin will have in the womb and will bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24And after he got up, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife, 25and did not know her until she bore a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Israel’s prophets foretold the birth of a future leader who would bring salvation to the people. Matthew’s Gospel is known as the bridge from the old covenant to the new covenant. There are numerous passages that quote from the Old Testament indicating Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew has already shown the clear genealogical connection between Jesus and the nation of Israel. In Verse 23, he cites the Old Testament for the first time, quoting from Isaiah 7:14. It is unclear if this verse is Matthew’s editorial comment or something Joseph recognized as part of his dream since he does not wake up until after this quotation. If this was part of the dream, the verse from Isaiah confirms the purity of Mary as a virgin, which refers to an unmarried young woman who has not had sexual relations.
This verse adds further information about the identity of the child. First is that he is a son, but he is no ordinary boy but the Son of God. Second, he will have another special name of Immanuel. Matthew as editor adds the transition for those of his readers who do not know Hebrew. This name gives another important clue about the identity and mission of Jesus. God with us is one of the most significant thoughts ever given. The Almighty God of the universe who spoke all things into existence has come to live among us as a human being. Theologians use the word “incarnation” for this idea, the “enfleshment” of God into human form. This word more than any other captures the divine/human nature of Jesus. God because one with us to show us his plan for humanity. It is in Jesus that we find true human nature and what we were created to be.
Joseph responded in obedience to the angelic vision and did not know Marry. This idiomatic phrase basically means that he did not have sexual relations with her but kept her a pure virgin. Mary and Joseph later had their own biological children. The obedience of Joseph is significant and shows his honorable and righteous character. Joseph was the one to name the child Jesus, which traditionally would have happened on the eight day when Jesus was circumcised. The story of this is found in Luke 2. The focus of Matthew’s story is on the identity of Jesus as the anticipated Messiah and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Luke has a different emphasis. The coming Messiah would be the Savior of the world.
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