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The Birth of Jesus Christ
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Commentary
you know I've actually been talking very recently about this passage. And there are a lot of traditional reasons to talk about it. With it being relevant to Jesus being the messiah and meeting those prophecies, the Incarnation, yada, yada this and that.
You know the reason why I've been talking about it? Premaritial sex. There are some liberal Protestants who say that it's not wrong. I've actually had to site this verse as a verse that prooves that sex between premarried folks is wrong. Because I've heard some pretty convoluted "Situational Ethics" based reasons on the subject.
Anyway besides all the lofty deep theological meanings of this passage. It does say something to our current state of morality today. As I said to one young man on the internet, "If sex between engaged couples wasn't wrong, then why didn't Joseph fib a little and say that Mary and him hooked up a few months ago? After all she was in danger of being stoned for adultary, he could have easily provided her with an Alibi!" Furthermore there are some other godly biblical figures that have also lied to save a person they loved from death etc. so I don't think that such a unreasonable assumption.
St. Joseph however "decided to put her away quietly", as the King James said, precisely because he was a "righteous man". He was righteous in that he knew right from wrong (and knew the importance of chastity), but also was kind in his righteousness and that is the reason he wanted to put her away rather than have her be punished for what would normally be considered incontrovertable evidence of adultary (because marital fidelity was mandatory with the betrothal in that culture, even before the marriage was consumated). Unlike many people of today, St. Joseph wasn't nonchalant about such things.
posted by Addai | 10:43 PM
2 Comments:
It's ridiculous to have to "prove" fornication is wrong, for one thing. When people are asking for that, they've already made up their minds pretty much.
But, that said... I think it's conceivable Joseph would have divorced her anyway, because he would have assumed she was with another man. Who would want to marry someone who's sleeping around with other people?
lol I know. Strangely enough in thinking about what to say on this verse. Most of the important meanings and significances of it, I think most Christians already know. Well I actually tend to give them credit for knowing so it these little extra areas of significance that seem more interesting...
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