12.13.20 Sunday School
Unit 1: The Beginning of a Call
Called Before Birth | Bible Background • MATTHEW 1:18–25 Printed Text • MATTHEW 1:18–25 | Devotional Reading • ISAIAH 42:1–9
AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will REMEMBER the story of the angel’s announcement to Joseph of Jesus’ birth, REJOICE that the birth of Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to be with His people, and LIVE with greater awareness of God’s abiding presence.
IN FOCUS
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Mackinsie and Michael looked at their new baby boy in awe. They were thankful for Mackinsie’s mother being able to stay at their house with their other children, giving the parents time alone with their new youngest child. They were also thankful that Michael’s Grandmother Opal was on her way to the hospital to meet her newest great-grandbaby. Just two months ago, the family lost Grandpa Steve, Opal’s husband, the patriarch of the family. Opal was still grieving deeply, but she felt seeing this new life born so soon after the death of her Steve would be good for her soul.
Grandma Opal held the baby in her arms with practiced grace. “We wanted to tell you in person, Grandma Opal,” Michael said. “Mackinsie and I want to name him Steve, after Grandpa.”
The new baby made Grandma Opal smile. But the news of the baby’s name sprinkled tears in her eyes. “It’s good to have a new Steve in the family,” Opal said. “Look how strong that grip is! He’ll have Steve’s dedication to working hard, for sure,” Opal said. “I hope he’ll have Grandpa Steve’s sense of humor,” Michael said.
“I hope he’ll have Grandpa Steve’s dedication to the Lord,” Mackensie said. “I love that best about this family, how much you boldly show Christ to the world. Be praying for us, Grandma Opal, that we can give little Stevie as good a Christian home as Grandpa Steve gave his kids.”
What spiritual heritage did you inherit from your family?
Keep in Mind
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins. (from Matthew 1:20-21, KJV)
Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins. (from Matthew 1:20-21, KJV)
Focal Verses (KJV)
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to
Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put
her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying,
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his
wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put
her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying,
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his
wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
The People, Places, and Times
Prophet. The biblical prophet is a speaker for God. God communicates directly with him or her sometimes with
future predictions and sometimes with commands from God. When He led the Israelites out of slavery and
when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments, God spoke to Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11). God spoke
frequently to His Old Testament people through the major and minor prophets (Isaiah through Malachi). God
still speaks through individuals today, but not in a way that brings novel revelation because we now have the
complete Word of God, the Bible, which speaks to all people everywhere.
Prophet. The biblical prophet is a speaker for God. God communicates directly with him or her sometimes with
future predictions and sometimes with commands from God. When He led the Israelites out of slavery and
when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments, God spoke to Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11). God spoke
frequently to His Old Testament people through the major and minor prophets (Isaiah through Malachi). God
still speaks through individuals today, but not in a way that brings novel revelation because we now have the
complete Word of God, the Bible, which speaks to all people everywhere.
Angels. The Greek word aggelos (ON-gelloce) means “messenger,” and can refer to an earthly or heavenly
being. Although angels have an exalted position, we are warned never to worship them (Colossians 2:18).
Angels serve many functions, but their primary functions are as messengers and ministers of God to humanity
(Hebrews 1:14). They bring God’s specific commands (Judges 6:11-23; 13:3-5). They assist people in times of
distress (1 Kings 19:5-7) and even carry out military missions (2 Kings 19:5-7; Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1). Jesus
indicated the existence of personal guardian angels (Matthew 18:10; cf. Psalm 91:11).
Why does God communicate differently at different times, whether through prophets, angels, or His Son?
Background
The book of Matthew is called the Jewish Gospel because its intended audience is Jewish. It is rooted in Old
Testament prophecy related to the coming King through the lineage of King David. The first chapter of
Matthew, presents Jesus’ royal lineage, describing His kingly line and rightful place as heir to David’s throne.
His legal inheritance comes through the line of Solomon through Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father (Luke 3:23;
4:22). Jesus’ lineage proves that He has the right to be called the King of the Jews.
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, which gives Him the right to be called the Son of God (Matthew 1:18-
25). He is fully God and fully human; He is the Living Word who came down from heaven, clothed in human
flesh, and dwelled among people (John 1:1-4; Luke 1:26-35; 2:1-7). His virgin birth fulfilled the prophetic
utterances of Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14). The sinless and divine nature of Jesus makes Him the only man capable of
shedding divine blood on the Cross and becoming the final atonement for our sin.
What does it tell us about God to know that Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies?
At-A-Glance
1. Divine Conception (Matthew 1:18-19)
2. Divine Correction (vv. 20-23)
3. From Divine Clarity to Human Obedience (vv. 24-25)
In Depth
1. Divine Conception (Matthew 1:18-19)
Having laid out the historical background of the Messiah’s birth, Matthew introduces an unexpected divine
element. When Matthew says that “before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost,” he
introduces a problem to the Jewish mind— for them, the Messiah was nothing more than a human being. By
stating it this way, Matthew sets the stage to argue that this human being is also God.
Joseph is described as a righteous man. Unlike the Pharisees, who insisted on a rigid reading of the law’s
justice, Joseph understood the compassion of the Lord. Pregnancy before the actual wedding would render
Mary unfaithful. Fully applying the letter of the law, though, would lead to Mary’s being stoned to death.
Joseph was unwilling to expose her to the disgrace of public divorce. He, therefore, chose a quiet divorce. Thus
Joseph would satisfy the requirement of the law and fulfill his sense of covenant righteousness and his
compassion.
What do Joseph’s actions say about him?
2. Divine Correction (vv. 20–23)
God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to stop the divorce. The dream imparted three key things. First, Joseph
was reassured that Mary had not been unfaithful (v. 20). Joseph must see this child as God’s Child, and this
event as a Godevent. When God speaks into our situation, we see more clearly and our relationships are put in
the right perspective. Second, Joseph was told the baby’s sex and what He was to be named. The name “Jesus”
is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “the Lord saves.” Third, he was told the baby’s
divine purpose: “he shall save his people from their sins” (v. 21).
God also clarifies the situation by pointing back to Scripture. All this can be understood by what God had
already said through the prophet Isaiah. Our belief in God is not wishful thinking. Rather our faith, like Joseph’s
acceptance of Mary, is grounded in prophetic insight coming directly from God.
3. From Divine Clarity to Human Obedience (vv. 24-25)
Too many of us spend time fighting with God when we should take a lesson from Joseph and stop worrying
about how God guides us. God would only command us to do something consistent with His Word. After God
told Joseph what to do, human opinion no longer mattered. Instead, he chose to please the One who was in
charge of his life. Once God clarifies the events to Joseph and reveals that this was God’s work, Joseph married
Mary and named the child Jesus as instructed.
God never makes mistakes. He didn’t pick just any virgin or any carpenter—and there were likely scores of
both in Nazareth. Instead, God chose the couple who would, individually and together, place His will above all
else. Their individual and collective actions made the family that paved the way for the new community that
would be known as one that fosters belonging and acceptance.
Search the Scriptures
1. Where and why did the angel of the Lord appear to Joseph (Matthew 1:20)?
2. Why was Joseph instructed to name his son Jesus (v. 21)? Why is the prophesied name
Emmanuel important (v. 23)?
Discuss the Meaning
1. What does it mean to be “a just man” and “son of David”?
2. Why did God reveal the truth about Mary’s miraculous conception only privately to Joseph in a dream? Why
not also tell her family or the whole town?
Liberating Lesson
We never hear Joseph speak. When Joseph was disgraced and humiliated by the news of his betrothed’s
pregnancy, we never hear him speak. When Joseph is told to marry the woman with whom by law he should
have severed ties, we never hear him speak. When Joseph learns of Herod’s plot to kill Mary’s baby, we never
hear Joseph speak. When Joseph learns about Herod’s death, we never hear him speak. When Joseph realizes
that he must take his young bride and the baby Jesus to live in the despised and unimportant town of Nazareth,
we never hear Joseph grumble or complain. Why? Is he not human like the rest of us? Surely he must have had
strong feelings about the stress and mess of life.
Whatever his feelings may have been, Matthew portrays Joseph
as one who guards his tongue. Given all the pressures that crowded in upon Joseph, why do we never hear him
vent his feelings? Joseph’s aim in life was obedience. The only speaking that Joseph does is through his active
response to the Lord’s commands.
as one who guards his tongue. Given all the pressures that crowded in upon Joseph, why do we never hear him
vent his feelings? Joseph’s aim in life was obedience. The only speaking that Joseph does is through his active
response to the Lord’s commands.
Application for Activation
As Joseph found, divine clarification must lead to the practical application of God’s Word. God reveals things
to us so that we might act in concert with the movement of His Spirit in the world. Insights are not given to us
so that we can harbor and hoard them for self-promotion, but to create within ourselves a motion to action. God
can use us to unfold this divine will, just as He did with Joseph. All we need to do is listen to the Word of God.
This week, reflect on the question: How committed am I to obeying God’s Word? Pray and ask God to help you
make decisions and govern your family life and relationships in ways that reflect obedience to His will. Make
your speech and actions reflect your dedication to doing the will of God.
Follow the Spirit
What God wants me to do:
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Remember Your Thoughts
Special insights I have learned:
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