Matthew 1:25
“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”
Matthew 1:25 (KJV) states: “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”
This verse is found in the Gospel of Matthew, which begins with the genealogy of Jesus and then proceeds to narrate the events surrounding His birth. Let’s break down the verse and explore its significance:
“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son”:This phrase refers to Joseph’s relationship with Mary before Jesus was born. The term “knew” in this context refers to the physical intimacy of sexual relations. It indicates that Joseph abstained from any sexual relationship with Mary until after she gave birth to Jesus.
This emphasizes the miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception. Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18), making Him the Son of God. By maintaining her virginity until Jesus was born, it affirms the divine origin of Jesus and fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
“He called his name Jesus”:The verse concludes by stating that Joseph named the child Jesus. This is significant because the name “Jesus” means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” The angel of the Lord had instructed Joseph to name the child Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 1:21: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
By naming Him Jesus, Joseph acknowledged the purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world-to save humanity from their sins. This name reflects the mission of Jesus as the Savior and points to His divine identity.
In summary, Matthew 1:25 emphasizes the unique circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. It highlights Joseph’s obedience to God’s instructions by abstaining from physical intimacy with Mary until after Jesus’ birth. Additionally, it underscores the significance of the name Jesus, signifying His mission as the Savior of humanity.
