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Matthew 1:24-25, Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of 

                              the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did 

                              not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn Son.

                              And he called His name Jesus.

It is quite easy to understand the confusion Joseph must have had when he found out that Mary was with child.  Joseph was a good man and gave considerable thought regarding what he should do with Mary.  Perhaps his thoughts had gone as far as human thought could go; he was not willing to make a public spectacle of Mary by stoning her (which was his right by the law).  His struggle can almost be perceived – jealousy on the one hand and his affection for Mary on the other.

His decision was to put her away quietly, in secret.  He was a just man, not willing to expose her, willing to be merciful.  As he was considering all this an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid.  The angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife - she had conceived by the Holy Spirit to fulfill prophecy of a virgin bearing a Son, Immanuel. 

Again, I wonder what the reaction to Joseph must have been at this.  But Joseph got up from his sleep and took Mary as his wife. This is obedience.

The word know is used to denote sexual intimacy.  This verse is to protect the virgin birth doctrine that is so important to who Jesus was.  The statement protects both Jesus’ humanity and His deity.

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