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Bible story · Matthew 1:18–25
Fear Not to Take Mary
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: Matthew 1:18–25 ↗
“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.”
Matthew 1:20 (KJV)The Story
Joseph was a carpenter in Nazareth, engaged to a young woman named Mary. Then he received devastating news. Mary was pregnant, and he knew the child wasn’t his.
In that culture, engagement was as binding as marriage. Joseph had every right to expose her publicly. But the Bible says he was “a just man,” and he didn’t want to shame her. He decided to end the engagement quietly.
While he was thinking about all this, he fell asleep. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
“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.” She would give birth to a son, and Joseph was to name Him Jesus, “for he shall save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel had told him. He took Mary as his wife. And when the baby was born, Joseph named Him Jesus.
Reflection
Joseph never speaks a single word in the Bible. But his actions say everything.
More Bible stories from Matthew. More about: Fear and Courage · Family · Christmas · Mary, Mother of Jesus
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Day 12 of Book 4
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