How does Matthew 1:25 affirm the virgin birth of Jesus Christ? Reading the Text “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:25) Clear Statement of Virginity - “Had no union with her” plainly states that Joseph and Mary did not engage in marital intimacy during her pregnancy. - The phrase centers the reader’s attention on Mary’s physical purity at the moment Jesus was born—an essential element of a true virgin birth. Weight of the Word “Until” - Greek phrase: “οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως” (ouk eginōsken autēn heōs) • “He was not knowing her until…” denotes continual abstinence up to a specific point. • The construction guarantees virginity before the birth; it does not insist on what happened afterward. - Therefore, Matthew secures the miracle without distraction, affirming that no human father contributed to Jesus’ conception (cf. Luke 1:34-35). Alignment with Prophecy - Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and will call His name Immanuel.” - Matthew has just cited this prophecy (Matthew 1:22-23); verse 25 certifies its literal fulfillment—Mary truly remained a virgin when Jesus entered the world. Joseph’s Obedience and Legal Fatherhood - Naming the Child “Jesus” legally establishes Joseph’s fatherly role while preserving divine paternity (Galatians 4:4). - The act underlines that salvation comes from God; Joseph submits to God’s plan rather than generating a son himself. Protecting the Doctrine of the Incarnation - Virgin birth assures that Jesus is both fully God and fully man (John 1:14), untainted by Adam’s fallen line (Romans 5:12-19). - Matthew 1:25 stands as a safeguard: no human seed, no human initiative—only the Holy Spirit’s creative act (Luke 1:35). Key Takeaways - The straightforward wording leaves no room for symbolic or mythic interpretations; Scripture records an actual, historical virgin birth. - Matthew presents the virgin conception as essential, not optional; without it, prophecy fails, and Jesus could not be the sinless Savior. - Believers can rest in the reliability of God’s Word: the same God who spoke through Isaiah brought His promise to pass with precision in Bethlehem. |
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