Quick Devotional from Matthew 1:24 (Observation from the Greek)

 

Note: Previously I have posted “Looking for a daily devotional for next month?” and I plan on working on a new devotional series from time to time on our blog that focuses on verses from the four Gospel where we will make observations from the Greek but also draw out applications for our lives.  This post will kick it off so stay tune!

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading yesterday, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 1:24.  Here is my translation:

“ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου
But Joseph arising from the sleep he did as  the angel of the Lord commanded

καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, ”
and took his wife

Here are some observations:

 

1. In the context according to Matthew 1:19 Joseph originally planned to send his fiance Mary away secretly since she was pregnant and it was not biologically Joseph’s kid.
2. Matthew 1:20-23 then describes God bringing an angel of the Lord with a message to Joseph in his dream explaining that this child Mary carried was the Messiah that was anticipated long ago in Messianic prophecies.  This child of course would be Jesus, the Savior.
3. Matthew 1:24 then tells us Joseph’s obedience to the Lord.
4. The main verb for this sentence in Matthew 1:24 is “did.”
   1. The subject of this verb is Joseph.
   2. It is also active voice showing what Joseph the subject was going.
   3. Indicative mood states here this was factually the case.
   4. What Joseph did is further explained by the comparison clause ὡς προσέταξεν: “as commanded“
   5. As the main verb then this shows Joseph’s obedience to do what God ultimately wanted.
5. In the phrase “Joseph arising from the sleep” the verb “arising” is an attendant participle showing this happen at the same time as the main verb “did.”  What we see here is that arising out of the bed is one step to obeying God.
6. What Joseph did in his obedience was to take Mary as his wife.  This might not be an easy thing to do:
   1. She was carrying a child not Joseph’s.
   2. People will misunderstand Mary and see her as a sexual sinner.
   3. Joseph’s own reputation might be marred and he and his wife will face shame because people will not understanding what God is doing in both Mary and Joseph’s life.

Application:

• Like Joseph will others narrating our life also describe us as obeying God?
• Sometimes God might not directly reveal Himself in a special way to tell us His will, but He will use others as means to tell us to obey.  In this instance an angel was the messenger.  Are you willing to obey God even as He sends other messengers such as your pastor, your church leaders and even other Christians who speak according to the Word of God?
• Also when you obey others, do you first see that what they say is based upon God’s Word and the rightful implication of God’s Word?
• Are you aware that obeying God does not mean others will understand you and God’s way?
• Are you willing to be viewed low by society when you follow Jesus?
• How do you handle people viewing you negatively?  Do you lash out sinfully?  Do you choose instead to disobey God or hate God because others view you in a lowly manner?  If there are sins to confess to God, spend time in prayer to God and be renewed through Jesus Christ.
• Sometimes following God is difficult.  We want to avoid making the tough decisions.  Sometimes just getting up is an ordeal.  Be like Joseph, who arose from His sleep as part of His obedience to God.  This should make us think of someone else who arose to do the hard things that God the Father wanted: Jesus Christ, on the night before He was to die for our sins.  Only with Jesus, at that instance He did not sleep but prayed for the disciples and us all night.  He did that because He loves us.  And of course the climax of that is Christ dying on the Cross.  Have you believed and trusted in Christ’s work of dying for our sins?