The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 28

the greatest fnct in the world's history; the miracle of miracles, in the train of which lesser miracles must of necessity follow. '!'he lncarnati,,n is a truth above words, nbove the reach of human thought; it calls upon us, not for rhetorical description, but for adoration and thanksgiving. "The Spirit of God had moved [brooded] upon the fnco of the waters" in the day when God created the heaven and the earth. And now in the beginning of the new creation the Holy Ghost bad come upon the blessed vi!gin, the power of the Highest had overshadowed her. She was highly favoured inrl.eed, blessed above all other women, chosen to be the mother of the Lord. Very pure and holy she must have been ; it may well be, the holiest of women, as she was the most highly favoured. But she was a creature, born in sin like ourselves, needing, like ourselves, to be cleansed by the atoning blood of her own Divine Son. .And now the unique grace and dignity vouchsafed unto her brought with it a season of heart-rending ;1.n2:uish. II. JosEPH. 1. He was a Just man. He too was sorely tried. He had tenderly loved his betrothed; he loved her still. He was in 11. position of the greatest per- plexity. Mary wa.s conscious of her own innocence; the angel had announced to her the cause of her immaculate conception. Joseph had, at the most, only her word to trust in; appearances were against her; her statement, if she told him all, required a very high degree of unquestioning, trustful faith. But he was a just man; be would not do her wrong. He could not wholly believe; perhaps he did not wholly disbelieve. We may be sure that he was distracted with anxiety. He was a just man; he wished to do what was right; but he was in a great difficulty; it caused him long and anxious thought. 2. His intention. He intended to adopt a middle course; be would not expose his betrothed; he loved her still. Bis justice was not the strict, stern justice which considers only the letter of the Law; it was tempered with the gentler feelings, mercy and compassion. He could not bring one whom he had loved so dearly into the danger of shame and death. But under circumstances so suspicious he could not con- summate the marriage. Be was minded' to put her away privily. III. THE DIVINE INTERVENTION. 1. The solution of Joseph's doubts. He thought on these things. We may be sure that he prayed. It was misery to him to mistrust his betrothed; it was misery to be doubtful about the right path to be pursued in a case of such momentous importance to them both. .A holy man like Joseph, who prayed always, would pray most earnestly, most importunately under circumstances so distressing. At last the answer came. God will not leave his servants in perplexity; he will clear up their doubts; he will teach them what they ought to do. But trust in God does not remove the duty of thoughtfulness. We must think, as Joseph thought, seriously and prayerfully, when difficult questions present themselves. If we do this, God will not suffer us to be led astray; he will guide us aright. 2. The angel. 'l'he word means "messenger." The blessed angels are God's messengers; they are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. They help us now, for they encamp round about those who fear the Lord. They bring God's messages of love to us now, as they did then to Joseph; they guide us now, as they then guided him. 'l'he angel appeared to him in a dream; so they often whisper now the intima- tions of God's holy will in the hour of q1.1iet, in the silence of the night. 3. The mes- sage. It calmed the fears of Joseph, it removed his doubts, it enabled him to rejoice once more in the love of his betrothed. There was nothing to separate her from him. He was to take her ; her words, if she had told him, strange and mysterious as they were, were strictly true; that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost. She should bring fo; th a Son, a Son who should be the Saviour of the world, not J oseph's son, but entrusted for a time to Joseph's care. Mary was to be the mother of the Lord, the highest honour snrely ever vouchsafed to child of Adam; Joseph was to have the great joy of watching over bis infancy and youth. Surely no charge so high ;m<l holy had ever been entrusted even to the blessed angels. It was God's answer to prayer, the prayer vf a righteous man which o.vaileth much with God. His_ anxiety was over new; his doubts were dispelled; his path was clear. He was a nghteous man; ho had thought and he had prayed. God will ansWL·r us, he will guide us in our pcr['lcxities, and show us the path of duty, if, like Joseph, we try to livo a holy life, if we think seriously, if we prny earnestly. lV. '!'HE PROPJ1.l!:OY. 1. It must befulfilled. For it was spok,;o o~ t!:ie Lord. "Holy 14 THE :iOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [err. 1. 1-25.