Jesus' Family Album December 16 Devotional

MATTHEW 1:19a | ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man...

There would be a cost to not prosecuting Mary, not following the letter of the law. First century Jews saw sexual indiscretions as destabilizing to family life and a stain on the entire community. Affairs made paternity uncertain, and complicated the lives of children, and they discouraged covenant keeping and faithfulness. The phrase “a righteous man” indicated Joseph was an “elder at the gate”, who helped administer local justice in lieu of a formal judicial system. He must have been considered to be a faithful Torah keeper and man of integrity. His standing in the community was probably a key to his carpentry business also. By not seeking public vindication to get at the facts of Mary’s assumed culpability, he was allowing the situation to be ambiguous. Was he the father and decided not to marry her? Was someone else? Had she been accosted? The idea of a divine child would have seemed impossible by most people. There was a cost to Joseph’s mercy. By protecting her he would hurt his own reputation. 

Have you ever paid a cost to be merciful?

Gracious God,

Grant me the courage to be merciful and to bear the cost. Help me move toward justice tempered by mercy.

Amen.