To better understand what we read in Scripture requires knowing the background that a verse or passage of Scripture is set against, be it cultural, historical, political, or theological. This will also tell why something was said or done. For example, why did Paul, in 2Tim 2:12, instruct that women were not to teach? Why did the mockers in Acts 2:13 think that the disciples were drunk? What was Jesus talking about in Lk 23:31? Other times the setting needs to be described to get the full impact of a scene. To comprehend what we read, what we read needs to make sense. Sometimes, I will paraphrase verses to express the real meaning better.
Mat 1:19 Then Joesph, her (betrothed) husband, who was a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to the public, decided to divorce her secretly.
In the Jewish culture, marriage was almost always an arranged affair. After the marriage was made official, there would be a period of celebration and much feasting, which usually lasted a week, longer if there was wealth involved. At that point, the couple was legally married, which was the start of the marriage, but they did not begin living together as man and wife. This period was known as betrothal, which lasted a year. During this time, the husband would prepare living quarters for them as man and wife. This was typically done by adding a room to the house where the husband lived, usually his parent's home. The wife would continue to live at her home. There would be no sex during that year.
The couple was expected to be chaste during the year of betrothal. For a young girl to get pregnant by another man was unthinkable. To the Jews and her husband, pregnancy could only mean one thing, adultery! Next to blasphemy, the worst crime a woman could commit was adultery. Many people think that the Jews could not execute anyone, based on John 18:31. But that only dealt with crucifixion. The Jews were not allowed to crucify anyone. But, the Jews were allowed to stone their people. The Jews tried to stone Jesus twice. Stephen and Paul were both stoned. The Jews were going to stone the woman caught in adultery.
The time of the gospels was still a part of the Old Testament. The New Testament era didn't begin until Jesus ascended. The Jews in the days of Jesus were still living under the Mosaic law. The penalty for adultery was stoning (Deut 22:22-24). Mary was in a very precarious position due to her pregnancy. If discovered, she would be taken before a ruler and stoned to death, or a mob could form and stone her on the spot. Beyond the threat of losing her life was the fear of public shame. The Jews lived in a culture of "Honor and Shame." The greatest goal for a Jew was honor among his fellow citizens. The worst state a Jew could be in was shame! They not only disgraced themselves but also brought shame to their entire family. The scandal of a young, pregnant girl was so disgraceful that her family could have been kicked out of their synagogue, a fate worse than death. Family and neighbors would have shunned them. It would have been no great shock if the parents of a pregnant girl were to kick her out of the home and disown her.
The more Mary showed, the more her fear must have grown. She knew she was innocent, but she had to face the music. It took a lot of courage to go to Joesph, but she had no choice. I have no doubt God gave her the courage to return. I'm sure when she returned, she slipped back into town and immediately went to Joesph.
So, when Joesph saw that Mary was pregnant, he was shocked. To him, Mary must have had an affair, which must have happened right after the marriage ceremony. On the other hand, while he immediately decided to divorce Mary, her story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit gave him pause. Miracles were a part of Jewish history. He kept the secret to himself rather than making it known.
For a Jewish man to divorce, all it took was for him to write a divorce bill and hand it to the woman or someone who represented her, and the couple was legally divorced. Joesph probably planned on taking Mary somewhere private and giving her the paper.
But, as we know, God told Joesph, in a dream that night, to continue with the betrothal. We don't know much about Joesph, but we do know he was an honorable man,
Mat 1:19 Then Joesph, her (betrothed) husband, who was a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to the public, decided to divorce her secretly.
In the Jewish culture, marriage was almost always an arranged affair. After the marriage was made official, there would be a period of celebration and much feasting, which usually lasted a week, longer if there was wealth involved. At that point, the couple was legally married, which was the start of the marriage, but they did not begin living together as man and wife. This period was known as betrothal, which lasted a year. During this time, the husband would prepare living quarters for them as man and wife. This was typically done by adding a room to the house where the husband lived, usually his parent's home. The wife would continue to live at her home. There would be no sex during that year.
The couple was expected to be chaste during the year of betrothal. For a young girl to get pregnant by another man was unthinkable. To the Jews and her husband, pregnancy could only mean one thing, adultery! Next to blasphemy, the worst crime a woman could commit was adultery. Many people think that the Jews could not execute anyone, based on John 18:31. But that only dealt with crucifixion. The Jews were not allowed to crucify anyone. But, the Jews were allowed to stone their people. The Jews tried to stone Jesus twice. Stephen and Paul were both stoned. The Jews were going to stone the woman caught in adultery.
The time of the gospels was still a part of the Old Testament. The New Testament era didn't begin until Jesus ascended. The Jews in the days of Jesus were still living under the Mosaic law. The penalty for adultery was stoning (Deut 22:22-24). Mary was in a very precarious position due to her pregnancy. If discovered, she would be taken before a ruler and stoned to death, or a mob could form and stone her on the spot. Beyond the threat of losing her life was the fear of public shame. The Jews lived in a culture of "Honor and Shame." The greatest goal for a Jew was honor among his fellow citizens. The worst state a Jew could be in was shame! They not only disgraced themselves but also brought shame to their entire family. The scandal of a young, pregnant girl was so disgraceful that her family could have been kicked out of their synagogue, a fate worse than death. Family and neighbors would have shunned them. It would have been no great shock if the parents of a pregnant girl were to kick her out of the home and disown her.
The more Mary showed, the more her fear must have grown. She knew she was innocent, but she had to face the music. It took a lot of courage to go to Joesph, but she had no choice. I have no doubt God gave her the courage to return. I'm sure when she returned, she slipped back into town and immediately went to Joesph.
So, when Joesph saw that Mary was pregnant, he was shocked. To him, Mary must have had an affair, which must have happened right after the marriage ceremony. On the other hand, while he immediately decided to divorce Mary, her story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit gave him pause. Miracles were a part of Jewish history. He kept the secret to himself rather than making it known.
For a Jewish man to divorce, all it took was for him to write a divorce bill and hand it to the woman or someone who represented her, and the couple was legally divorced. Joesph probably planned on taking Mary somewhere private and giving her the paper.
But, as we know, God told Joesph, in a dream that night, to continue with the betrothal. We don't know much about Joesph, but we do know he was an honorable man,
