Matthew 1:25

Letters to the Faithful - Matthew 1:25

Berean Standard Bible

But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

King James Bible

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

--------------------------

To the beloved of God across the nations, to those who are being sanctified in Christ Jesus, kept by the power of His name and drawn ever deeper into the mystery of divine love, I greet you in the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior. I write to you today, as a fellow servant and pilgrim in the faith, with a burden to draw your hearts and minds to the quiet obedience and hidden glory found in a single verse—one that marks the close of the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and yet opens for us a world of reverence, restraint, and faithfulness.

The Scripture says, “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Though it appears a simple historical note regarding the events surrounding the birth of our Lord, this verse is thick with meaning. It speaks of Joseph’s obedience, of the protection of divine purpose, and of the human cooperation required in the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan. This verse does not simply tell us about what Joseph refrained from; it reveals the kind of man God entrusted with the care of His incarnate Son. In a world intoxicated with self-fulfillment and immediate gratification, this verse offers us a lens into the quiet strength of self-restraint and the power of a surrendered will.

Joseph, having received divine instruction through a dream, awoke to a reality that demanded more than mere belief—it demanded action. He was told not to fear taking Mary as his wife, for the child in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And in this verse, we learn that Joseph obeyed fully, not only in accepting Mary into his home, but in abstaining from what was naturally his right as a husband until the divine promise came to fruition. He set aside his own desires so that the Word of the Lord might be fulfilled untainted, without speculation, without shadow. He protected what was sacred by subjecting his own life to the rhythm of God's timing.

This is a holy picture of stewardship. Joseph was given something precious and mysterious—a pregnant virgin bride carrying the Hope of Israel—and his role was not to explain it, not to exploit it, but to guard it. He did not impose his will upon God’s process. He did not attempt to insert himself into the unfolding mystery. He stood aside, quietly, faithfully, reverently, so that God’s plan might move forward unobstructed. And in the silence of his restraint, the Word was born. This is not passivity—it is power. It is the strength to hold back when flesh urges to press forward. It is the wisdom to walk in step with the Spirit, even when understanding is limited.

And then, as the child was born, Joseph fulfills the final instruction: “He gave him the name Jesus.” This, too, was obedience. In naming the child, Joseph legally adopted the Son of God as his own. He gave Jesus the name foretold by the angel, the name above every name, the name that would one day cause every knee to bow. What humility and what honor! Joseph had no claim to the child by blood, yet he took on the burden and blessing of fatherhood as an act of trust in God. In a world obsessed with identity and legacy, Joseph surrendered his name so that the name of Jesus would be lifted high.

This verse, then, is not a footnote to the nativity—it is a lesson in faithful submission. It calls us to consider what it means to be entrusted with the things of God. How often are we given gifts, opportunities, or roles that require us not to dominate, but to steward with care? How often does the Spirit ask us not to act according to our rights, but to wait in reverence for His perfect timing? How often are we called to guard the mystery of Christ in our lives rather than explain or defend it?

We live in a time where immediacy is idolized and restraint is rare. We are taught to assert our voice, claim our space, pursue our fulfillment at any cost. But Joseph teaches us another way—the way of quiet faith, the path of hidden obedience. He reminds us that God entrusts great things to those who are willing to walk in humility, to move at His pace, and to honor what is holy. Joseph was not known for his words—none are recorded in Scripture. He was known for his actions, his response, his readiness to obey. And that, dear saints, is the kind of life that welcomes the presence of Jesus.

This passage also invites us to examine how we respond to the Word of the Lord when it disrupts our plans. Joseph’s entire world was turned upside down by a revelation that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant. His initial response was righteous but human—he resolved to end things quietly. But then God spoke. And when God speaks, the righteous adjust. They do not cling to what was, but they step into what God is doing—even when it costs them reputation, comfort, and clarity. Joseph embraced shame in the eyes of man so that he could be faithful in the eyes of God.

How many of us are willing to carry something holy that others misunderstand? How many of us are willing to obey in silence, without applause, so that Christ might be revealed in His time and His way? Are we willing to guard the mystery of the Gospel within our own lives, our families, and our communities with the same reverence? Are we willing to let go of our own name, our own legacy, so that the name of Jesus might be known through us?

Let this verse be an anchor for our discipleship. Let it be a call to holy restraint, to faithful stewardship, to quiet obedience. Let it remind us that the most world-changing acts often come not through loud proclamations, but through the hidden faithfulness of those who say yes to God when no one else is watching. Let it shape our character so that we might be found trustworthy stewards of God’s mysteries—people who live not for the stage, but for the secret place where obedience is forged.

May we learn from Joseph the strength of surrender. May we protect what God has placed in us and around us. May we not rush ahead of the Spirit, but wait until the time appointed. And when that time comes, may we boldly speak the name of Jesus, not only with our lips, but with our lives. For His name is salvation, and His presence is peace, and His coming is our hope.

To Him be all honor, glory, and dominion, now and forever. Amen.

--------------------------------

O Sovereign and Righteous Father, Lord of all wisdom and fulfillment, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Holy One who orchestrates the mystery of redemption across generations, we come before You with reverence and trembling, standing in awe of the humility and obedience revealed in Your servant Joseph, whose quiet strength and yielded heart teach us more than words ever could. You who spoke light into darkness and life into the womb of a virgin, You who stooped low to walk among us through the incarnation of Your only Son, we exalt You for the beauty of Your divine order and the perfection of Your timing.

Lord, in this moment of holy reflection, we recall how You brought forth the fulfillment of all prophecy not through spectacle but through obedience—through the hidden obedience of a man who chose faith over fear, surrender over self. Joseph did not consummate the marriage until the child was born. He honored what was sacred. He submitted his rights to Your will. And through that simple yet powerful restraint, You preserved the purity of a holy mystery. O God, teach us this kind of obedience.

We live in an age that rushes to claim and consume, that esteems personal gratification over patient reverence. Yet in Joseph we see a different way. We see a man who submitted to the word spoken in a dream, who held back his desires so that Your purpose could unfold without hindrance. We see the strength of self-restraint, the power of quiet submission, the courage to embrace shame for the sake of honoring Your design. And we ask You now, O Lord, make us like him. Make us people who guard what is sacred, who value the unseen work of the Spirit more than the recognition of men.

Let us not be hasty with what is holy. Let us not touch what You have set apart. Let us not impose ourselves upon the things You have reserved for their appointed time. Give us a heart that bows when You speak, a spirit that yields when You lead. Let our lives be marked not only by what we do, but by what we refrain from, out of reverence for Your purposes. Let us learn to wait when waiting is worship. Let us be silent when silence is obedience. Let us be still when stillness is faithfulness.

And Lord, we thank You that Joseph did not only abstain—he also named the child. He completed his obedience by fulfilling the word You gave. He called Him Jesus. He spoke into the earth the name that heaven had already declared. He embraced the responsibility of stewardship. He adopted the promise. He covered what was divine with earthly love. He gave a name to salvation. O Lord, help us to follow through with the obedience You require of us—not half-hearted, not partial, but complete. Let us carry the assignment to its end. Let us not only protect what is holy, but participate in its proclamation. Give us the grace to name the thing You’ve placed in our care—to speak boldly of what You’ve birthed through us, to testify of the Christ who has come to dwell among us.

Teach us through Joseph, O God, that faith is not always loud. Sometimes it is quiet and hidden. Sometimes it is found in restraint more than in action. Sometimes it is seen in the man who watches, who waits, who holds back so that You can move forward. Let us not despise such faith. Let us not overlook the power of the man who says “yes” by standing still. Let us honor the strength of those who obey in silence, who protect what is fragile, who carry the weight of a divine trust without needing credit.

Father, in a world that rushes to speak, teach us to listen. In a world that glorifies haste, teach us to honor timing. In a world that exalts self-expression, teach us the beauty of restraint. Let us be a people who understand the season we are in. Let us be those who discern what must be held until its time. Let our relationships, our decisions, and our ministries be governed by reverence. May we never push past Your boundaries or handle what is divine with careless hands.

And as Joseph called His name Jesus, we too proclaim that name now—Jesus, the Savior, the Deliverer, the Anointed One, the Prince of Peace. Let His name be on our lips and rooted in our hearts. Let His name be declared in our homes, in our churches, in the streets, in the places of power, and in the hidden places where no one sees but You. Let His name break every yoke, silence every lie, heal every wound, and call every soul into the fullness of salvation.

We thank You, Lord, for showing us that even in the smallest acts of obedience, eternal purposes are fulfilled. That in restraint, there is release. That in silence, there is testimony. That in waiting, there is wonder. Help us, O God, to carry the mystery with reverence, to protect what is entrusted to us, and to follow Your voice without hesitation. May we, like Joseph, be counted among the faithful—not because of what we accomplish by our own hands, but because we submitted our hands to Your will.

Let the same Spirit that overshadowed Mary, that instructed Joseph, that led the wise men, and that filled the heavens with angels at the birth of our Savior—let that same Spirit fill us now. May our obedience be marked by trust, our reverence by joy, and our restraint by power.

To the One who was born in a manger yet reigns on the throne, to the One who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace—to Him be all the glory, now and forever.

In the precious and matchless name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.