A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"A Righteous Man"

So much of our identity is wrapped up in our work. It is common practice to tell a person's name and their occupation when introducing them. When meeting a person for the first time, "What do you do?" is one of the first questions raised. This is not a new phenomenon. Before the age of surnames, people were often identified by their occupation. Many surnames are a result of the occupation of an ancestor; i.e.: Carpenter, Miner. In early New Testament times occupations and locations were used to identify people. Due to this, we would expect Joseph to be introduced in Matthew chapter one as "Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth." He isn't and what is said about him leaps out at us. Matthew introduces Joseph as the man pledged to be married to Mary, the mother of Jesus and as "a righteous man."

There is something fascinating about his being described as a righteous man. With our familiarity with Christmas story we might miss the wondrous revelation found here. "Because Joseph her betrothed was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:19) Through Joseph two important things about righteousness are revealed. The first is that righteousness is as much what we do as what we are. Being and doing go hand in hand. "Because Joseph was a righteous man he...." Joseph's actions revealed his state of being. His actions did not make him righteous, but they did reveal that he was righteous. This is why we are not surprised when later we learn that Joseph receiving divine instruction by an angelic messenger in a dream woke up from his informative sleep and "did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him." Would a righteous man do different?

A second revelation is that righteousness acts compassionately. Joseph was going to "divorce" Mary "quietly." A divorce was required because in his day engagement was as binding as the marriage vow. But a quiet divorce was not the common practice. It was quite the reverse, especially when it came to the bide to be being pregnant through what appeared to be adultery. Joseph had every right to publically denounce Mary and possibly have her stoned. But, "Joseph was a righteous man" and righteousness responds compassionately. Believing divorce to be the right thing to do, he would do what was right, but he would not expose her to public disgrace. Such a spirit of love must have been one reason why he was so open to the angelic message. Had he been filled with hatred and revenge he would have never been able to receive the divine instruction. But, his heart was righteous and therefore filled with compassion and caring. Such a heart is ready to hear from God and obey the instruction regardless of the consequences.

The Christmas story is a grand and glorious one. God has come to us. Beneath this central truth lies an abundance of wonderful lessons revealed to us through the people and the details of the account. Joseph examples for us what it means to be a righteous person. Oh that we would be described in such terms to the glory of God when people look back upon our lives: "Because __________ was a righteous person...."

Keep Close To Jesus

Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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