Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 1]
translated by virgin (\parthenos\), but it is not necessary to
conclude that Isaiah himself contemplated the supernatural birth
of Jesus. We do not have to say that the idea of the Virgin Birth
of Jesus came from Jewish sources. Certainly it did not come from
the pagan myths so foreign to this environment, atmosphere and
spirit. It is far simpler to admit the supernatural fact than try
to explain the invention of the idea as a myth to justify the
deification of Jesus. The birth, life, and death of Jesus throw a
flood of light on the Old Testament narrative and prophecies for
the early Christians. In Matthew and John in particular we often
see "that the events of Christ's life were divinely ordered for
the express purpose of fulfilling the Old Testament" (McNeile).
See Mt 2:15,23; 4:14-17; 8:17; 12:17-21; 13:25; 21:4f.; Joh
12:38f.; 13:18; 19:24,28,36f.
1:23 {They shall call} (\kalesousin\). Men, people, will call his
name Immanuel, God with us. "The interest of the evangelist, as
of all New Testament writers, in prophecy, was purely religious"
(Bruce). But surely the language of Isaiah has had marvellous
illustration in the Incarnation of Christ. This is Matthew's
explanation of the meaning of Immanuel, a descriptive appellation
of Jesus Christ and more than a mere motto designation. God's
help, Jesus=the Help of God, is thus seen. One day Jesus will say
to Philip: "He that has seen me has seen the Father" (Joh
14:9).
1:24 {Took unto him his wife} (\parelaben t•n gunaika autou\).
The angel had told him not to be afraid to "take to his side"
Mary his wife (1:20). So when he awoke from his sleep he
promptly obeyed the angel and "took his wife home" (Moffatt). One
can only imagine the relief and joy of Mary when Joseph nobly
rose to his high duty toward her. I have tried to sketch Mary's
problems in _Mary the Mother of Jesus: Her Problems and Her
Glory._
1:25 {And knew her not} (\kai ouk egin•sken aut•n\). Note the
imperfect tense, continuous or linear action. Joseph lived in
continence with Mary till the birth of Jesus. Matthew does not
say that Mary bore no other children than Jesus. "Her firstborn"
is not genuine here, but is a part of the text in Lu 2:7. The
perpetual virginity of Mary is not taught here. Jesus had
brothers and sisters and the natural meaning is that they were
younger children of Joseph and Mary and not children of Joseph by
a previous marriage. So Joseph "called his name Jesus" as the
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