When Obedience Costs You Your Reputation

The Christmas story starts with a moment that would break most people; Joseph learns Mary is pregnant before they live together, and everything in his world points to betrayal.

We read Matthew 1:18–25 out loud in both the King James Version and the NIV, then pause long enough to feel the tension that often gets edited out of nativity scenes. Jesus’ birth is worth celebrating, but it also marks the beginning of his earthly path toward the cross and our salvation.

What grips us most is Joseph’s response. He has cultural permission to expose Mary and protect his own name, yet he chooses a quiet divorce because he refuses to shame her. That mercy becomes the doorway for God’s guidance, as an angel appears in a dream and tells Joseph not to fear, to take Mary as his wife, and to name the child Jesus. We also talk about Emmanuel, “God with us,” and what it means to trust God when you can’t make everyone else understand what you know.

We don’t skip the hard part: the angel speaks to Joseph, not to the neighborhood.

Obedience can cost your reputation, and faithful people often carry burdens nobody applauds. We end by giving Joseph his due as an ordinary, hardworking man in extraordinary circumstances, and by thanking the fathers and stepfathers who quietly provide, protect, and put their families first.

If you want a thoughtful Christian devotional, a deeper Bible study on Matthew 1, and a practical challenge to love your neighbor through action, press play and stay with us.

Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, what’s one way you can choose mercy this week?

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Matthew 1:18-25  -  King James Version
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

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

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Transcript

Welcome And Where To Listen

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Welcome to the Christ Quarter Podcast. Thank you for taking a quarter of an hour out of this day to enjoy the presence of Christ and the words of Christ. Today let's read a section of scripture, discuss what it means, and also how it applies to our lives. I hope that God will speak to you through my words, and more importantly, through his scriptures. And we'll bring you closer to him. I am blessed and thankful to have this time to speak with you. And I thank you so much for being with me here today. The Christ Quarter is available on Amazon Music. Just ask your smart speaker or app to play the Christ Quarter Podcast. I'm also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcast.

Matthew 1 Read Aloud

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Today's scripture selection is Matthew chapter one, verses eighteen through twenty five. The King James Version reads as follows. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with a child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus. The NIV says it this way. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Ghost. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Jesus.

Opening Prayer

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the freedom and ability to discuss your word and enjoy your presence. Help us to understand your word and your will for our daily lives more fully. We ask that you bless this discussion of your word, that it will speak to someone who needs to hear from you. We ask that you use these words to bring someone closer to you, and that you will touch their hearts to love others through action in your name. That each of us will do something to show love to their neighbor in action as well as in word. That each of us will do our best to represent you to the world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Joseph Faces A Shocking Choice

SPEAKER_00 4:16

The verses for today are serious. We usually look at today's scriptures as part of the Christmas story, which they are, and we look at them in a festive, celebratory way. From our perspective, that works. Christmas is a time of celebrating our Savior's birth and our salvation through him. But as soon as we are born, we begin to die. We have only a certain amount of time before we die. So it is also with Jesus. He was born into this world in order that he would die a horrible death for us. This is where Jesus' earthly journey to the cross begins. So let's get right to it. Our narrative today begins with Joseph finding out that his virginal wife to be is pregnant. It would have been a simple conclusion for him to make that his beloved wife had cheated on him already and has become pregnant by another man. During this time in history in this culture, Joseph and Mary were considered to be legally married, even though they were not yet living together. Their engagement had been announced, and Mary's diary had been paid to Joseph. Joseph could have publicly announced that Mary had been unfaithful, disgraced her and her family, kept the diary, and had Mary and her secret lover executed. Not only would this have been justified and not an unusual reaction, it would have been expected. In Leviticus chapter 20, verse 10, the Mosaic Law clearly calls for adulterers male and female to be executed. At the very least, Joseph could have publicly divorced Mary and walked away from her. But here we see one of the first indications of just how kind, merciful, and loving this young Joseph was. Rather than disgrace Mary and disgrace her family, he chose to privately divorce her and not harm her any more than she had apparently already harmed herself. He must have been very hurt and distraught. The woman he loves had cheated on him with another man and gotten pregnant during their engagement. He must have had so many emotions bouncing around in his mind and in his heart. But he still chose to be loving and kind to Mary in the way that he chose to distance himself from her.

The Cost Of Obedience

SPEAKER_00 6:51

Fortunately for us, in verse 20 of today's scriptures, Joseph is visited by an angel who brings him up to speed. Most of us go from this scripture right up to Jesus' birth and childhood. But consider that while the angel appeared to Joseph, he did not appear to Joseph's friends, his family, or the general neighborhood. Joseph was a faithful man of God, a just man, and he believed what the angel told him. However, I'm sure his peers thought he lost his mind. Joseph had to live with this his entire life. He had to endure ridicule and public shame his entire life. I'm sure he would say that it was worth it, but it is still the case that he had to carry this daily burden. Joseph had the honor and awesome responsibility of working with God to take care of God's only son. Mary carried, fed, and protected little baby Jesus, while Joseph fed, protected, and in some ways carried Mary. Joseph was stepfather to Jesus. I've rarely heard any discussion of the responsibility that Joseph accepted. Having said that, I am sure that he did so happily, knowing that his stepson was Jesus must have given him a great sense of joy. I imagine that he and Mary had many wonderful conversations about having been chosen by God to raise this wonderful child. Joseph also went further and did not have sex with Mary until after the birth of Jesus. As far as I am aware, Joseph was not told to do this. This is part of Joseph being a faithful, just man and having respect for the holiness of Mary's pregnancy.

Ordinary Father In Holy Work

SPEAKER_00 8:48

Joseph was an ordinary, hard working man in extraordinary circumstances. He did what many fathers do every day. He put his family first before himself. He provided for his family, he took care of his family. Many fathers do this in anonymity and with little acknowledgement of any importance. Joseph shows here in the Christmas story that his role as father was not only important but necessary. His role as father was significant enough that God sent an angel to him to bring him up to speed on the role he was to play in the tremendous work that was set before him to complete.

Gratitude And Closing Prayer

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Let's take a moment today to thank Joseph, our Savior's stepfather, and to also thank all the stepfathers and fathers in our lives that have made who we all are possible. That concludes our scripture discussion for today. Thank you for spending this time with me talking about, learning about, and enjoying Christ. It is my hope that God has used my words to touch you today and has brought you closer to Him. Let us pray. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.