“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.” (Matthew 1:18)
The Biblical writers, when writing about and making reference to the birth of Jesus, all agree that God chose a virgin girl to be the “vehicle” to bring His Son into the world. Each writer makes it plain that Joseph in no way contributed to the Savior’s birth.
Even the prophets agreed. Read Isaiah’s prophecy. “Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) That which Matthew is about to write is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, made more than seven-hundred years before Christ was born.
Mary was not married to Joseph but was committed to him by “espousal,” a binding engagement. It was not like some modern engagements where the couple lives together before marriage. There was no conjugal relationship between Joseph and Mary. That is why Joseph could truthfully testify that Mary’s child was not his. Matthew states that, “Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son…” (Matthew 1:25)
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