Disclaimer: This is a mildly polished version of my study notes for Matthew 1:18-25. A good friend and I are teaching this passage on Saturday night at the local detention center. Please comment with thoughts -- the more critical, the better!
A covenant is a solemn pledge. Unlike a contract, which can be reneged for many reasons, you can't get out of a covenant unless you die. In the Bible, God is a covenant-making God. However, he is very different from us, and he treats covenants differently than we generally do.
One of the remaining covenants in today's society is marriage. Marriage vows mean no less than they say -- if the husband and wife are faithful to one another, death is the only escape. The divorce rate is 50% for first marriages. Clearly, lots of people are not keeping covenant. Does God keep his covenants?
Throughout the Old Testament, God makes many covenants and always is faithful to what he says. He only breaks the covenant when the other party is unfaithful, which happens more often than not.
However, throughout the Old Testament and most clearly in the New Testament, God intends for a "lasting covenant" with mankind. He understands that we are sinful by nature and are not able to be faithful to him on our own. In the New Testament, we find that his new, lasting covenant means that Instead of seeking revenge and destroying mankind, Jesus Christ suffered and died so that God could righteously forgive.
The Israelites were bound, not under the new, lasting covenant, but under the Old Testament Covenant, a "law of works." The Israelites entered into a covenant with God, in which God promised to bless them if they fully obeyed (Deuteronomy 28:1) and curse them if they disobeyed (Deuteronomy 28:15). However, this OT covenant didn't work for Israel. They obeyed God for short periods of time, but continually turned away from him and sinned. They disobeyed, broke the covenant, and God dealt them the curses he promised. At one point, God said that they would eat their children. This came true during a siege by an enemy nation.
In Matthew 1:18-25, we see an interesting picture of a covenant between Joseph and Mary. Mary is betrothed to Joseph. Betrothal at that time meant that you were as good as married, except you didn't have sexual contact until the marriage was finalized. A betrothal could be broken only by divorce. So, this betrothal was essentially the marriage covenant.
But, in Matthew 1:18, Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant. Clearly, he would be upset. By the appearance of it, Mary has broken covenant with him. Under Jewish law, he would have the right to break covenant with her. She would be judged and then stoned for her sin. Joseph has every right to revenge. However, Joseph resolved in his heart to divorce her quietly. This would legally annul their relationship without requiring or causing Mary's death. She would not be judged before the religious leaders, and she would not be stoned. Joseph chose to respond to her perceived offense with forgiveness and kindness, saving her from certain death.
In Matthew 1:21, the angel emphasizes that forgiveness will characterize the life and mission of Jesus Christ. It says that "he will save his people from their sins." The penalty for sin is also implied here. Jesus, by saving his people from their sins, also saves them from the penalty for their sins, which Romans 6:23 tells us is death. Later on in Matthew 20:28 and Matthew 26:28, we read that Jesus came "to give his life as a ransom for many" and that "[his] blood of the covenant...is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
The gospel, this NT covenant, is kept, ensured, guaranteed by God alone. Unlike the OT covenant, which could be broken by men, the gospel covenant cannot be broken by men. Man's sin is no obstacle to God's blessing and forgiveness in the gospel.
Joseph's godliness is evident in how he forgave Mary and did not hold her sin against her. Instead of seeking revenge, Joseph chose to forgive Mary's alleged sin and save her from certain death, had the angel not intervened. Likewise, Christ will save his people from their sins by receiving the punishment for their sins, rather than rightfully seeking revenge and punishing them. He will never break covenant with his people. This is the only way that we can be in the presence of God -- by knowing Jesus Christ, Immanuel -- God with us. We could not come to him, so he came to us, forgave us, and gives us new life.
Instead of seeking revenge and destroying mankind, Jesus Christ suffered and died so that God could righteously forgive.
