Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:25
Verse 25. Her first-born son] ton uion authv ton prw-otokon. Literally, That son of hers, the first-born one. That Mary might have had other children, any person may reasonably and piously believe; that she had others, many think exceedingly probable, and that this text is at least an indirect proof of it. However this may be, the perpetual virginity of Mary should not be made an article of faith. God has not made it one: indeed it can hardly bear the light of several texts in the Gospels.
He knew her not] Had no matrimonial intercourse with her-TILL she had brought forth that son of hers, of whom the evangelist had been just speaking, the first-born, the eldest of the family, to whom the birthright belonged, and who was miraculously born before she knew any man, being yet in a state of virginity. See on chap. xiii. 55. The virginity of Mary, previously to the birth of Christ, is an article of the utmost consequence to the Christian system; and therefore it is an article of faith: her perpetual virginity is of no consequence; and the learned labour spent to prove it has produced a mere castle in the air. The thing is possible; but it never has been, and never can be proved.
He called his name JESUS.] This name was given by the command of God, see ver. 16, and was imposed on Christ when eight days old; for then, according to the Jewish law, he was circumcised: thus he had the name of saviour given when he first began to shed that blood without which there could be no remission of sins.
The goodness of God is manifested, not only in his giving his Son to save a lost world, but also in the choice of the persons who were his progenitors: among whom we find, First, SAINTS, to excite our courage: Abraham, remarkable for his faith; Isaac, for his obedience; and Jacob, for his fervour and constancy.
Secondly, Penitent SINNERS, to excite our confidence: such as David, Manasses, &c.
Thirdly, Sinners, of whose repentance and salvation we hear nothing; to put us on our guard. Who can read the account of idolatrous Solomon, who, from the whole evidence of the sacred history, died In his sins, without trembling? Four WOMEN are mentioned in this genealogy: two of these were adulteresses, Tamar and Bathsheba; and two were Gentiles, Rahab and Ruth, and strangers to the covenant of promise; to teach us that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and that, though strangers to his people, we are not on that account excluded from a salvation which God has designed for all men. He is not the God of the Jews only; he is also the God of the Gentiles.
The state of the royal family of David, the circumstances of the holy virgin and her spouse Joseph, the very remarkable prophecy of Isaiah, the literal and circumstantial fulfillment of it, the names given to our blessed Lord, the genealogical scroll of the family, &c., &c., are all so many proofs of the wisdom, goodness, and providence of God. Every occurrence seems, at first view, to be abandoned to fortuitous influence, and yet the result of each shows that God managed the whole. These circumstances are of the greatest importance; nor can the Christian reader reflect on them without an increase of his faith and his piety.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. And knew her not , etc.] Or but he knew her not, kai answering to the Hebrew w that is, had carnal knowledge of her, or copulation with her, though his wife. The words are an euphemism, or a modest way of expressing the conjugal act, and is a very ancient one, (see Genesis 4:1) and what has been used in nations and languages. And this conduct of his was necessary, till she had brought forth her firstborn ; that it might be manifest not only that she conceived, being a virgin, but also that she brought forth, being a virgin: for both are signified in the prophecy before related, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son; which is all one as if it had been said, a virgin shall conceive, and a virgin shall bring forth a son. The firstborn is that which first opens the womb of its mother, whether any follows after or not, ( Exodus 13:12,13 Numbers 3:12). Christ is called Marys firstborn, because she had none before him, whether she had any after him or not; for her perpetual virginity seems to be no necessary article of faith: for when it is said, Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth , the meaning is certain that he knew her not before. But whether he afterwards did or not, is not so manifest, nor is it a matter of any great importance; the word until may be so understood as referring to the time preceding, that the contrary cannot be affirmed of the time following, ( 2 Samuel 6:23 Matthew 23:39) and which may be the case here, and is indeed generally understood so; and it also may be considered as only expressive of the intermediate time, as in ( Matthew 5:26 Acts 27:33) as Beza observes. Christ was her firstborn as he was man, and the firstborn of God, or his first and only begotten, as the Son of God. It is further observed, that she called his name Jesus, as was foretold to her, or ordered her by the Angel, ( Luke 1:31) and to Joseph, ( Matthew 1:21).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 18-25 - Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entere into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness. The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has bee communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comfort most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world He was to call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Chris saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. I saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully without dispute. By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe an comfortable __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εγινωσκεν 1097 5707 V-IAI-3S αυτην 846 P-ASF εως 2193 CONJ ου 3739 R-GSM ετεκεν 5088 5627 V-2AAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM υιον 5207 N-ASM αυτης 846 P-GSF τον 3588 T-ASM πρωτοτοκον 4416 A-ASM και 2532 CONJ εκαλεσεν 2564 5656 V-AAI-3S το 3588 T-ASN ονομα 3686 N-ASN αυτου 846 P-GSM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:25 {And knew her not} (kai ouk eginwsken auten). 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 angel had directed and the child was born in wedlock. Joseph showed that he was an upright man in a most difficult situation.
