The Virgin Conception Realized 童女受孕面对的现实 (1:18)
Jewish betrothal was as binding as marriage although physical union had not yet taken place. Premarital sexual relationships were regarded as adultery and stoning was the legal prescription for this sin (Deut 22:23).
对犹太人而言，虽然男女订婚后仍未发生关系，但订婚与结婚是具有同样的约束力的。在旧约中，婚前的性行为就是淫行，其惩罚就是被石头打死（申22:23-24）。
The Virgin Conception Confronted 面对童女受孕的事实 (1:19)
“A righteous man” is a Hebraism suggesting that he was a true believer who carefully obeyed the law. Joseph was not only a righteous man he was also a gracious man who did not want to publicly humiliate Mary but resolved to divorce her quietly.
在希伯来文中，“义人”是一个专心遵守律法的真实信徒。约瑟不但是个义人，还是一位满有恩慈的人。因此，他不愿明明地羞辱马利亚。
The Virgin Conception Clarified 誊清童女受孕的事实 (1:20-21)
While Joseph was considering this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream to clarify the situation and told him to take Mary as his wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” which testifies to the virgin birth of Jesus.
当约瑟正思念这事的时候，有主的使者在梦中向他显现，誊清状况，并要他娶马利亚为妻，因她所怀的胎，是从圣灵来的，即耶稣借着童女的降生。
The Virgin Conception Prophesied 预言童女受孕的事实 (1:22-23)
At this point Matthew explains that Jesus’ virgin birth was a prophecy fulfilled according to the Old Testament (Isa. 7:14).
马太在这里解释童女受孕的事早已在旧约的预言中有所记载（赛7:14）。
The Virgin Conception Accepted 预言童女受孕的事实 (1:24-25)
Joseph obeyed what the Lord commanded him. This fact alone indicates the depth of Joseph’s godliness. We doubt seriously whether Joseph can fully comprehend what is about to happen to him yet he is totally committed to God’s command.
约瑟从梦中而醒后便遵从主的话；这一点足以表明约瑟对神的敬虔。虽然约瑟对所发生之事定觉得匪夷所思，但他从不质疑神的话。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
We thank God for His faithfulness for the Lord said, “my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11).
主说：“我口所出的话也必如此，决不徒然返回，却要成就我所喜悦的，在我发它去成就的事上必然亨通”（赛55:11）。神事信实的，我们感谢祂。
Joseph is not only a righteous man but also a gracious man. We pray that we will not be legalistic but gracious to the people who sin.
约瑟不仅是个义人，还是一个恩慈的人。我们求主不要使我们成为只懂得守律法，墨守成规的人。求主使我们学会恩待他人，如同主耶稣恩待罪人一样。
Joseph is totally committed to the Lord even though we doubt whether Joseph fully understands the Virgin Birth. Can we trust God even though we cannot fully understand His plan?
虽然我们不清楚约瑟是否完全明白童女生子这件事，但他对主的忠心是坚定不移的。是的，神的道路高过我们的道路，祂的意念高过我们的意念——我们能信靠祂吗？
