Matthew 17

To the Savior -

"...there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." (New Testament | Matthew 17:14 - 15)

What is interesting is that the man confessed -

"...I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." (New Testament | Matthew 17:16)

The Savior then healed the man's son. Afterwards -

"...came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (New Testament | Matthew 17:19 - 21)

This experience suggests that some acts require more faith than others. I also believe that individuals possess varying degrees of faith in differing matters. And that is some cases, sufficient faith requires prayers and fasting. Elder James E. Talmage wrote -

"The Savior's statement concerning the evil spirit that the apostles were unable to subdue—"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting"—indicates gradation in the malignity and evil power of demons, and gradation also in the results of varying degrees of faith. The apostles who failed on the occasion referred to had been able to cast out demons at other times. Fasting, when practised in prudence, and genuine prayer are conducive to the development of faith with its accompanying power for good. Individual application of this principle may be made with profit. Have you some besetting weakness, some sinful indulgence that you have vainly tried to overcome? Like the malignant demon that Christ rebuked in the boy, your sin may be of a kind that goeth out only through prayer and fasting." (JTC, p. 395

Matthew 15

As the Savior talked with the Canaanitish woman, we learn a very interesting doctrine on the mission of the Savior. He said to her -

"...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (New Testament | Matthew 15:24)

It is clear that the Savior had learned from His father and previous prophecies that His mortal ministry was to be that amongst the children of Israel. I am not a scriptorial or doctrinal expert, but even though it is apparent He loved all men, I would suspect that the covenants and promises made to the children of Israel was to that extent. That His ministry would be among them, and their responsibility to then be to take the gospel to the gentiles. We see this as the Savior told the children of Israel in the Americas -

"...other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice..." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 15:17)

There may also be another thought as Jacob taught years before His ministry -

"...that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 10:3)

Just a thought why He was sent only to the house of Israel.

Matthew 16

To His disciples, the Savior said -

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (New Testament | Matthew 16:24)

Some have interpreted that to mean that we should also bear the cross of the cruxificion as he did. That doesn't make sense because even at this time, that would have meant nothing to His disciples.

I believe the term "take up his cross" suggest checking oneself or as the Savior said "deny" yourselves. We see this in other scriptural quotes -

The Savior said to the Nephites -

"Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;
30 For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross..." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:29 - 30)

Or in other words -

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:32)

The Joseph Smith Translation footnote states -

JST Matt. 16:26 "And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments."
(New Testament:Matthew 16:24)

Matthew 14

I believe the Jews of Jesus's days were very familiar with many of the words of the prophets. Jesus seems to quote them periodically and the people seemed to understand the references. At one time Job said in reference to Jehovah -

"Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea." (Old Testament | Job 9:8)

Matthew seemed to have been present -

"...when the disciples saw him walking on the sea..." (New Testament | Matthew 14:26)

Not only was it a miracle but also a testimony, as foretold by Job, of the divinity of the Savior by which the disciples even more realized -

"...worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." (New Testament | Matthew 14:33)

Matthew 13

Malachi warned -

"...the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up..." (Old Testament | Malachi 4:1)

We see this same teaching in parable as the Lord taught -

"...the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away." (New Testament | Matthew 13:47 - 48)

How will this be done?

"...at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire..." (New Testament | Matthew 13:49 - 50)

I believe that day will come.

Matthew 13

In one of the more brief parables, that Lord taught in an illustration that -

"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." (New Testament | Matthew 13:31 - 32)

As the Lord used the wording "kingdom of heaven", I believe it would also apply to the things that bring about the kingdom of heaven. One of those that was in my thoughts this morning is the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon began even as a grain of mustard seed, that the early saints sowed.

Today, the book has grown to be the core belief system of millions of saints. It has become a tree that supports all doctrines, teachings, revelations, and authority that has come to rest upon its branches.

Matthew 13

The first parable that Matthew records is what is generally known as the Parable of the Sower. But what I have pondered is that it is more about the soil than the sower. Upon hearing this parable, His disciples asked -

"...Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" (New Testament | Matthew 13:10)

The Lord's response was -

"Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (New Testament | Matthew 13:11)

The Savior is not saying it won't be given to them, it is much more like the type of soil, they must prepared and then the mysteries will be given them. In my mind, the mysteries are not supernatural knowledge but spiritual knowledge and understanding that only comes to those that receive truth and light or is worthy to receive the light.

We learn in modern day revelation -

"He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:28)

In my mind, this brief doctrine is the summary of the Parable of the Sower.

Matthew 12

Matthew shared with us an interesting experience where -

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee." (New Testament | Matthew 12:46 - 47)

Matthew doesn't tell us anything about what the Savior's family wanted to discuss and it's importance, but in sharing this single experience, I find it interesting of the Savior's response -

"...he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (New Testament | Matthew 12:48 - 50)

There is no question that the Savior's mission was different than all other of God's children and that -

"...I must be about my Father's business..." (New Testament | Luke 2:49)

But I think there is a great principle taught here that we all should consider, and that is as we look upon our neighbors, is not "the same is my brother, and and sister, and mother"? Throughout our lives we are called to serve and we to must consider who are our brothers, sister, mothers and prioritize our time accordingly. For -

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (New Testament | Matthew 10:37 - 38)

If we humbly approach the Lord, he will tell us what we should do.

Matthew 11

Having taught His apostles, Matthew records -

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (New Testament | Matthew 11:25)

Matthew never writes the question or to whom the Savior responded. The Joseph Smith Translation begins this verse -

"And at that time, there came a voice out of heaven, and Jesus answered and said, . . ."

The verse then seems to make more sense as the Savior responds to the Father. Of this verse, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained -

"Three great truths are contained in the solemn affirmation of the Lord in these verses:

(1) Spiritual realities, gospel truths, the doctrines and principles of salvation, come only by revelation; they are only known to and understood by the spiritually literate, those who so live as to attune their souls to the spirit of revelation; they are withheld from and remain unknown to the worldly wise and those who trust in the arm of the flesh.

(2) All things which the Father hath are committed unto the Son. See Luke 10:22.

(3) The Father and the Son, perfectly united as one in the eternal Godhead, reveal and manifest each other to those prepared by righteousness to know God. And only those so qualified do or can see or know the Gods of heaven." (DNTC 1:466.)

Matthew 10

To those that the Savior called to represent Him and to preach, he taught -

"...when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak." (New Testament | Matthew 10:19)

We receive a little bit more incite of these words as the Savior said in modern day to thosed called to preach -

"Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:85)

It becomes a little bit more clear the conditions of being given what to say. The condition is it will be given us what to say as "treasure up our minds continually the words of life". As we ponder His teachings and the scriptures, we prepare ourselves to be given what to say by the Spirit.

Matthew 9

Speaking of himself, Matthew records -

"...as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him." (New Testament | Matthew 9:9)

It was the publicans or those Jews that worked for the Romans that were the most hated and despised and considered by most to be robbers and sinners. It is interesting that no sooner than Matthew records his following of the Savior that he then records -

...as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples." (New Testament | Matthew 9:10)

You can almost sense that Matthew proselyted his friends and associates to also come and meet He who claimed to be the Messiah. It was -

"...when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" (New Testament | Matthew 9:11)

To which the Savior answered -

"...They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." (New Testament | Matthew 9:12)

...suggesting in my mind that we should especially reach out to the less fortunate and poor in spirit or in other words -

"...visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief..." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 44:6)

This seems to be even more emphasized as the Savior quoted Hosea -

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Old Testament | Hosea 6:6)

Again suggesting -

to obey is better than sacrifice..." (Old Testament | 1 Samuel 15:22)

...or to show mercy and love is better than to sacrifice.

Matthew 8

Early in His ministry, when Jesus, -

"...walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." (New Testament | Matthew 4:18 - 20)

This is a very interesting verse. There is no question that Peter was married and had reponsibility to support family or at least his wife. Yet he straightway left this work to follow the Savior. In my mind, it is doubtful that he fully abandoned his husband or fatherly obligations, but it does suggest that when a call of leadership is made, much more time of the leader is required outside the home.

There was one in the multitudes that seems to have been called to the work or some leadership position by the Savior evidenced by the response -

"...another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." (New Testament | Matthew 8:21)

To which the Savior answered -

"...Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." (New Testament | Matthew 8:22)

...or in other words - let the spiritually dead bury the dead. There is no question and spouse, family, and extended has great priority in the work of the Lord. The Lord knows that. But when a call for the Lord, it may become necessary to weigh the priorities of salvation of man, the Lord's will, and the impact on family and friends. The Spirit will always tell you what you should do.

Matthew 7

Just as applicable to the people of our day, the Savior warned -

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (New Testament | Matthew 7:15)

There are many that have suggested that we are led by false prophets. But false prophets according to the Lord come in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravening or greedy individuals seeking power and gain. That is the challenge is to recognize one's inwardly ambitions. The Savior taught the way to know -

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (New Testament | Matthew 7:16 - 20)

What great counsel. Look at what their ambitions are. Look at the fruit or lives of those that sustain the prophets. It all becomes justifiably clear. There is also another test. As the Savior concluded His teachings, it was written -

"...he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (New Testament | Matthew 7:29)

Or in other words, thus saith the Lord. The scribes were those that tried to interpret the law or intent of the law or in other words - the philosophy of men.

Matthew 6

I sense that in the Savior's Sermon on the Mount, some of the counsel was given for the masses or the multitude, whil other counsel was given specificially to his disciples or ministers. Later in the sermon, the Savior instructs -

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (New Testament | Matthew 6:19 - 21)

I sense at this time He is specifically addressing His disciples in that it are these that He will send out to teach and testify. James E. Talmage wrote -

"Treasures in heaven" could have two meanings: (1) the things we must do to inherit heaven, and (2) the things we do or acquire on this earth that can be taken with us into heaven.

One lays up treasures in heaven when he is baptized, receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, and remains faithful to the end. Knowledge and righteous attributes (honesty, dependability, mercy, love, etc.) are also "treasures in heaven," for we have been told, "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." (DC 130:18.)

Many there were and many there are whose principal effort in life has been that of amassing treasures of earth, the mere possession of which entails responsibility, care, and disturbing anxiety. Some kinds of wealth are endangered by the ravages of moths, such as silks and velvets, satins and furs; some are destroyed by corrosion and rust—silver and copper and steel; while these and others are not infrequently made the booty of thieves. Infinitely more precious are the treasures of a life well spent, and wealth of good deeds, the account of which is kept in heaven, where the riches of righteous achievement are safe from moth, rust, and robbers. Then followed the trenchant lesson: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (JTC, p. 242.)

And with teaching "laying up treasures", the Lord teaches His disciples -

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." (New Testament | Matthew 6:22)

Making the verse more clear, the Prophet Joseph Smith added -

JST Matt. 6:22 ... single to the glory of God ...; (New Testament:Matthew 6:22)

...suggesting that laying up treasures is having an eye single to the Glory of God.

Matthew 5

In His sermon on the Mount, the Savior said -

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (New Testament | Matthew 5:19)

And then He followed with -

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (New Testament | Matthew 5:20)

It was the scribes and Pharisees that were consider those with the greatest understanding of the law of Moses and the commandments. Yet that even with their supposedly great wisdom and understanding, they did not practice what they preached. I believe what the Lord was saying that we should not only teach righteous and holy living, but also live according to the same principles.

Matthew 4

After Satan's attempt to tempt the Savior, the Savior responded -

"It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (New Testament | Matthew 4:7)

That reponse seemed to stimulate my thoughts this morning. I must confess that I have thought, or you could say plotted or strategized that at times if I was a little bit more obedient or maybe more charitable, the Lord surely you reward me with that which I desired. Almost as if my intent was conditional. I am more than aware that -

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 130:20 - 21)

But in connection with this law, it is still left to the grace of the Lord for -

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:3)

The word "may" suggests the Lord's will and grace, not ours. Our actions and obedience should be based upon love, desire, and commitment, not conditional upon blessings.

Regarding this event in the Savior's life, Elder James E. Talmage wrote -

"The glaring sophistry of Satan's citation of scripture was unworthy a categorical reply; his doctrine deserved neither logic nor argument; his misapplication of the written word was nullified by scripture that was germane; the lines of the psalmist were met by the binding fiat of the prophet of the exodus, in which he had commanded Israel that they should not provoke nor tempt the Lord to work miracles among them. Satan tempted Jesus to tempt the Father. It is as truly a blasphemous interference with the prerogatives of Deity to set limitations or make fixations of time or place at which the divine power shall be made manifest as it is to attempt to usurp that power. God alone must decide when and how His wonders shall be wrought." (JTC, pp. 130-31.)

Matthew 3

"IN those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (New Testament | Matthew 3:1 - 3)

At that time, John the Baptist not only held the the lessor or Aaronic Priesthood, but also held the keys of administration of that priesthood. In modern revelation that the Lord -

"...took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
26 And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
27 Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb.
28 For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:25 - 28)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

"Few prophets rank with John the Baptist. Among other things, his ministry was foretold by Lehi (1 Ne. 10:7-10), Nephi (1 Ne. 11:27; 2 Ne. 31:4-18), and Isaiah (Isa. 40:3); Gabriel came down from the courts of glory to announce John's coming birth (Luke 1:5-44); he was the last legal administrator, holding keys and authority under the Mosaic dispensation (D. C. 84:26-28); his mission was to prepare the way before, baptize, and acclaim the divine Sonship of Christ (John 1); and in modern times, on the 15th of May, 1829, he returned to earth as a resurrected being to confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery." [JS-H 1:66-75; DC 13.] (MD, p. 393.)

And -

"This miraculously-born son of Zacharias was he last legal administrator of the old dispensation, the first of the new; he was the last of the old prophets, the first of the new. With him ended the old law, and with him began the new era of promise. He is the one man who stood, literally, at the crossroads of history; with him the past died and the future was born. He was the herald of the Messianic age, the messenger, forerunner, and Elias who began the great restoration in the meridian of time and on whose secure foundation the Son of Man himself built the eternal gospel structure. His ministry ended the preparatory gospel; Messiah's commenced again the era of gospel fulness."(DNTC 1:113.)

I sense John the Baptist fulfilled the very purpose of the "preparatory" preisthood in that he prepared the people for the Savior and the greater blessings of the Melchizedek priesthood for He did -

"...indeed baptize you with water unto repentance..." (New Testament | Matthew 3:11)

But also testified that -

"...he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire..." (New Testament | Matthew 3:11)

Of which he also testified -

"...he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (New Testament | Matthew 3:16 - 17)

It seems from that day on, John the Baptist understood he had fulfilled his role and stepped out of the way.

Matthew 2

I was have always been aware of, being guided by a star, the visit of the wise men supposedly to Bethlehem, to a home (not inn or stable) of Joseph and Mary to worship the Savior doe -

"...when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (New Testament | Matthew 2:11)

From Matthew's testimony, there is no question that months, if not years had passed from the birth of the Savior by virtue of the timing of the wicked edict of Herod the Great. But I had trouble with the chronology of things as Luke also testified -

"...when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth." (New Testament | Luke 2:39)

Bruce R. McConkie provided the following chronology that better helped me understand -

"Although the chronological order of the travels and sojournings of our Lord's early years is not entirely clear, the following seems reasonably certain:

(1) At the time of their espousement and marriage, Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth in the eastern part of the province of Galilee. (Luke 1:26-35; 1 Ne. 11:13.)

(2) Guided by divine providence, they traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David, where Jesus was born in a stable. (Luke 2:1-7.)

(3) On the eighth day, while the couple was still in Bethlehem, Jesus was circumcised. (Luke 2:21.)

(4) Following the days of Mary's purification, a forty-day period (Lev. 12), the holy family traveled to Jerusalem where Jesus was presented in the temple, with Simeon and Anna then bearing record of his divine Sonship. (Luke 2:22-38.)

(5) Thus, having "performed all things according to the law of the Lord," they then went immediately to Nazareth. (Luke 2:39.) Obviously the wise men had not yet come to worship their King, because following their visit comes the flight of Egypt. That they could not have gone to Egypt and returned to Bethlehem within the forty-day period is clear (a) because they were in Egypt at the time of Herod's death which did not occur until about two years after the nativity, and (b) because they returned from Egypt to Nazareth, not Bethlehem.

(6) Next, for some unknown and unrecorded reason, Joseph and Mary and the child returned to Bethlehem, obtained a house there, and were part of the community life when the wise men came. (Matt. 2:1-12.)

(7) Warned of God, the holy family now fled to Egypt for a sojourn of unknown length, possibly one of only a few weeks or months. (Matt. 2:13-15.)

(8) After Herod's death they returned with obvious purpose of settling again in Bethlehem, where they must have had an adequate place to live. But fearing Archelaus, son of Herod, they forsook the Judean province for the greater security of the Galilean. Hence their return to and abode in Nazareth. (Matt. 2:19-23.)

(9) From then until his formal ministry began, a period of perhaps twenty-seven or twenty-eight years, our Lord continued to live in Nazareth. (Luke 2:51-52; I.V. Matt. 3:22-26.) (DNTC 1:108-9.)

Matthew 1

I begin a new year with a study of the New Testament.

I was particularly impressed with the character of Joseph as Matthew writes -

"...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 publick example, was minded to put her away privily." (New Testament | Matthew 1:18 - 19)

As I relate this verse to our day, what man that is engaged to a young woman, that finds out that his fiance is pregnant, and knows it is not by him, would not be irrate, break off the engagement, and spread the news of her unfaithfulness. Would it not be natural to hold some kind of grudge.

Of Joseph's espousal to Mary, Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

"...According to Jewish law, marriage took place in two steps, first came the espousal or betrothal, later the formal marriage ceremony. Both formalities preceded assumption of the full privileges and responsibilities of the marital state. In a sense, espoused persons were viewed as already married, so that the angel in counseling Joseph to fulfill his marriage plans properly referred to Mary as his "wife." Espoused persons were considered bound to each other so that their betrothal could only be broken by a formal action akin to divorce. This is what Joseph had contemplated prior to receiving direction from the angelic visitant. (DNTC 1:83)."

As if in a test of Joseph's character, the angel did not bring the message of the sacred conception until Joseph had demonstration a God-like attribute to protect Mary from public scrutiny.