Being a just man.

Matthew 1:18-19, Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Joseph gives us a foreshadow of the grace fulfilled in the cross by Jesus, a tender and forgiving attitude towards Mary. The law held a harsh penalty for a willful harlot: death by stoning. He was willing to give her every benefit, and not expose her to public humiliation even before the angel’s announcement of her miraculous conception. Matthew Henry’s commentary says “Note, It becomes us, in many cases, to be gentle towards those that come under suspicion of having offended, to hope the best concerning them, and make the best of that which at first appears bad, in hopes that it may prove better. Summum just summa injuria—The rigour of the law is (sometimes) the height of injustice.” How easy it is for us to assume the worst about others instead of giving them the benefit of doubt! “There but for the grace of God go you or I.”

Lord, we pray for Your grace to lead us not into temptation; to give us the grace to forgive others as You have forgiven us.

ESV Lectionary