Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 1:18

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit." — Matthew 1:18 (ASV)

For some reason, Matthew omits any mention of what Luke relates very fully concerning the events that preceded the birth of Jesus and brought it about at Bethlehem. Either he did not have access to a full and trustworthy document like the one Luke used, or, since every historian must choose a somewhat arbitrary starting point, he began with the facts most relevant to the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. It has been said that the impression left by his narrative is misleading, suggesting there was no connection with Nazareth earlier than what we find in Matthew 2:23.

However, it must be remembered that even Luke’s narrative tells us nothing about Joseph's original home. Someone who belonged to Bethlehem, being of the house and lineage of David, could plausibly have been betrothed to a young woman from Nazareth, who was likely of the same lineage. The canonical Gospels tell us nothing of Mary's earlier life. The apocryphal gospels, though they have provided the groundwork for how the subject is treated in Christian art (see notes on Luke 1:27), are too legendary to be reliable. The omission of any mention of her parents suggests she was an orphan, possibly under the guardianship of Joseph.

Joseph's absence from the records of our Lord’s ministry makes it probable that he died in the interval between the visit to the Temple (Luke 2:42) and the preaching of John the Baptist, and that he was older than Mary. Both were poor; Joseph worked as a carpenter (Matthew 13:55), and Mary offered the cheaper sacrifice of two young pigeons (Luke 2:24). They had no house at Bethlehem (Luke 2:7). Mary was related to Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah the priest (Luke 1:36). Both were among those who cherished Messianic expectations, and for whom the announcement that these expectations were to be fulfilled would come as the answer to their hopes and prayers.

Was espoused to Joseph — Among the Jews, betrothal was a formal ceremony. The usual symbolic act, dating from patriarchal times, was the gift of a ring and other jewelry (Genesis 24:53). The interval between betrothal and marriage was of uncertain length, but for young women among the Jews of our Lord’s time, it was commonly a full year. During that time, the bride-elect remained in her own home and did not see the bridegroom until he came to bring her to his house. In the meantime, all communication was conducted through the friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29).

Of the Holy Ghost — To Joseph and those who heard the report from him, before the more precise truths revealed by our Lord’s teaching, the words would have at least suggested a divine creative energy, supernaturally quickening the germ of life, as in Genesis 1:2 and Psalm 104:30.