The Right HeartSýnishorn

A Righteous Heart

Let’s turn our attention to Mary’s counterpart in the birth story—Joseph—and see how he prepared for the coming of the King. The gospel of Matthew shares most of what we know of Joseph in eight verses. 

The writer Walter Wangerin says that Joseph is a “common man caught up in cosmic affairs.” Though this is a common man who never utters a recorded word in Scripture, we are left with the indelible mark of a man of character based on his actions. We know this by several things revealed in Scripture. 

First, the name Joseph in Hebrew means “God will increase.” What a wonderful name for the man who will raise Immanuel—God with us. We know Joseph was a righteous man with a righteous heart. In fact, the only descriptive word used of Joseph is the word righteous. The Greek word for righteous means “the character or quality of being right.” In other words, Joseph was a man who simply did what was right. 

We see this incredible quality of doing right come to the surface regarding Mary, his betrothed. When Joseph finds out that Mary is with child, three months into their betrothal period, he has a difficult choice to make. According to Deuteronomy, Mary has broken the law and Joseph has the right to divorce her, publicly humiliate her, or have her stoned to death. Yet, before he ever hears from the angel, Joseph has already made up his mind to care more for Mary than for himself. He chooses not to accuse her of the crime publicly or privately—though he had the right to do so. Evidently, one’s rights do not define one’s righteousness. 

What then is righteousness? It is the obedience we owe to God and the mercy God grants us to grant to others. It looks first to God, second to others, and never to self… yet the self experiences a holy peace in these relationships in which it chooses to show God’s mercy. 

What we see in Joseph we also see in Christ. He had every right as the Son of God not to go to the cross for the sake of our sins, yet He was obedient to God and merciful to us. These are the true marks of righteousness. 

The first thing Joseph did in preparation for Christ’s arrival was to remain righteous—to simply do what was right. That’s something to think deeply about this Christmas.

For more Advent resources—podcast and booklet, please visit www.gsot.edu/advent