Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The angel's instruction to Joseph to name the child Jesus isn't just about a label; it's a divine declaration of purpose. The name itself, meaning "Yahweh is salvation," directly explains why this child is coming: to rescue his people, not from earthly oppressors, but from the far more devastating grip of their own sin.
An angel has just appeared to Joseph in a dream, revealing that Mary's pregnancy is by the Holy Spirit and instructing Joseph to take her as his wife. This message directly addresses Joseph's confusion and distress, assuring him of the divine origin of the child. The angel further clarifies the child's identity and mission, stating he will be named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins, a revelation that sets the stage for Jesus's redemptive work.
Why did the angel emphasize Jesus' name and its meaning right here?
The angel Gabriel doesn't just announce a name; he reveals a purpose. The name 'Jesus' is a direct translation of a Hebrew word meaning 'to save' or 'to deliver.' It's not just a label; it's a job description.
A Name Packed with Meaning
What does it really mean to be saved from our sins, not just in them?
This is the core of Jesus' mission. The angel clarifies that Jesus isn't here to save people while they remain in their sins. That would be like trying to save someone from a fire while leaving them in the burning building.
The Difference Salvation Makes
Understand the original words
Iēsous · Greek Noun
The personal name given to the Son of God, meaning 'The Lord is salvation.' It signifies His mission to rescue His people from the penalty, power, and presence of sin.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To deliver, rescue, or preserve from danger, destruction, or, most importantly in a biblical context, from the consequences and dominion of sin.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Missing the mark of God's moral law or standard; an act or state of rebellion that alienates humanity from God and requires atonement.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua leads Israelites into Promised Land
The Old Testament figure Joshua, whose Hebrew name is similar to Jesus, led the Israelites into the Promised Land, acting as a temporal deliverer and foreshadowing Jesus' spiritual salvation.
c. 520 BC
Jeshua leads returnees from Babylon
Jeshua, the high priest, was instrumental in rebuilding the Temple after the Babylonian exile. Like Joshua, his name and role prefigured Jesus' work in restoring God's people.
c. 742 BC
Isaiah prophesies virgin birth
The prophet Isaiah foretells that a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel ('God with us'), a prophecy understood by Christians to refer to Jesus' miraculous conception and divine nature.
c. 2 BC - 1 AD— this verse
Angel announces Jesus' birth to Joseph
An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, confirming Mary's pregnancy is by the Holy Spirit and instructing him to name the child Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
c. 2 BC - 1 AD
This prophecy foretold a virgin would conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, which means 'God with us.' This directly connects to Jesus being born of a virgin and fulfilling God's presence among humanity.
Luke 1:31-33The angel Gabriel's message to Mary parallels Joseph's, announcing she will conceive a son, call his name Jesus, and that 'he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... and his kingdom will have no end.' This reinforces the divine nature and kingly role of Jesus, linked to his saving mission.
Philippians 2:7-11This passage describes Jesus emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, ultimately being exalted. It echoes the humility required for his saving work and the divine authority he holds, which is essential for saving people from their sins.
Titus 2:14This verse states Jesus 'gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession.' It directly aligns with Jesus' mission to save his people by redeeming them from sin, highlighting the purifying aspect of his salvation.
Acts 4:12This verse declares that 'there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.' It powerfully confirms the unique and exclusive saving role of Jesus, as stated in Matthew 1:21.
barnesMatthew 1:21: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
His name Jesus - The name Jesus is the same as Saviour. It is derived from the verb signifying to save, In Hebrew it is the same as Joshua. In two places in the New Testament it is used where it means Joshua, the leader of the Jews into Canaan, and in our translation the name Joshua should have been retained, Acts 7:45 ; Hebrews 4:8 . It was a very common name among…
pulpitMatthew 1:21: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Verse 21. - The first half is almost verbally identical with the promise to Mary in Luke 1:31. It is, perhaps, hypercritical to see anything more than a coincidence when such common terms are used, but it was not unnatural that the communications of the angels to both Mary and Joseph should be purposely clothed in language similar to that used of Sarah (Genesis 17:1…
The angel's instruction to Joseph to name the child Jesus isn't just about a label; it's a divine declaration of purpose. The name itself, meaning "Yahweh is salvation," directly explains why this child is coming: to rescue his people, not from earthly oppressors, but from the far more devastating grip of their own sin.
An angel has just appeared to Joseph in a dream, revealing that Mary's pregnancy is by the Holy Spirit and instructing Joseph to take her as his wife. This message directly addresses Joseph's confusion and distress, assuring him of the divine origin of the child. The angel further clarifies the child's identity and mission, stating he will be named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins, a revelation that sets the stage for Jesus's redemptive work.
An angel has just appeared to Joseph in a dream, revealing that Mary's pregnancy is by the Holy Spirit and instructing Joseph to take her as his wife. This message directly addresses Joseph's confusion and distress, assuring him of the divine origin of the child. The angel further clarifies the child's identity and mission, stating he will be named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins, a revelation that sets the stage for Jesus's redemptive work.
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Joseph takes Mary as his wife
Obeying the angel's command, Joseph takes Mary as his wife, thus fulfilling his role in the lineage and protecting Mary from social disgrace.
"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”" — The angel's instruction to Joseph to name the child Jesus isn't just about a label; it's a divine declaration of purpose. The name itself, meaning "Yahweh is salvation," directly explains why this…
