studybug52 Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Being pregnant out of Wedlock Mary had few options , than to stay home with family but this would lower the standards by which her family was viewed. or Work as a servant in the home of a rich family... No one would Marry her as the stigma would put his status down .... By deciding to divorce Mary quietly Joseph showed that he still cared for Mary and wanted her not to experience to much grief from others and he did not wish her dead and stonned or punished severly. So he would keep it a quiet and experience between him and her family and two witnesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsdaddy4441 Posted October 19, 2009 Report Share Posted October 19, 2009 Joseph's actions were those of a good man who did not want to hurt the woman he was betrothed to marry. Mary could have been stoned to death but certainly would have been an outcast in her community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Riv Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary did not need any options because she accepted the Lords proposal thus she put her faith and trust in Him, not worrying about the outcome trusting in Him that all would be taken care of. Joseph showed love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options were limited. She could have tried lying, running away, or trusting God. She made the right choice and God already knew that about Mary. I love Joseph's character. He didn't accuse just planned to do what he had to with causing the least pain on both parts. He didn't want to humiliate or punish when he was probably in a state of shock himself. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janel Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 Q2 Facing a predicament, Mary has no choice but to accept what decisions her parents or Joseph had decided for her. The only option proposed by Joseph is to divorce her quietly so that she can continue living with her parents. Joseph is a righteous, honourable, matured and a true gentleman had to make a vital decision which can both protect Mary and himself from public disgrace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options for being pregnant and carrying a baby that was not her husband's were many; she may be rejected by her husband for carrying a child that was not his, she could be stoned, her pregnancy could embarrass her family, no other upstanding man would marry her; she had nowhere to go but to trust in God. Joseph exhibited the character of a righteous man by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marloes Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary would be killed or shunned. Then she should have become a prostitue since that was the only way a solitary woman could make a living. Joseph was integer for not telling anybody. Some people on this forum say that that shows he still loved her, but I don't agree. In those days, men bought women and considered her as a possession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Her only options seemed to become a prostitute in a large city, or perhaps if fortunate enough obtain work as a housekeeper in a wealthy home. Joseph was an honourable man, a man of principle, a man who with his whole heart wanted to live in accordance with the will of God. However, his love for Mary and desire for justice led him to decide to break the betrothal by a quiet divorce. He wished to avoid the public disgrace which normally accompanied such an action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puros21 Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 What were Mary's options carrying a baby not her husbands? What kind of character did Joseph exhibt by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options were not many. She probably would not have a husband if Joseph divorced her and she could have ended up being stoned for what would have been assumed as her actions. Life probably would have led her to prostitution or some menial work for her family except for one thing, she trusted in the Lord and believed He would provide for her. Joseph exhibited a strong character. He could have drug Mary's name thru the mud and ruined her life. The fact that he decided to divorce her discreetly and leniently shows that Joseph had a good heart to begin with. He lived in a time with which we are not familiar with. Obviously, Joseph was a man of God, for when receiving instructions from the angle, Joseph did not hesitate to carry out God's desires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options were limited and in reality probably outside her control. In fact, as she knew, her options were in the control of someone far higher than her local community or family or even than Joseph! Joseph's reaction showed him to be a righteous, caring man, which is no doubt why God chose him in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debra M. Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? Most likely, the only option open to her was to remain with her own family and raise the child in her immediate family setting. But, of course, God's grace intervened. What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? That he was a man of honor and integrity and an unselfish man. And he was thinking more about Mary and her dilemma than he was his own dilemma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poetmom Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 This is the first time I've realized how incredibly gracious Joseph was. He was a very gentle, selfless man to not want to see Mary be punished for her actions. It is so fitting that Jesus grew up in the household of a kind-hearted (earthly) father. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALT39 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? As a woman of that time, she really did not have any options. Even if she went back to her family, they would have shunned her. Joseph exhibited compassion for Mary. In those days, most men would have divorced her or had her stoned. Of course, the only type of man God would have chosen for His Son earthly father would have been a man like Joseph, a Godly man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALT39 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboodle Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Mary had very little in the way of options. She could live with her family if they would let her. The lesson said she might become a housekeeper, but that would be if some family would accept her. She could become a prostitute. Joseph showed that he was not self-centered. He wanted Mary to be spared as much pain as possible. He was kind and wanted to do what was right by this young girl. He had no desire to punish her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rekohu Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? Mary had very few options. Women did not hold any status in Jewish society. She could not marry another man, because of her perceived Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theresa VJ Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 I do not see Mary as having any options within her control. She was dependent upon her God, and upon the support system around her that God had ordained and put in place for just this time. Mary did not have any options beyond what is under God's authority. That is the key....beyond what is under God's authority. Just as Abraham had believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, so Mary, also, believed God; and that belief...that faith...was the basis of her righteousness. Just as Abraham KNEW that if God took the life of his son Isaac, God Himself would have to make Isaac rise again...because God is faithful to His Word...so too; Mary knew, trusted, had FAITH that God would keep His Word, and that God was good, and that God was sovereign....that is God is the Creator...He has the right to do as He pleases...God is all wise....He makes a plan and no obtacle can cause His plan not to come to fruition, and lastly that God is all powerful....He can bring to pass all things He has planned. The fact is...as a submissive bondslave....the only option is to have complete trust and reliance upon your God. Mary did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theresa VJ Posted December 23, 2009 Report Share Posted December 23, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Part 2...Scripture states that Joseph was a righteous man. To put it simply, he believed and trusted, as did Mary,... in the goodness, the faithfulness, and the sovereignty of God. His faith, trust, and reliance upon God, combined with acting on the Word of God that he would have known...was tested and then proved by his outward actions. He loved justice, yet he showed mercy, and did indeed, walk humbly with his God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr4624 Posted December 26, 2009 Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options were few and mostly not very attractive. She could throw herself on Joseph's mercy and ask him to accept her anyway (not very likely), or hope for a quiet divorce with fewer legal ramifications, or trust that God would take care of her in her willingness to be His obedient servant.The last seems really the only viable option to me. He showed that he was a kind and merciful man, not vengeful or vindictive, a man interested greatly in treating other people right and doing the right thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foofee's Nana Posted December 5, 2010 Report Share Posted December 5, 2010 What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? She really did not have many options....either her betrothed would marry her, or it was the distinct possibility of even being stoned according to the law. She would be looked on as an adulteress, a woman with no morals or character. She was a little young girl, who could hope at best to be allowed to live with her family although she would have been cast out from them....ignored. What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? He showed that he was aa man of high character....he did not want her to be stoned or face such consequences.....so he decided that he would divorce her quietly. Apparently this meant that a divorce could be done with lesser charges and she would not face the horrid humilation or possibility of death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjg Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 Mary's options were limited. She would be dependent upon family willing to shoulder the disgrace with her. Unmarried with a child was done in that day but it carried a measure of reproach for her, her family, and her illegitimate child. Joseph showed care for her and her family by being willing to walk away without requiring a harsh judgment against her. His approach verifies that love for her was not the issue but he didn't feel it was appropriate to marry her or take responsibility for a child conceived in questionable circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramon Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Q2. (Matthew 1:19- Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Answer: What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? In a nutshell,Mary has not so many options..Her right standing with Society depends entirely on Joseph decision. Through out history,Joseph was not accorded the same respect that Mary did received. Although He did plan to divorce,Mary.but he planned it secretly,not to put shame on Mary.. This is his heart desire,UNTIL GOD PUT HIS DESIRE in Joseph Heart,by means of a Dream.. Joseph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highohfaith Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary has no options.In these times woman who became pregnant outside of marriage were considered prostitutes or harlots.They could even face death by stoning for adultery. Mary was very young and woman did not work in this society.She has no way to make a living. Her only option was to go home to her parents and hide her pregnancy. Joseph exhibits a great respect for Mary and her family as a divorced woman, Mary would be societies outcast and would never be permitted to marry again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosegarden Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? 2. a. Mary did not have much options - she may have felt that Joseph would reject her thinking she may have had an affair, she could have been stoned for adultery, she would bring shame to her parents, people would talk about her, no one else would marry her because of the shame it would bring to them, she could not very well hide her pregnancy. b. He was of good character. He was righteous,honorable and wanted to do the right thing. He did not want to expose her publicly bringing disgrace on her therefore, he decided to divorce her quietly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trusting God Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? Mary's options or prospects of being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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