Psalm 96^(A)

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,^(A) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.^{(B) 11} Both the one who makes people holy^(C) and those who are made holy^(D) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^{[a](E) 12} He says,

¹³ And again,

And again he says,

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood,^(I) he too shared in their humanity^(J) so that by his death he might break the power^(K) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^(L)— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^(M) of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.^{(N) 17} For this reason he had to be made like them,^[e](O) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful^(P) and faithful high priest^(Q) in service to God,^(R) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^{(S) 18} Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.^(T)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.^{(A) 19} Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce^(B) her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel^(C) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream^(D) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[c](E) because he will save his people from their sins.”^(F)

²² All this took place to fulfill^(G) what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[d](H) (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel^(I) of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.^(J)