Matthew 1:25
“and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.”
What does Matthew 1:25 mean?
Joseph honored his pledge to Mary by waiting until after Jesus was born before consummating their marriage. The phrase "until she had given birth" simply marks a point in time, not a permanent condition, and Matthew's mention of Jesus as the "firstborn" son suggests they had other children together later (which is supported by other Gospel accounts). What matters most here is Joseph's faithfulness and protection of Mary during an extraordinary and vulnerable time, and then his obedience in naming the child Jesus, the name meaning "God saves," which the angel had specifically instructed him to use. This detail emphasizes that Joseph chose to stay with Mary through her pregnancy and took on the role of earthly father to the promised Messiah, despite the social shame and confusion he must have faced.