While He Thought on These Things

Scripture Focus: Matthew 1:20–21 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

That small phrase—“while he thought on these things”—is one of those quiet doorways in Scripture that opens into a very human, very sacred moment.

Joseph isn’t reacting impulsively here. He’s thinking. The word carries the sense of turning something over again and again in the mind—pondering, weighing, wrestling. This isn’t casual reflection; it’s deliberate, burdened consideration. Joseph has already made a decision to put Mary away privily. That tells us his thoughts were moving toward a conclusion—a course of action shaped by justice mingled with mercy. He’s trying to do right by the law and by love. He’s not loud, not reactive, not dramatic—he’s inwardly struggling, carrying the weight of confusion, disappointment, and responsibility in silence. Scripture honors that pause.

There’s something deeply instructive in the timing: “while he thought on these things.” Heaven doesn’t interrupt Joseph before the struggle, nor after he has settled himself firmly into action, but in the very space where obedience is being quietly reasoned through. God meets him… not in panic, not in rashness, but in thoughtful stillness. This is often how the Lord works—when the heart is unsettled yet teachable, when the mind is engaged but not yet closed. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Joseph is acknowledging God simply by refusing to rush ahead of light.

Notice also how the message comes: in a dream. Joseph isn’t demanding a sign or insisting on clarity. He simply goes to rest with an obedient heart that is still searching for understanding. Dreams in Scripture often come when human strength is laid down—when striving stops and control is surrendered. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). In that quiet yielding, God speaks clarity into confusion.

The angel’s first words—“fear not”—tell us exactly what Joseph had been thinking. Fear of scandal. Fear of misunderstanding. Fear of doing wrong. Fear of stepping into something that made no sense. And yet the angel doesn’t rebuke Joseph for these thoughts; he addresses them. God doesn’t shame honest wrestling. He meets it with truth. The explanation that follows, “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost,” doesn’t remove the mystery, it reframes it. What Joseph had interpreted as disorder is revealed to be divine purpose unfolding beyond human sight.

And then comes the turning point: “Thou shalt call his name Jesus.” This command isn’t incidental—it directly replaces the decision Joseph had been forming in his thoughts. His earlier plan would’ve allowed him to remain righteous while quietly removing himself from the story. But naming the child requires participation. In Scripture, naming is an act of acceptance, authority, and responsibility. By giving the name, Joseph publicly claims the child as his own, placing Jesus within the line of David. His thinking had been leading him toward separation; revelation redirects that thinking toward obedience and inclusion.

The meaning of the name seals the redirection: “for he shall save his people from their sins.” The name answers Joseph’s unspoken dilemma. This isn’t a situation to escape, but a salvation work to embrace. Joseph’s careful thought makes room for revelation, and revelation transforms his thoughts into obedience. The sequence matters: the struggle comes first, the interruption brings light, and the naming completes the alignment of Joseph’s will with God’s purpose.

Joseph’s private wrestling becomes part of a public redemption story. His willingness to pause, think, and listen places him inside God’s eternal plan. The hidden thought life of a faithful man becomes the hinge on which prophecy turns. God entrusts great purposes to those who think carefully before Him.

There’s deep comfort here for anyone standing in uncertainty. Sometimes the holiest place you can be is right there—thinking on these things—refusing to harden your heart, waiting quietly for God to speak. And often, it’s precisely there that heaven draws near.

As you dig into today’s Study Notes, remember: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth… for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous” (Joshua 1:8). If you’d like practical help to keep Scripture alive…

👉 Sign up for the free FAST Crash Course in Bible Memorization: http://fast.st/cc/21419