And her husband Joseph, being righteous and not wanting to disgrace her, resolved to send her away secretly.
This passage describes Joseph’s response when he learned of Mary’s pregnancy. Joseph, being a righteous man, wanted to make a right and moral decision. Not wanting to disgrace Mary before the public and subject her to reproach, he decided to leave her quietly. That is, he wanted to release Mary discreetly from their betrothal, in order to protect her from society’s condemnation. Thus, Joseph’s response shows his compassion and righteousness, since he was trying to find the most moral and respectful solution for this situation.