Matthew 2:23

Saturday, 24 August 2024

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23

“And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene He will be called” (CG).

In the previous verse, Joseph was warned in a dream concerning where to live in the land of Israel, noting that he withdrew to the allotments of Galilee. Now, Matthew records, “And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth.”

Albert Barnes gives a brief description of Nazareth at the time of Jesus –

“This was a small town, situated in Galilee, west of Capernaum, and not far from Cana. It was built partly in a valley and partly on the declivity of a hill, Luke 4:29. A hill is yet pointed out, to the south of Nazareth, as the one from which the people of the place attempted to precipitate the Saviour. It was a place, at that time, proverbial for wickedness, John 4:46.”

Modern Nazareth is described in Wikipedia –

It “is the largest city in the Northern District of Israel. In 2022 its population was 78,007. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel", Nazareth serves as a cultural, political, religious, economic and commercial center for the Arab citizens of Israel, as well as a center of Arab and Palestinian nationalism. The inhabitants are predominantly Arab citizens of Israel, of whom 69% are Muslim and 30.9% Christian. The city also commands immense religious significance, deriving from its status as the hometown of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity and a prophet in Islam.”

Next, based on where Joseph decided to settle, Matthew records, “that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets.”

Here, Matthew notes the plural, prophets. Therefore, unlike almost every translation, the following words are not a quote. In fact, citing it as a quote causes a false sense of the words in the minds of readers, and it sets up a real, seemingly insurmountable, problem. Rather, something was fulfilled concerning Jesus, but it is not a specific prophecy, which is “that a Nazarene He will be called.”

The word hoti (that) continues to show that this is not a quote. If it was a quote, he would have said something like Matthew 1:22, “which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying...”

However, because it is supposed by many to be a quote, innumerable commentaries have been made trying to justify the name and specify what is being quoted. In other words, and to understand some of the attempts to justify the name as being connected to the Old Testament, the Pulpit Commentary says –

“First, it may be said Nazarene cannot = Nazarite: the word differs in form, and in no sense could Christ be called a Nazarite. Secondly, the quotation is probably not from a lost prophecy. One meaning of the word Nazoræus is an inhabitant of Nazareth, but the word either (1) recalls the Hebrew word netser a Branch, a title by which the Messiah is designated Isaiah 11:1, or (2) connects itself in thought with the Hebr. natsar, to save or protect (see above), and so has reference to the name and work of Jesus, or (3) is a synonym for “contemptible” or “lowly,” from the despised position of Nazareth. Of these (3) is perhaps the least probable explanation. The play upon words which (1) and (2) involve is quite characteristic of Hebrew phraseology. The sound of the original would be either (1) He whom the prophet called the “Netser” dwells at “Netser”—(for this form of Nazareth see Smith’s Bib. Dict.), or (2) He who is called “Notsri” (my protector) dwells at “Natsaret” (the protectress).”

Such commentaries have completely missed the point of what is being conveyed. Because this is not a quote, the place Nazareth and the name Nazarene do not need to be discovered in a prophecy from the Old Testament. Rather, one such reference to what Matthew is saying is:

“Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.” Isaiah 9:1, 2

Nazareth is a town located within Naphtali. This is in the greater region of Galilee. In other words, Matthew wasn't citing Scripture in a quote, as translations imply (quote marks, etc.). Rather, he was making a point about the writings of Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah 9:2. Isaiah is saying the light is Christ, being called a Nazarene is a fulfillment of this prophecy.

One can think of it this way. If a prophecy noted someone would be a noted surfer in Sarasota, and he was actually living on “ta Key, they may say, "He will be called a Siesta Surfer. As Siesta Key is a part of Sarasota, the prophecy would make complete sense to those who understood it.

This explains why the word hoti, that, is included in Matthew’s words. If he was citing a prophecy, the word would not be needed. But it is an explanatory preposition. If Joseph had moved to Tiberius instead of Nazareth, the words of Matthew would still speak of the fulfillment of the words of the prophets. For example –

“...that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Tiberian He will be called.”

As for the other prophets that Matthew was referring to, there are enough references to the area of greater Galilee to form many pictures of the coming Christ. For example, the selection of Hiram, the son of a widow from Naphtali, to accomplish the building of the temple for Solomon provides pictures of the coming Christ (see 1 Kings 7).

Specificity is not necessary in pinpointing a single reference to the name Nazareth, and all of the unnecessary attempts to find a suitable Hebrew word to justify this inclusion by Matthew have proven meritless.

Life application: Speaking of Nazareth and Nazarenes, there is a modern couple, Nazarenes, who have helped bring the land of Israel to the attention of innumerable people. If you enjoy travel and life videos concerning Israel, including modern Nazareth, you can go to YouTube and search for Sergio and Rhoda in Israel.

These two intrepid trekkers have traveled throughout the country, meeting with archaeologists, travelers, and common folk to highlight the great variety of all types of life in the land. Take time to visit their channel and learn to experience Israel in unique and interesting ways that will inform you about this land selected by God to reveal to us the Messiah of the world, Jesus Christ.

Lord God, thank You for Your precious word that tells us about Your interactions with humanity in and around the land of Israel. Thank You for the innumerable examples of life, rebellion, restoration, intimate fellowship, and so much more that teach us how we can fully understand and appreciate who You are and what You have done for us. Thank You for Your wonderful word. Amen.

Matthew 2

2 And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea, in days Herod the king: Behold, magicians from sunrisings – they came unto Jerusalem. 2 Saying, “Where is He having been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the sunrising, and we came to worship Him.”

3 And Herod the king, having heard, he was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And having convened all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born. 5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Are not-at-all least in the governors of Judah.

For out of you will come forth – ruling,

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly, exacted of them the time of the appearing star. And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, 8 “Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child. And when you should find, report to me so I also, having come, may worship Him.”

9 And they, having heard the king, departed. And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them, until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was. 10 And having seen the star, they rejoiced – joy exceedingly great. 11 And having come into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother. And having fallen, they worshipped Him. And having opened their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 “And having been admonished in a dream not to return to Herod, through another way, they withdrew into their country.”

13 “And they having withdrawn, behold, a messenger of the Lord – he appears in a dream of Joseph, saying, ‘Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. And you are there until if I should tell you. For Herod is about to seek the Child to destroy Him.’”

14 And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother – night, and withdrew to Egypt. 15 And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt, I called my Son.”

16 Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians, was exceedingly en raged and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he exacted from the magicians. 17 Then it was fulfilled that having been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 “A voice – it was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, and a wailing, and a mourning – great.

Rachel sobbing – her children.

And she would not be comforted,

For they are not”

19 And Herod having died, behold, a messenger of the Lord in a dream appears to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for they have died – those seeking the soul of the Child.” 21 And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother and came to the land of Israel.

22 And having heard that Archelaus reigns over Judea instead of Herod his father, he feared to go there. And having been admonished in a dream, he withdrew to the allotments of Galilee. 23 And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene He will be called.