Many have wondered about Matthew 2: 23....something that was
spoken by the prophets that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. But
there is not one verse in the entire Old Testament that tells us
this. So how did the prophets say something that is simply not
recorded for us, just is not there period?
I think I have to agree that the old and well known Bible
Commentary by Albert Barnes is probably the closest to the truth
of the matter on this question. Here then is what Barnes has to
say:
"The words here are not found in any of the books of the Old
Testament; and there has been much difficulty in ascertaining the
meaning of this passage. Some have supposed that Matthew meant to
refer to Judges 13: 5, to Samson as a type of Christ; others that
he refers to Isaiah 11: 1, that the descendant of Jesse is called
'The Branch' - in Hebrew, NETZER. Some have supposed Matthew
refers to some prophecy NOT recorded, but handed down by
tradition. But these suppositions are not satisfactory.
It is a great deal more probable that Matthew refers not to any
particular PLACE, but to the LEADING CHARACTERISTICS of the
prophecies respecting Him. The following remarks may make this
clear: 1st. He does not say, 'by the PROPHET,' as in chap. 1: 22;
2: 5, 15; but 'by the PROPHETS,' meaning no one particularly, but
the general CHARACTER of the prophecies. 2nd. The leading and
most prominent prophecies respecting Him were, He was to be of
humble life, to be despised, and rejected. See Isa.53: 2, 3,
7-9, 12; Ps. 22: 3rd. The phrase 'he shall be called,' means the
same as HE SHALL BE. 4th. The character of the people of
Nazareth was such that they were proverbially despised and
condemned, John 1: 46; 7: 52. To come from Nazareth, therefore,
or to BE A NAZARENE, was the same as to be despised, and esteemed
of low birth; TO BE A ROOT OUT OF DRY GROUND, HAVING NO FORM OR
COMELINESS. When Matthew says, therefore, that the prophecies
were fulfilled, it means, THAT THE PREDICTIONS OF THE PROPHETS
THAT HE SHOULD BE OF HUMBLE BIRTH, AND REJECTED, WERE FULLY
ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS BEING AN INHABITANT OF NAZARETH, AND DESPISED
AS SUCH."
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January 2003
