Matthew 2:22-23, Jesus the Nazarene

Text

22 But when Joseph heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Comments

Archelaus was the son of Herod. He inherited the southern part of the kingdom and not Galilee. His character mirrored his father’s. He was deposed for misrule in AD 6. Galilee was ruled by his half-brother, Herod Antipas. Jesus would later see him face to face on the day of his crucifixion.

There is no Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah coming from Nazareth or that he would be called a Nazarene. When we look at the words Matthew used, he changed his normal “then was fulfilled” or “this was to fulfill” to “that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled.” Changed from the singular to the plural, prophets, Matthew emphasized that the apparent embarrassment of the royal Messiah coming from Nazareth was unfounded as he pulled together several Messianic passages that made it clear the Messiah came to Jerusalem from Galilee.

Application/Reflection

Matthew had many intentions in writing his gospel. One that should be important for each of us is that he sets the life of Jesus in history. Jesus was a historical figure, not a myth. Today we can travel to the nation of Israel and see many of places Matthew records. Have you ever thought about your faith being one rooted in history? In prayer today, give God thanks that you are part of the history of his people.

Prayer

We thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 244)