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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does matthew make up a quote? | Matt 2:23 | brianJLane | 145307 | ||
In my new testament class i was told that this "quotation" of one of the prophets here by matthew (2:23) is no where in any of the Old Testament books or the Apocraphal or any Biblical scriptures... is this true? | ||||||
2 | Does matthew make up a quote? | Matt 2:23 | EdB | 145308 | ||
brianJLane I think we have to be careful using words like "made up". It could be Matthew was aware of a prophet that did in fact say this but for whatever reason the prophets words weren't recorded in the Old Testament. Remember Jews had both oral and written traditions. It could also be as explained in the below excerpt from the Bible Knowledge commentary. Before we discount what Matthew said as "made up" or contrived we have to be able to say for certain that no Jewish prophet ever taught this. I don't think any of us can say that for certain. The fact that the family moved to Nazareth was once again said to be in fulfillment of prophecy (Matt. 2:23). However, the words He will be called a Nazarene, were not directly spoken by any Old Testament prophet, though several prophecies come close to this expression. Isaiah said the Messiah would be “from [Jesse’s] roots” like “a Branch” (Isa. 11:1). “Branch” is the Hebrew word neƒer, which has consonants like those in the word “Nazarene” and which carry the idea of having an insignificant beginning. Since Matthew used the plural prophets, perhaps his idea was not based on a specific prophecy but on the idea that appeared in a number of prophecies concerning Messiah’s despised character. Nazareth was the town which housed the Roman garrison for the northern regions of Galilee. Therefore most Jews would not have any associations with that city. In fact those who lived in Nazareth were thought of as compromisers who consorted with the enemy, the Romans. Therefore to call one “a Nazarene” was to use a term of contempt. So because Joseph and his family settled in Nazareth, the Messiah was later despised and considered contemptible in the eyes of many in Israel. This was Nathanael’s reaction when he heard Jesus was from Nazareth (John 1:46): “Can anything good come from there?” This concept fit several Old Testament prophecies that speak of the lowly character of the Messiah (e.g., Isa. 42:1-4). Also the term “Nazarene” would have reminded Jewish readers of the similar-sounding word “Nazirite” (Num. 6:1-21). Jesus was more devoted to God than the Nazirites. —Bible Knowledge Commentary EdB |
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