He Shall Be Called a Nazarene (Matthew Chapter 2 - Part 2)

All right this evening we're going to pick up where we left off in Matthew chapter 2 so go ahead and Turn

there in previous weeks.

We saw Christ and his kingship.

Last time we saw Christ and his divinity, but now we're starting to see The

role of Jesus as the suffering servant.

We're starting to see that develop because one of the gifts that was given to Jesus by the wise men

is the gift of myrrh and myrrh was a bitter herb and If you think

about it from the very time he was born Jesus his life was threatened.

Eventually Mary and Joseph end up settling in the city of Nazareth.

That was a place that people looked down upon and this is what the scripture says.

That's what I've titled this study.

He shall be called a Nazarene.

So last time we saw King Herod.

What's Herod doing?

He's secretly plotting to destroy the baby.

Jesus he lies to the wise men and when he realizes that the wise men are not going to

return and Give him the location and identity of the Christ child

Herod decides to have all of the babies and the small children in Bethlehem

killed in this attempt to protect his Power and position of authority and this event

is known as the massacre of the innocents.

So let's listen along Matthew chapter 2 verses 13 through

23.

Now when they had departed Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream

arise.

Take the young child and his mother flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word.

For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him

when he arose.

He took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.

And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet.

Out of Egypt I called my son.

Then Herod when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men was exceedingly angry.

And he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts from

two years old and under According to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet a.

Voice was heard in Rama.

Lamentation weeping and great mourning.

Rachel weeping for her children refusing to be comforted.

Because they are no more.

Now when Herod was dead behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in

Egypt.

Arise.

Take the young child and his mother and go to the land of Israel.

But those who sought the young child's life are dead.

Then he arose took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod He was afraid to

go there and being warned by God in a dream.

He turned aside into the region of Galilee.

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.

So just to tie up a few loose ends from last week.

I had said that based on the way the the star Moves the star of Bethlehem.

In verse 9, I believe that the star was a unique miraculous

event.

Not the aligning of Mars and Jupiter like some people have tried to claim so.

People will disagree on that.

But I think the star of Bethlehem is just a miraculous Miraculous event.

Verse 11 when the Magi or the wise men Arrived it says.

And when they had come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down

and Worshipped him.

And when they had opened their treasures they presented gifts to him.

And what were the gifts?

Gold frankincense and.

Myrrh.

So the stars announcing his birth the the fact that the stars

are aligning in relation to his Birth and the fact that this worship seems to be

received all of this speaks of the divinity of Jesus.

Only God is worthy of worship only the God man in

flesh Could explain the stars acting like that.

So we see his divinity.

We see his kingship and now we see some other things with this gift.

What do the gold?

Frankincense and myrrh represent.

Who knows who has.

Some ideas.

Yes.

Prophet priest and king good.

According to some of the early Christian leaders some have said that yet the gold

represents Jesus being a king the incense or

frankincense represents his divinity and the myrrh.

Represents death or suffering and death, but I think that's what Robert said is right.

There's the three great offices of the Old Testament prophet priest and King Jesus is the only

man to hold all three.

So I think that's what the gifts symbolize.

Everyone agrees that gold is a gift fitting for a king.

Incense is something a priest would offer in the temple.

So I believe that speaks of Christ in his office of as being great high priest and then the myrrh.

Well, how would that symbolize him being a prophet?

Well, what's that?

Yeah, because the prophets were all persecuted the prophets were hated they were despised many of them

were killed so I think that's the symbolism their prophet priest and King gold frankincense

and myrrh and Obviously around Christmastime this tradition that we

have of giving gifts.

It's at least partially based on the wise men giving gifts to Christ

all right.

So Herod sent the wise men to find the location of baby Jesus.

Verse 12 says About them that they were divinely warned in a dream

that they should not return to Herod.

So they departed for their own country.

Another way in this next section verses 13 through 15 is titled the flight

Into Egypt and it's important to point out that every step along the way

Jesus is fulfilling prophecy so from his birth at Bethlehem to

Joseph and Mary spending time in Egypt all of this was spoken of by the

prophets look at verse 13.

Now when they had departed Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in

a dream saying arise.

Take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring

you word.

For Herod will seek the young child To destroy him.

Okay, let's turn to Hosea chapter 11.

Hosea of course is in the section of the Bible known as the minor prophets towards the end of the Old Testament.

Hosea 11 as you're turning there, I'll read verse 14 says when he that

is Joseph arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed

for Egypt.

How many of you have heard about when Jesus was born he was born into a poor family, right?

This is one of the things that everybody knows everyone's heard that.

Well, how did they afford this?

Stay in Egypt.

They could have been there.

We don't know how long could have been a short trip.

It could have been a long stay in Egypt.

How did they afford to just up and move and to find lodging in Egypt?

How do they afford it?

Yeah, they had they had gold.

They had frankincense and these are all expensive gifts and that really shows that God is a provider.

He brought those wise men all the way from Babylon or Persia to give these gifts and now the family

all their needs are Provided for so I think that's.

That's pretty cool.

Verse 15 says that they were there until the death of Herod and all of this was done the

family traveling to Egypt.

The scripture says that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying

out of Egypt I have called my son.

Well, which prophet said that?

Well Hosea, okay.

Let's look at Hosea chapter 11 verse 1 Says when Israel was a

child I Loved him.

So this is God speaking when Israel was a child I loved him and out of

Egypt.

I called my son.

So that's the reference but let's keep reading for the sake of context.

There's something interesting here that I've never really thought of before as They called them so they

went from them.

They sacrificed to the bales and burnt Incense to carved images.

I taught Ephraim to walk taking them by their arms.

But they did not know that I had healed them so it kind of jumps

forward to the children of Israel falling into the worship of of Idols, so the

Lord here is speaking through the prophet Hosea and when he refers to Israel

What does he call Israel?

His son.

So based on the the context he is referring to the nation of Israel

as the Son of God.

How many of you have thought about that or maybe you you knew that?

That Israel as the nation the the people collectively were called

God's Son is that a totally new thought for anyone?

Yeah, I mean, I know I've read this I've read it in Hosea before I've read it in Matthew, but I

don't know it's just never really dawned on me so this is.

What?

Okay, who's Israel?

Well, we you know by now that Israel can refer to both the man Jacob, but also it can refer to

the entire nation Jacob or Israel in his old age.

He did travel to Egypt didn't he but he died there.

So Jacob the man died in Egypt.

So this statement that God is calling his son Israel out of Egypt.

That's primarily a reference to Moses leading them out in the Exodus however, there's

clearly a messianic fulfillment as we just saw Matthew mentioned in

Matthew chapter 2.

So with Bible prophecy, here's the thing to know about Bible prophecy.

There are dual fulfillments.

With prophecy if the prophet says something it will happen on a smaller scale once.

But then what he's really talking about is the future on a grand scale.

So there's dual Fulfillments, we all know that religious Jews reject

Jesus as the Son of God.

So many Jews are taught These Old Testament passages about God having a

son.

They are taught that they are the Son of God as a people as a nation.

Israel is God's Son.

How many of you have watched the TV show The Chosen?

How many of you are at least aware of the TV show The Chosen?

Okay, so half of you have no idea of what I'm talking about.

Well, it's a very popular Show, I guess it's not on TV.

It's on you can find it online.

But it's a very popular.

Like a miniseries about Jesus and the Apostles.

I have to say I wouldn't recommend it because there's a lot of Mormon Involvement and that makes me

nervous as to where the show is going to end up.

But I bring it up for this reason I watched the first season or two and I think it was the character

playing Nicodemus when he's told about Jesus as the Son of God.

He said God doesn't have a son.

He totally rejected the idea that God has a son and he said the Jewish people or

the nation of Israel is God's Son and So that kind of clicked with me when I saw it on the

show and I'm like, huh?

And then maybe he quoted the verse and anyways, it is here in the Bible that the nation is

is God's Son.

So let's turn to Exodus chapter 4.

We saw it here in Hosea we saw it in Matthew chapter 2.

This idea that the nation itself is called the Son of God.

How many of you are familiar with Isaiah.

53.

That's one of those passages that You read it and you say well the Jews have to

recognize this is talking about Jesus.

Well, they don't they view the suffering servant as Israel as the people they are

all together the suffering servant of Jehovah.

So that might sound concerning.

So yeah, well that they have a point because it does call the nation God's Son.

Well, hold on a second.

Let's look at Exodus 4 21 through 23.

It says and the Lord said to Moses because I want you to understand Bible prophecy and how it works.

Says the Lord said to Moses when you go back to Egypt.

See that you do all these wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in your hand.

But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

Then you shall say to Pharaoh thus says the Lord.

What does he say?

Israel is my son my firstborn.

So I say to you let my son go that he may serve me.

Who's the Lord talking about there.

Now clearly he's talking about the whole group of them the the nation.

And again in Hosea chapter 11 we see he's talking about the nation.

So here's the thing the Jews are not completely wrong.

About it referring to them, you know collectively.

Here's what they miss.

They miss the double meaning they miss the nature of prophecy how there is a

fulfillment.

God God's Son is Israel.

That's true, but it's pointing ahead to something else.

It's speaking of something else.

They miss that all of these things in the Old Testament the whole Old Testament all the stories all the

characters.

Somehow they are all pointing ahead to who?

To Christ.

There are types and foreshadows of Christ.

Take for example Abraham who is the father of the Jews?

He's told to sacrifice his only begotten son and.

That's of course Isaac but Isaac points to Jesus.

Isaac his birth was a miraculous birth.

Sarah was barren.

Abraham he lay if you read the story Abraham laid the wood on Isaac's back to walk up the mountain.

That is a picture of Christ.

The the cross was on his back and he was on Mount Calvary.

Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.

Jesus him.

That's book of Numbers.

Jesus himself says in John 3 that that spoke of him being lifted up on the cross.

The serpent is a picture of sin on the cross.

Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him

so all of these things in the Old Testament point ahead To Christ so is Israel

as a nation.

Are they God's Son?

Well, yeah, that's what it says.

But it's pointing ahead to God's ultimate like his true literal son the Lord

Jesus Christ, so Hopefully that helps.

John 546 Jesus said to the Jews if you believed Moses you

would believe me.

For Moses wrote about me and then John 5 39 Jesus said about the scriptures.

These are they that testify of me?

So everything in the Old Testament including Hosea 11 verse 1 out of Egypt.

I called my son.

Who is it about?

Well, it's about Israel true.

That's one fulfillment, but there's dual fulfillments.

It's really ultimately about Christ.

All right any questions on that?

Okay, so all of that to say this the more you study and understand scripture and how it's all

tied in together Hosea and Matthew and Exodus and Matt and it's all tied in together

and We realize that Christ is at the center of everything.

Once we start to see that then we recognize that Christ is still at the center of everything today.

Everything that's going on in the world is headed towards one end

and we are to recognize That Jesus his rightful place is in the

center of everything today.

He's the center of scripture.

He should be the center of your life.

He should be the center of this nation.

He should be the center of the world.

He should be the center of everything.

What did Paul say to live is Christ isn't that what he said?

Each and every week we have a day.

We have a whole day that is to be set apart Unto God the Lord's Day and this is all

meant to help us see the the true meaning of life.

Which is to live for and to glorify God.

That's why you're here, it's not just what Christmas is all about it is really what life

is all about.

So when we celebrate Christmas in Advent, I think the tendency for some people

is to just look back.

You know the story about Jesus and the nativity and Herod and we're looking back.

That's true.

But we should be looking around as well.

We should be looking around at what God is Doing now what God is trying to tell us right

now and then we should look forward and realize that yes Jesus in his first

Advent fulfilled what some 300 prophecies maybe a little more.

Well, there's still a whole lot of prophecy to be fulfilled in his second Advent.

So this should be our approach number one.

We look back at what God has done.

We do that when we open the scripture.

We look around at what God is doing and that comes out in in the preaching

and number three.

We look forward to what God is going to do.

So and I've I've taught you this going through Exodus Numbers Deuteronomy,

we always take what the Bible says and try to do what?

Apply it to the modern day.

What does this mean for us today?

So what does it mean?

What does Christmas teach us what does all of this teach us?

Well, one thing is Christ should be at the center of Everything.

Amen, everything.

Yes, everything.

We don't want to have a dead faith and I realize I'm preaching here, but We don't want to have a dead faith

where it's just all about looking back.

And well what God has done in the past and what great men of God have done in the past.

Yeah, but what are men of God doing today?

What are God's people doing today, what are we preparing for?

Going going forward.

All right.

Let's look at verses 16 through 18.

Go ahead and turn back to Matthew chapter 2

Matthew 2 16 through 18.

This section is titled the massacre of the innocents.

Well just that statement, you know, that could be a sermon that applies to the modern day the massacre of the innocents.

That's happening in many different ways.

But we're for now we're focusing in on this text verse 16 then Herod When he

saw that he was deceived by the wise men because they never came back.

He was exceedingly angry.

And he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem.

And it's all its districts from two years old and under according to the time which he had

determined from the wise men.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying a voice was heard

in Rama Lamentation weeping in great mourning.

Rachel weeping for her children refusing to be comforted because They are

no more now who has a cross -reference.

Where do you see that as being a quotation from what book?

Okay, so that's a quote from Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 15.

So why is Matthew quoting?

Jeremiah, why is he talking about Rachel.

Rachel is the wife of who?

Jacob right Israel.

So who is Rachel?

She's Jacob's wife.

She's the mother of Benjamin and Joseph and remember Joseph had two sons Ephraim and

Manasseh.

They were the two major tribes of the northern kingdom.

If you look at a map of Israel the southern kingdom of Judah the northern kingdom Ephraim and Manasseh.

Take up the bulk of the land.

So basically the idea that Jeremiah when Jeremiah quotes this and talks about Rachel.

He's talking about the northern kingdom being conquered by these Syrians.

I mean they came in and they just slaughtered the Israelites and that's you know.

Symbolically Rachel is weeping for her children Joseph Ephraim and Manasseh.

So Jeremiah is talking about one thing right.

Jeremiah is a prophet.

He's talking about something.

But what are we talking about dual fulfillment of prophecy?

Right, so that's one thing but what's Matthew talking about?

He's talking about something different.

So, why would Matthew reference Rachel weeping for the

inhabitants of.

Bethlehem.

What's the connection between Rachel and all of these innocent children being killed in Bethlehem?

What would be the connection?

See.

Okay, yeah well.

Yeah.

Well, so here's the thing in Genesis chapter 35 Rachel died young.

She died giving birth to Benjamin.

And if you remember they were traveling when she gave birth and they had to bury

her with haste.

And where did they bury her?

Right, they buried Rachel in Bethlehem so that's why I

believe She is referenced here.

That's where she's buried and Her descendants her children the babies are slaughtered in

Bethlehem.

So Matthew remembers this prophecy and there's the dual fulfillment talking about the nation

of Israel falling to the Assyrians.

But also talking about the children being killed by Herod.

I don't know I don't know if this excites you the way it excites me but when you see how scripture it can apply to this it

can apply to that can mean this and Of course the scripture always has one Real

meaning but it has many different applications.

So, you know when people go around and they encounter things today and they quote you

do this, right?

Something happens and that reminds you of a Bible verse.

Now, maybe that isn't technically the fulfillment of prophecy.

Well, we should always be Bringing the Word of God to bear.

Hey, wait a minute.

That's not right because Chapter whatever verse whatever right?

Hey, this reminds me of what the Word of God says here and that should be an opportunity for us to

Tell other people about what God is doing because it applies to so many different things

now just one More thing about this event the massacre of the innocents.

How many of you have watched these TV specials about?

Jesus or usually it's around Christmas time and Easter.

Do they still do this?

I don't know I canceled cable so I don't know if they still do this or not.

Do they still have these well, usually it's something like the the hidden Jesus, you know, the the

real Jesus.

Who's seen some of these programs?

Yeah, they'll be on NBC or you know.

One of the major networks will run and it's always around Christmas and Easter and they bring in

the X the experts right and they tell you.

Their whole purpose is to tell you what really happened that the you know The Bible's wrong.

None of this ever took place and here we're gonna tell you what really is going on.

Well, this is one of the things that they love to say they say that Herod killing all these children

that that never happened.

You know why they say that I say well, there's no record of it.

There are no ancient Documents there are no historical records.

That point to this event.

What's the obvious problem with that?

Yeah, we're reading an ancient historical document that references it.

I Mean, it's it's really unbelievable.

But yeah, that's what they'll say.

Well, there are no Historical documents that will attest to this and what they mean by

that is that there are no secular Historical documents because you have the Bible,

right?

So this is the way these historians operate now, so I was preaching before now this is more

apologetics.

This is maybe to equip you and how to respond when a friend or family member says well No, I

saw on TV this show and they said that that never really took place or you know.

You we want to have an answer for this.

So here's what they do the historians the secular historians.

Here's how they operate.

They will base a whole theory.

If they found a small fragment of a document just a little piece or two.

That would be enough for them to have a whole a whole theory.

They've actually they based theories on a whole lot less evidence.

It's called Evolution, but that's a that's another story.

But when there's a religious document that That says something they they just dismiss it

out of hand.

Oh these people were Christians.

So you can't believe that Matthew or whoever wrote Matthew?

Well, well, they were followers of Christ.

You can't you can't listen to that.

That's what they do.

Their whole version of history is based on people that agree with them.

Anyone who is a Christian needs to be canceled, you know, you shouldn't even listen to them.

What they're saying is of no.

Significance.

Why is that?

Because the Satan that's.

Yeah, they don't want to be accountable for their sin well and that's all true.

But the basic response is they're totally biased.

They only accept things that are in line with their religion now.

They'll say that about us now, you know you Christians you only believe things that are in line with the Bible.

If somebody said that about me.

Okay, guilty as charged.

I mean, that's true.

But they do the same thing they only Accept things that are in line with their

beliefs.

So they are just as religious as we are.

We have our worldview our belief system.

They have their worldview their belief system.

They are religion.

Why don't they call it a religion.

Because they want to teach it in the public schools.

You can't you know, you know separation of church and state you can't teach religion in the public school.

So they don't call it a religion on purpose.

That's how they get away with teaching it in the schools while banning.

That's what they're doing.

They're suppressing.

They're banning the truth.

They're they're banning Christian teaching so don't let them try to act like they're impartial and

again.

What does this have to do with Matthew well the Massacre of the Innocents, this is a historical event.

There are historical ancient historical documents the Gospel of Matthew that tell us

this happened.

But it doesn't fit their narrative.

So they say well, it's not true.

You can't listen to that.

So I'm I know I've been repeating this a couple times the past month, but I really want you to get

this.

They have a religion.

What they are pushing and promoting is a religion.

It's just a religion that's diametrically opposed to Christianity

so all of that.

Just wrap it up with this statement, you know.

If you watch something on the the news networks or network television.

They are promoting a secular worldview at Morris Corner Church.

We're promoting Christianity on TV Hollywood they're promoting

the secular Religion and if I've learned one thing over the past several years one thing that I

know for a fact the secular media is not a trustworthy source of

information and We know that's true.

I'll stick with the Bible any day and Talking about Christmas.

I'll choose Jesus Christ over Santa any day, but that don't get me started on that.

Alright now the final section verses 19 through 23.

This section is titled the home in Nazareth.

So Jesus was born where?

Bethlehem and.

He was called though what a Nazarene so he was born in Bethlehem for the

purpose of Fulfilling prophecy because that's where King David Israel's great kings

born in Bethlehem.

So his son the Messiah would also be born in Bethlehem.

So that's all about fulfilling prophecy.

But as far as where the Messiah would be from he would be from the region of Galilee and that's

where Nazareth Was.

Alright, let's look at verses 19 through 23.

It says and now when Herod was dead Behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream

to Joseph.

In a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying arise.

Take the young child and his mother and go to the land of Israel.

For those who sought the young child's life are dead.

Then he arose took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod.

He was afraid to go there.

Now.

What does that tell you?

Well, it tells you that Herod was an evil man a violent man.

Archelaus his son was just as bad, you know, maybe even worse.

It says in being warned by God in a dream.

He turned aside into the region of Galilee.

So he would have dwelt in and around Jerusalem or in Bethlehem.

But now they go to Galilee verse 23.

Why did this happen?

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.

Okay a couple things just to finish up.

Notice the chapter begins and We saw it right here.

It's talking about real people Herod right.

Quirinius that's in Luke.

It's talking about real historical figures and it's talking about real historical places.

So this isn't like some stories, you know once upon a time.

So this is real history and I want you I know you know this on some level, but

I want you to think of the Bible as a historical Document it's giving you real

history.

It's just as legitimate and even more so than any other book of history people say well.

That's not why the Bible is written.

It's not really a book about history.

Why not?

All the history is.

Is true, it's accurate.

So the Bible all of the history can be.

It's been tested.

It's been examined.

It is accurate.

So who's this guy?

Archelaus, okay.

I just want to read what the historian Josephus.

Said.

How many of you have heard of Josephus?

He's probably the most famous ancient historian.

He was Jewish.

He wasn't a Christian, but you know, he he seems Somewhat unbiased in what he

said.

For the little I know about him.

Anyways, he says this after the death of King Herod also known as Herod the Great

Caesar Augustus Divided Herod's kingdom among his three sons

Archelaus Antipas and Philip.

There were four quarters of the kingdom.

Archelaus received two quarters or in other words half.

He ruled over the land of Judea I do Mia also known as Edom and

Samaria.

Antipas controlled Galilee and Perea and Philip Controlled the

remaining regions, you know about Philip, right?

He's mentioned in the New Testament.

He had a little run -in with John the Baptist.

John the Baptist preached against what Philip was up to.

So none of these three sons of Herod had the title of King.

Sometimes we refer to Herod Antipas as King Herod.

That's actually not what he was called.

So none of them held the title of King.

Philip and Antipas were called what who knows what they were called.

Tetrarchs.

Archelaus obtained the title of Ethnarch and That was an exalted

title that he would receive The title of king if he should prove himself

worthy of it.

So all this is according to Josephus, however after nine years

Archelaus was removed from power by Caesar Augustus.

For what reason.

Take a guess?

His extreme Cruelty.

Now you probably think of Caesar as being pretty cruel and the Romans is being cruel.

Archelaus was so cruel even Caesar Augustus said we can't have this guy in charge.

He's a madman.

Now.

What does that tell you.

And I tells you a lot of things but just the fact that Caesar Augustus is the one who pulled

One of these Herod's out of power.

What does that tell you?

They were all puppets.

They were all puppets of the Roman Empire.

Caesar was the real king.

And.

30 years later when Jesus stands before.

Who's Jesus stand before.

Remember when he's on trial he goes to the high priests and they send him to who.

Punch, but who is he go to before Pilate?

He goes to Herod doesn't he but that's Herod Antipas so it was

Antipas that Jesus stands before.

And if you just remember and think of that story of Jesus When he was betrayed and arrested and

eventually crucified who is the one who had to give the final order?

It was the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

And all the while Pontius Pilate was calculating in his mind How Caesar might react?

Because he had Jesus delivered to crucifixion because he was afraid that he would be seen as a

traitor To Pilate.

So all that to say the Romans are really in charge of Herod.

The Jews everybody.

Caesar Augustus is the true king.

Right.

Well, who's who's the true king?

Right.

God is the real king because through all of this God

is sovereign and his will is being done whether it's Herod or

Pilate later on no matter who it is, you know Caesar thought he's in control.

Herod thought he was in control.

There's always somebody else in control and it's God who is in control.

It's God who kept Jesus safe.

Right.

Because If it wasn't for the Lord revealing these things through the dreams

Jesus would have been Would have been killed.

So the Bible I say all of that because the Bible records real history.

It has been said that History is you've heard this history is another

other term for history is His his story all the books written

that contain historical accounts.

We would say the Bible is the most accurate of all the historical books.

Why.

Because it's the only one that's divinely inspired.

So Joseph and Mary back to the story.

They're warned again by God in a dream to avoid Jerusalem and the surrounding area.

So they go north to a city in Galilee named Nazareth and just a couple

comments here and then we'll close because People get this term

Nazarene mixed up with another word that sounds just like it Nazarite,

but Jesus was a Nazarene and in their mind, they're thinking he's a Nazarite.

What's the difference between a Nazarene in a Nazarite?

I just had someone tell me this a month ago.

Jesus was a Nazarite.

Right.

Being a Nazarite is taking a religious vow.

Did Jesus ever take that religious vow?

Well, no because he drank the fruit of the vine.

Right, so that was that's a violation.

I'm pretty sure Jesus touched unclean Things, you know, he raised the dead and he

healed those who had leprosy so he drank the fruit of the vine he touched unclean things and.

But the reason why people say that Jesus was a Nazarite is because all the pictures of Jesus.

All the paintings of Jesus display him as what?

Yeah, they all pictured Jesus as having long hair.

Even though the Apostle Paul in first Corinthians 11 says that.

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair is a shame to him.

So it's just impossible to think that Jesus would have had long long hair.

But I mentioned all that because Jesus is not a Nazarite.

All right, if you if you remember anything about that whole thing, remember this he is not a Nazarite.

He is what a.

Nazarene a.

Nazarene is someone from the town of Nazareth.

So Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy, but the family settled in

Nazareth and that's where you get this statement verse 23 That it might be

fulfilled.

I want you to pay attention to the words that it might be fulfilled.

Which was spoken by the Prophet.

He shall be called a Nazarene.

What about cross -references for this one you did the cross -reference to figure out the prophecy was in

Jeremiah.

What's the cross -reference for this?

The Prophet said that he shall be called a Nazarene where's where does it

say that in the Old Testament?

What is that.

Okay, so there are some cross -references and I'll just save you the time the Old Testament never says that he'll be

called Nazarene, I don't know what those verses refer to something else maybe in regards to this.

Never calls him a Nazarene.

Well, isn't that a contradiction?

I Mean it says the prophets.

Wrote that he would be called a Nazarene, right?

Isn't that what it says that the prophets as it is written in the prophets.

Is that what it says?

Pay attention to the words.

You know, okay it says prophets what's the other word I said it's written is that what it

says it's written.

Okay, it's spoken.

You know when studying the Bible you got to pay attention.

So there's no Old Testament verse that says he will be called the Nazarene.

But it doesn't say that there is it says that it might be fulfilled which was spoken By

the prophets, you know, if you go back to Matthew chapter 2 verse 5 speaking of Bethlehem, what does it say thus it is

written.

So about Bethlehem it was written it's in the scripture this it was spoken.

So one possibility this idea that he should be called a Nazarene.

One possibility is this is just an oral Prophecy that has been passed

down from generation to generation, but never actually written in the scripture.

So that's one possibility but here's Another possibility and I think this is probably

the true explanation.

That Jesus it's written about him.

He the Christ will be called the Nazarene.

It's sort of like a synonym to say someone is a Nazarene is to say that hey, this guy's no good.

You remember in John chapter 1 when Philip comes to Nathanael and says we have found the

Christ.

He's Jesus of Nazareth.

You remember what Nathanael said?

And any good thing come out of Nazareth.

So Jesus here's the point Jesus was looked down upon because

he was from Nazareth it's another way of saying he shall be

despised by men.

That's something that was written down.

Most clearly in Isaiah 53 that Jesus is Despised he's he's a man of sorrows.

He's someone the world looks down on so I want to close with what Matthew Henry writes

about this.

He says Nazareth was a place held in bad esteem and Christ was

crucified with this Accusation Jesus the Nazarene and

that could have been just his name, but it could have been an insult as well

wherever this is what Matthew Henry says wherever Providence allots the bounds of our

habitation we must expect to share the reproach of Christ yet we

make glory in being called by his name that is being called Christians.

You know Christian that was a derogatory comment, too.

When people are first called Christians, it was an insult just like being called the Nazarene.

It was a pejorative.

It was an insult.

But Matthew Henry says this sure that if we suffer with him, we shall also be

glorified.

With him.