AndyMartin
Active Member
Another important point ought to be made here, and that is of the quotation by Matthew in his Gospel from Isaiah. Matthew quotes from chapter 7, and verse 14 (there were no chapters and verses in the original Hebrew). It is a wrong assumption to argue, like some do, that verse 14 cannot refer to Jesus Christ, because verses 15-16, show that someone else is meant. When reference is made to an Old Testament Scripture, in fulfilment of prophesy, only what is quoted is what we are to be concerned with. As often the context from which it is taken in the Old Testament, has no bearing with the quotation in the New Testament. Thus we have:
Hebrews 1:5
"and again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"
Which is quoted from 2 Samuel 7:14, where it is clear that the rest of the text cannot be have anything to do with this quotation. As it goes on to say: "if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men"! Though this is how the text goes on to read, yet is can never be used of Jesus Christ, Who is sinless (see, Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:24; Luke 1:35; John 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5, etc)
Matthew 2:15
"...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'out of Egypt have I called My Son"
Which is a quotation from Hosea 11:1, where the first part of the verse is speaking of the nation Israel, "When Israel a child, then I loved him..."; which does not apply to Jesus Christ.
It is not possible to enter into a study on Isaiah 7:14 and its context, here, as this would be a far too detailed study, and not really relevant for the purpose of the present study, which is on the use of this text in the Gospel of Matthew, and its relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very clear from the text in Isaiah, of the identity of this “Son” Who would be born from the “virgin”. We read that, He shall be “called”, “immanu'el”, which in Hebrew is literally, “God with us”. However, this does not simply refer to the “presence” of the Lord with His people, which we read of often in the Old Testament. This is the “Name”, of the Son in the passage. It is hard to see from this passage in Isaiah, who could have been “named” by “immanu'el”. None of the children born at that time, to either Ahaz, or the Prophet Isaiah, had their children so named. If this child was to be a “sign” to the “House of Israel”, surely his identity would have been known. And, it is clear that no child at that time fulfilled the prophecy. There can only be one conclusion drawn from the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which Matthew, writing under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, saw to be none other than the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus Christ was never “Named”, or called by “immanu’el”, yet, it is very clear from the teachings in the Holy Bible, that the “Person” and “nature” of Jesus Christ, answers to this “Name”, as He was “God manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16, according to the best textual evidence); and, “and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14); which teaches exactly what “immanu’el”, means. In Isaiah we also read: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6); yet Jesus Christ, to Whom these words speak of, was never so “Named” (or, “called”), while on earth. We know that all of these “Names”, describe the “Person” and “nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very interesting to read the remarks in the Greek-English lexicon, on “Immanuel”, by Dr Joseph Thayer: “Immanuel (God with us), i.q. savior, a name given to Christ by Matthew i.23, after Is.vii.14. Acc. to the orthodox interpretation the name denotes the same as theanthropos, and has reference to the personal union of the human nature and the divine in Christ” (p.207). This is found in a work by a Unitarian, who denied the Holy Trinity, and Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. “theanthropos”, literally “God-Man”, which is a term for the “Person” and “nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is 100% God and 100% Man, that is, He eternally has the “nature of Almighty God”, and at His Incarnation, He “added a human nature”, to the “divine”, while remaining “God”. The Apostle Paul teaches this Truth in Philippians 2:5-11 (very nature God…very nature man”. Jesus always was just “One Person”, even though He has “Two natures”, which is a “mystery” our human minds will never fathom.
Hebrews 1:5
"and again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"
Which is quoted from 2 Samuel 7:14, where it is clear that the rest of the text cannot be have anything to do with this quotation. As it goes on to say: "if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men"! Though this is how the text goes on to read, yet is can never be used of Jesus Christ, Who is sinless (see, Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:24; Luke 1:35; John 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5, etc)
Matthew 2:15
"...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'out of Egypt have I called My Son"
Which is a quotation from Hosea 11:1, where the first part of the verse is speaking of the nation Israel, "When Israel a child, then I loved him..."; which does not apply to Jesus Christ.
It is not possible to enter into a study on Isaiah 7:14 and its context, here, as this would be a far too detailed study, and not really relevant for the purpose of the present study, which is on the use of this text in the Gospel of Matthew, and its relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very clear from the text in Isaiah, of the identity of this “Son” Who would be born from the “virgin”. We read that, He shall be “called”, “immanu'el”, which in Hebrew is literally, “God with us”. However, this does not simply refer to the “presence” of the Lord with His people, which we read of often in the Old Testament. This is the “Name”, of the Son in the passage. It is hard to see from this passage in Isaiah, who could have been “named” by “immanu'el”. None of the children born at that time, to either Ahaz, or the Prophet Isaiah, had their children so named. If this child was to be a “sign” to the “House of Israel”, surely his identity would have been known. And, it is clear that no child at that time fulfilled the prophecy. There can only be one conclusion drawn from the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which Matthew, writing under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, saw to be none other than the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus Christ was never “Named”, or called by “immanu’el”, yet, it is very clear from the teachings in the Holy Bible, that the “Person” and “nature” of Jesus Christ, answers to this “Name”, as He was “God manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16, according to the best textual evidence); and, “and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14); which teaches exactly what “immanu’el”, means. In Isaiah we also read: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6); yet Jesus Christ, to Whom these words speak of, was never so “Named” (or, “called”), while on earth. We know that all of these “Names”, describe the “Person” and “nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very interesting to read the remarks in the Greek-English lexicon, on “Immanuel”, by Dr Joseph Thayer: “Immanuel (God with us), i.q. savior, a name given to Christ by Matthew i.23, after Is.vii.14. Acc. to the orthodox interpretation the name denotes the same as theanthropos, and has reference to the personal union of the human nature and the divine in Christ” (p.207). This is found in a work by a Unitarian, who denied the Holy Trinity, and Deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. “theanthropos”, literally “God-Man”, which is a term for the “Person” and “nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is 100% God and 100% Man, that is, He eternally has the “nature of Almighty God”, and at His Incarnation, He “added a human nature”, to the “divine”, while remaining “God”. The Apostle Paul teaches this Truth in Philippians 2:5-11 (very nature God…very nature man”. Jesus always was just “One Person”, even though He has “Two natures”, which is a “mystery” our human minds will never fathom.
