Matthew 2:15 & Hosea 11:1—how do they correspond?

[Gabriel Elijah]

I am currently doing a study on the book of Matthew & came across the debate regarding Matt 2:15 use of Hosea 11:1. How do most of you see the connection—or what best explains Matt’s use of the verse----predictive prophecy, sensus plenior, exposition in Judaism, prefigurement typology, analogical correspondence, or something else? I can honestly see various possibilities on this issue & am not dogmatic on any view—so I’d love to see what others think.

 

[Iconoclast]

I am currently doing a study on the book of Matthew & came across the debate regarding Matt 2:15 use of Hosea 11:1. How do most of you see the connection—or what best explains Matt’s use of the verse----predictive prophecy, sensus plenior, exposition in Judaism, prefigurement typology, analogical correspondence, or something else? I can honestly see various possibilities on this issue & am not dogmatic on any view—so I’d love to see what others think.

Jesus is The True Israel......The New Exodus and Us In Him,a Holy nation.

look at Exodus 4:22 Israel is my firstborn Son Mt 3:17
num21 jn 3:14 Jn6 True Manna jn7 rivers of living water
Look at Exo.19:4-6 1 Pet 2:9

Hebrews 3:1-6 Moses gives way to Joshua Heb4:8 8:2 1cor 5:7

Isa.49:1-8
Look at the first Exodus as the shadow....the New Exodus as the reality
Jesus the seed of Abraham,and the elect in Him are now the Israel of God

 

[Gabriel Elijah]

Jesus is The True Israel......The New Exodus and Us In Him,a Holy nation.

look at Exodus 4:22 Israel is my firstborn Son Mt 3:17
num21 jn 3:14 Jn6 True Manna jn7 rivers of living water
Look at Exo.19:4-6 1 Pet 2:9

Hebrews 3:1-6 Moses gives way to Joshua Heb4:8 8:2 1cor 5:7

Isa.49:1-8
Look at the first Exodus as the shadow....the New Exodus as the reality
Jesus the seed of Abraham,and the elect in Him are now the Israel of God

So you endorse the typological view. This honestly seems to have a lot of support. But for me personally typology is a difficult concept b/c we can only know what OT historical events/people were types when the NT confirms it. Unfortunately, I think types open the door for criticism (especially from non-Christian scholars) b/c critics can say that the NT author simply picked & choose things from the OT that seemed to support the author’s premise. While I personally don’t discredit typology as a whole—and think its very possible that Matt 2:15 is using Hosea 11:1 as a type—I wish there was more evidence to prove that the exodus from Egypt was a picture of baby Jesus taking flight into Egypt. Although I actually teach that this seems to be a type—it just is not as clear as other types used by NT writers. Regardless, thank you for your input on this difficult subject.

 

[Iconoclast]

23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.....

this seals the deal.
forget apostate scholars;

7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures

All scripture is Christ centered.

 

[Gabriel Elijah]

23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.....

this seals the deal.
forget apostate scholars;






All scripture is Christ centered.

Brother Iconoclast-sorry it took so long to respond I’ve been working on some other things lately & haven’t been on BB. But I certainly see your point & agree that all Scripture is Christ centered & that the verse at hand seems to be a kind of Israel-Jesus typology. My initial difficulty with the connection came with Hos 11:1 being about the exodus from Egypt, while Matt is talking about Jesus making a flight into Egypt. However, if Matt had in view the entire event of departure into & out of Egypt then his quote from Hosea would be appropriate. And after further study I’m inclined to believe that this is how the Gospel writer is using the OT text. Thus, the typological analysis would certainly be appropriate. My original post was to work through the options & see if I was missing something based on other possibilities. Although I didn’t get much response to the original question, I spent a little more time on the topic & came to a conclusion very similar to your own—so thank you for taking the time to answer. God Bless!

 

[Iconoclast]

Brother Iconoclast-sorry it took so long to respond I’ve been working on some other things lately & haven’t been on BB. But I certainly see your point & agree that all Scripture is Christ centered & that the verse at hand seems to be a kind of Israel-Jesus typology. My initial difficulty with the connection came with Hos 11:1 being about the exodus from Egypt, while Matt is talking about Jesus making a flight into Egypt. However, if Matt had in view the entire event of departure into & out of Egypt then his quote from Hosea would be appropriate. And after further study I’m inclined to believe that this is how the Gospel writer is using the OT text. Thus, the typological analysis would certainly be appropriate. My original post was to work through the options & see if I was missing something based on other possibilities. Although I didn’t get much response to the original question, I spent a little more time on the topic & came to a conclusion very similar to your own—so thank you for taking the time to answer. God Bless!

There is not much response because sadly the churches have in large part missed what used to be more common knowledge.
It is a good study even today I came across another verse that helps set the context.

31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

43And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

44But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

45A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

46In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

It not only all fits together, but it helps to understand what was being accomplished.

 

[Gabriel Elijah]

There is not much response because sadly the churches have in large part missed what used to be more common knowledge.
It is a good study even today I came across another verse that helps set the context.




It not only all fits together, but it helps to understand what was being accomplished.

That certainly is a good example of typology. When I first began studying the topic of types I was a little hesitant and felt it was something similar to a Bible code where fanatics could just find hidden meanings to biblical text b/c they were reading more into the Scripture than was actually there. But after looking into the subject more I became more convinced of the legitimacy of typology as a whole when it comes to OT-Christ relationships. And in all honesty the topic has begun to fascinate me b/c it demonstrates how God’s hand was in history carrying His plan out to the smallest detail—even giving pictures of many events that would happen in Christ’s life centuries & centuries before they actually happened. Although the fulfillment of OT prophesy in the life of Jesus demonstrates God’s omniscience & omnipotent ability, I think typology does this on a whole other level.