BETHEL SUNDAY SCHOOL 20 FEB 2022
Text: Matthew 2:19 – 23

INTRODUCTION

1. Review prophecies fulfilled

a. Virgin birth (Matthew 1:22 – 23)

b. Born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5 – 6)

c. Called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15)

d. Massacre of children (Matthew 2:17)

2. The study of the prophetic word fulfilled

a. It is assuring to know that nothing can hinder God’s will from being fulfilled!

b. It is uplifting to know that God is in control!

c. It is encouraging to gain further insights of the Lord Jesus Christ!

FULFILMENT OF ANOTHER PROPHECY “HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE”

1. Context (Matthew 2:19 – 23)

a. King Herod had died

b. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again

i. To tell Joseph that it is safe to take the family back to the land of Israel

ii. Those who sought the young Child’s life are dead

c. Joseph responded immediately

i. He took the young Child and His mother

ii. He came into the land of Israel

d. King Archelaus

i. He was one of the sons of King Herod

ii. He became King of Israel Judea after his father died

e. Decision not to go to Judea

i. King Archelaus was as wicked as his father Herod!

ii. Joseph decided to go to the region of Galilee instead of Judea

iii. This decision was confirmed by the angel of the Lord who also warned him

f. Dwelling in Nazareth

i. This was a small town in the region of Galilee

ii. The town of Nazareth was humble and often despised by others

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
(John 1:46)

2. Matthew noted this as a fulfilment of the prophetic word

“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.” Matthew 2:23

a. The phrase “He shall be called a Nazarene” is not found in the Scriptures

b. This could be an application of the prophetic word concerning the Lord Jesus

3. A possible reference from the book of Isaiah

1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
(Isaiah 53:1 – 3)

a. This was a prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ in His humanity

b. How the Lord Jesus grew up before God

i. As a tender plant
He grew up like everyone else did.

ii. As a root out of dry ground
He grew up in challenging circumstances!

c. How people would reject Jesus based on physical appearances

i. Despised

ii. Rejected

iii. Did not esteem Him

4. Application of the prophetic word

a. The Lord Jesus grew up in Nazareth

b. He grew up in a community that was despised for their poor social status

c. He would be known as Jesus of Nazareth

d. He would be associated as a Nazarene all His life and not thought of as much!

e. Yet Jesus grew up and became outstanding! (Luke 2:40 – 52)

THE CONTRAST

1. The wicked King Herod with all his so-called greatness perishes!

2. The Lord Jesus against all odds grows up and becomes truly great and outstanding!

PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. The prophetic word is enlightening!

2. Encouragement to trust in God!

a. To trust in God with all the challenges that we face in life

b. The Lord Jesus faced many challenges too!

c. The LORD will uphold the righteous (Psalm 37:17)