Messianic Prophecies - Central to Gospel Writers Testimonies
There often dual implications then and now to prophecies of this type. The now can be expected because the then was so well fulfilled. The sheer weight of what has been lends much credence to what is to be.
Parallelism Matthew is making is whom "I (Father) loved (child=Israel/Messiah)" both called out of Egypt
In summary, Hosea 11:1 is not a Messianic prophecy in the same way that prophecies such as Isaiah 9:6 are. Rather, it is a pictorial prophecy; that is, there are similarities in the Old Testament passage to a New Testament truth about Christ. This Old Testament “picture” of Christ is called a “type.” Matthew 2:15 can be seen as an analogy. Matthew is providing a connection between Jesus and God’s people of promise. As a Jew writing for primarily Jewish readers, Matthew found it important to point out many of the similarities between the nation of Israel and their Messiah, the One to fulfill the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).http://www.gotquestions.org/Hosea-11-1-Messianic.html
http://carm.org/did-ot-prophesy-jesus-coming-nazareth
Similtude
There is no direct Old Testament citation that prophesies the Messiah would be called a Nazarene. In fact, Nazareth (approx 1800 people at the time of Christ) is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament or in the apocrypha. But, we have two possible explanations:
First, Matthew does not say 'prophet,' singular. He says 'prophets,' plural. It could be that Matthew was referring to several Old Testament references to the despised character of Jesus (i.e., Psalm 22:6, 13; 69:10; Isaiah 49:7; 53:3; Micah 5:1).
(evidence of Roman garrison stationed Nazareth/Galilee of Gentiles already despised (ex=Phillip "can anything good come from..."))
Second, there could be a play on words that Matthew was referring to.
(equating the branch of Jesse to the "branch (Heb=NZR)")
- land of Zebulun and Naphtali - 2 (quiet) northern tribes (first to be conquered)
- Galilee of the Gentiles - later resettled by many Gentiles (Garden of Palestine)
- distressed/esteemed(afflicted)/heavily oppressed + darkness/dimness
- nkjv@Isaiah:9:3 You have multiplied the nation (spiritual - numerous Christian nations grafted into)
- nkjv@Isaiah:9:4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden/staff/rod (spiritual - yoke of sin)
- nkjv@Isaiah:9:5 @ For every warrior's sandal used for burning/fuel for fire (spiritual - peace to come)
- nkjv@Isaiah:9:6-7 @ 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. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Often prophecies have separate physical and spiritual fulfillments. Typically physical fulfillments have preceeded the spiritual. This may be a case where there spiritual has happened and because of that the physical is about to.
Interesting that in these 3 consecutive references Matthew gives, we are left with a picture of what was going on in Israel even before the child spoke his first words.
- He was sent to Egypt because of King Herod's bloody rage (and the public's fear of what Herod might do).
- note: Herod = not a seed/scepter of David on the throne of Judah and hasn't been for some time when Christ (Shilo) comes.
- He was also despised simply for where he was from, the history of that surrounding area.
- As Gentiles we can see Messiah as an outsider to normal circles in Jerusalem and while having come for the house of Israel first he stationed himself in the middle ground between Jew and Gentile.
- The child Messiah later becomes this great light seen by all in this area but, remember that this area soon turned from/against that light.
The difficulty always presented by prophecy lays in man's heart, what he is willing to accept or refuse. Israel has historically been shown to suffer from this difficulty described by some scripture writers as "blinders" or a "veil" covering their vision.
- nkjv@Isaiah:53:1 Who has believed our report?
- nkjv@Isaiah:53:3 He is despised and rejected by men
- nkjv@Isaiah:53:4 ...we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
- kjv@Isaiah:61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The are few extraordinary prophecies that only have spiritual fulfillment. Often these extraordinary prophecies are accused of being added in after the fact, there is no other way for the critic to rationally dispose of them. This particular prophecy outlines not only God's entire plan of redemption but also His very means of achieving it. It is no wonder that it is attacked as much as it is.
- nkjv@Isaiah:42:1 "Behold My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
- nkjv@Isaiah:42:2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
- nkjv@Isaiah:42:3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.
- nkjv@Isaiah:42:4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law."
There is very little dispute that the Jews of that day were fully aware of there coming a Messiah and knowing of many of the details to watch for (example "Born in Bethlehem"). Here we have even indications of His personal mannerisms. The prophetical details turned out to be exactly right yet, because of their choosing darkness over light they refuse to see this as such.
nkjv@Psalms:78:1-2 @ Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
Further:
- nkjv@Psalms:78:3 @ (sayings of old) Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. (common knowledge in Israel)
- nkjv@Psalms:78:10 @ They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, (long rejected)
- nkjv@Psalms:78:11 @ And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. (forgotten)
- nkjv@Psalms:78 (summarizes all that God had previously done, all Israel continued to do to provoke God)
Jesus asked why He spoke in parables:
kjv@Matthew:13:13-14 @ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias (nkjv@Isaiah:6:9-10), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
- "Your king comes to you" (obvious reference to Christ)
- nkjv@Zechariah:9:10 @ I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be "from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'
- nkjv@Zechariah:9:11-12 @ "As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.
- nkjv@Zechariah:9:13-14 @ For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, And raised up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Greece, And made you like the sword of a mighty man." Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And go with whirlwinds from the south.
Appropriate reason for daughter of Zion to rejoice?
9. Christ deserted by disciples nkjv@Matthew:26:56 (implied from many scriptures)
- kjv@Genesis:3:15 @ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
- kjv@Daniel:9:26 @ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,
- kjv@Psalms:41:9 @ Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
- kjv@Isaiah:53:6 @ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
nkjv@Psalms:22
- Christ forsaken :1
- worm/reproach :6
- ridiculed :7
- surrounded by bulls of Bashan :12
- bones out of joint/heart melting :14
- strength dried/tongue clings :15
- dogs surround/wicked enclose/pierced hands and feet :16
- they count my bones/look and stare :17
- they divide my garments :18
- etc... :19-
Others Gospels:
nkjv@Luke:24:44; all things Moses/Prophets/Psalms said of me
nkjv@John:12:38; Isaiah:53 who hath believed
nkjv@John:15:25; hated without cause
nkjv@John:17:12; kept all but son of perdition
nkjv@John:19:24; cast lots
nkjv@Acts:3:18; ;shewn before that Christ must suffer/fulfilled
nkjv@Acts:13:29; ;fulfilled all written of him
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