Nazareth
And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
– Matthew 2:23
These words which are controversial to some may confuse people. Where do these words appear in the Old Testament? Is this a non-existent prophecy as modern Muslim apologists and liberals claim? We will explore this beautiful passage and show that it shows a beautiful connection with the Old Testament. A connection that the Quran doesn’t have with the previous scriptures, which is why they had to eventually reject them as scripture. After all, nowhere in the Quran does it say that previous revelations have been corrupted.
We first need to realize that this statement is not from our Lord Jesus Christ, but from Matthew himself. Matthew actually comments quite a bit on the events in his Gospel. In fact, he talks about fulfilled prophecy quite often. In fact, he usually uses other language such as “to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet” then quotes a specific text.
Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
– Matthew 1:22
And when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word: and all that were sick he healed: That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying: He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.
– Matthew 8:16-17
Other examples could be given but its clear that Matthew is going for something else with this mysterious language about the Nazarene. Matthew is trying to draw together a common theme. The Messiah in a couple places in the OT is referred to as a branch. The most well known verse is Isaiah 11:1. Here is the verse:
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The term for “branch” here in Hebrew is very interesting. It’s the word “netser”. Netser – Nazarene? See the connection? In fact, the root of the word Nazareth in Hebrew and netser only differ in vowel pointing which didn’t exist in the time of Christ. It’s a more modern invention.
The word Nazareth in Hebrew is:
Now, the word “netser” used in the Isaiah 11:1(with the word “and” in front of it) is:
The three letter root of these words are identical.
Remember that the vowel points come a long time after the time of Jesus Christ. The three letters nun, tsade, and resh would have looked identical.
What is also interesting is that there is actually some evidence that the Gospel of Matthew might have been originally in Hebrew. We don’t know if this is true or not as we have only Greek manuscripts but this beautiful inter testament connection definitely would have been obvious to any first century reader from Palestine. It’s not a fake prophecy at all. It’s a true prophecy fulfilled in the Messiah.
Good one Allan. Good graphics of the Hebrew that shows the similarity of the city of Nazareth with the Nezer, branch of Isaiah 11:1.
I also wrote on that issue within the analysis of the debate between Zakir Hossein and Dr. White.
https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/debate-is-muhammad-prophesied-in-the-bible/
Matthew 2:23
Matthew 2:23 was not part of the subject of the debate about Muhammad in the OT, but Zakir Hossein asked about it, because he seems to be saying that the NT authors tried to just go back and find things in the OT that may be used to show Jesus fulfilled them. He was trying to say that finding Muhammad in Song of Solomon, etc. was legitimate, for example because of the prophesy of Jesus as a Nazerene (Nazer) of similar sound to the Hebrew word for branch in Isaiah 11:1.
Zakir Hossein asked about Matthew 2:23 and “where is it written in the prophets that Messiah would be called a Nazarene?”
First, notice it says, “through the prophets” – plural. So he is speaking of a general concept that is in more than one prophet. “that what was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23) “Nararene” – a Nazer – נצר – nzr – a rejected branch. Nazareth was a rejected city in the North, in “Galilee of the Gentiles”; it was rejected by the Jews in the south and around Jerusalem, since it was a Galilean town. (northern, Gentile, defiled by non-Jews). “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46; see also John 7:41 and 7:52)
So, “Nazareth” describes Jesus being rejected by the Jews. Isaiah 14:19 – “like a rejected branch” = כְּנֵצֶר נִתְעָב כ = like נצר = NZR, Nazer, branch נתעב = rejected, despised Isaiah 11:1 – “then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse (father of David); and a branch (Nazer – נצר ) from his roots will bear fruit.” (see rest of Isaiah 11:1-10 – a very Messianic passage in the Jews minds. This is referred to in Acts 13:22-23; and Isaiah 11:10 is quoted in Romans 15:12)
Isaiah 53:1-3 – concept of rejection, tender shoot, root out of dry ground
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:1-3
There is another word for the Messiah as a “branch” צמח used often, combined with the concepts of shoot, root, sprout, and despised, shows that Matthew had many passages in mind when he wrote, “as it is spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” – despised, rejected. Jeremiah 23:5 – Messiah will be a righteous branch. (צמח) Jeremiah 33:15 – a righteous branch (צמח )of David will spring forth Isaiah 4:2 – “branch of the Lord” (צמח) Zechariah 3:8 – “they are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the branch.” (צמח) Zechariah 6:12 – the one whose name is “Branch” (צמח) There are several words for “branch”(צמח is used more often) with root and shoot (Isaiah 53:1-3; 11:1) and “Nezer” (נצר) is not always used in every passage. But the concept of a branch, with the concepts of “shoot” and “root” and “rejected”; and the concept of being rejected combines all these passages as demonstrating what Matthew 2:23 was referring to.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the comment. This actually isn’t a response to Zakir Hussain but to the Muslim apologist Faiz who as you probably know has been constantly commenting on my website in the last couple of weeks. I know that Hussain has used this though.
Thanks for your and input. This is a really rich concept in the Scriptures. Messianic prophecies are one of my favorite things to study.
God bless,
Allan
I thought you craved the attention, Allan?
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Pathetic! All this waiting for such a weak argument? I will write a formal reply soon inshaAllah, but needless to say, the only people who would find this argument convincing are those who have already surrendered their reason to Christianity.
Lets see if you can do it without quoting liberals.
Again with the bias? Why don’t you try to come out of your little cocoon and be just a little objective for once in your life?
I’m starting to think that Muslims view liberals as the heavy artillery. Remember in Hacksaw Ridge when the Americans were retreating from the Japanese Banzai charge then it ended with bombardment from the American battleships? The Japanese then retreated back into the caves!!!
Or maybe is it the cavalry? The cavalry showing up to save the day and completely routing the opposing force.
Hey, let’s at least think of a proper analogy here Faiz. Don’t you think that’s reasonable?
What’s your analogy among liberals in Muslim apologetics?
Last of all, yes. I am biased against modern liberal “scholars” who try to undermine the clear meaning of the text.
Does it make you feel at least a bit guilty that you trust modern liberal Jewish scholars on the Torah over your Messiah?
Thank you for admitting you are biased. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. I’m starting to think you guys are afraid of “liberal” scholars, which is why you dismiss them rather than try to refute their arguments.
You absurd question about “liberal Jewish scholars” and the “Torah of the Messiah” doesn’t even warrant an answer. It’s a laughable straw man. I trust reasonable, objective people who present evidence. I don’t trust brainwashed Christians who arrogantly dismiss anyone who disagrees with their delusions.
Why don’t you write a formal reply to my three challenges? I’m pretty sure your “fans” are gonna love it!
Hey orange guy, did you find that mutant rabbit yet? Still waiting! Christians are impotent in the face of scientific knowledge! 🙂
What three (cough) “challenges” are you referring to?
It was something about three specific passages, remember?
“It was something about three specific passages, remember?”
Refresh my memory, orange guy. And then see if you can find that mutant rabbit!
“Christians are impotent in the face of scientific knowledge!”- says the guy who believes in the existence of winged horses with human heads and food that talks before being eaten. Yeah, you’re not a joke at all. Maybe only a little.
“says the guy who believes in the existence of winged horses with human heads and food that talks before being eaten. Yeah, you’re not a joke at all. Maybe only a little.”
HAHAHAHA, still stalling? Where is that rabbit? Shhh…I’m hunting wabbits! Oh where, oh where has that mutant rabbit gone?
Where are those rabbits? Those vegan lions? That fire-breathing monster?
Resorting to childishness after being exposed? A classic custom among dawamongers. And I already neutralized your argument about rabbits. Bringing it up again and again won’t make it fresh and sound again.
Brainwashed zombies can only pretend that they refuted something. You have been jumping from excuse to excuse trying to figure out what to do with those pesky rabbits. Evidently, your “inspired” Bible authors were not so inspired!
So be good boy and show me those rabbits that chew the cud. And the vegan lions. And the fire-breathing monster. Go on…
Here is my formal response debunking this laughable and absurd attempt by Christians to explain the “Nazarene” prophecy: https://quranandbibleblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/jesus-the-nazarene-matthews-fake-prophecy-and-allan-ruhls-worst-nightmare/
And I destroyed the clumsy Ruhlian logic using only Christian scholars! Not a single “liberal” scholar was cited! Go figure!
Hi Faiz,
Wow, Surah 2:79, I certainly did not know that this verse existed. Oh wait, I did. I’ve read through the Quran four times this year alone and I’m very familiar with this verse. It doesn’t mention scripture, Torah or Gospel.
For all of my readers, I’ll sum up Faiz’s argument. Others disagree. That’s about it.
My favorite part is the ending. The people that actually know Hebrew spell Muhammad a certain way, but you say that it’s another way. Okay, fair enough.
In Israel there are many people who speak Hebrew. This includes Jews, Muslims, Christians and atheists and they spell Muhammad a certain way. But you, Faiz, an American who doesn’t speak Hebrew says it should be spelled another way. Okay, it’s their word against yours but don’t be surprised if I go with their rendering. I hope you understand.
Another pathetic Ruhlian response! Why am I not surprised!
“Wow, Surah 2:79, I certainly did not know that this verse existed. Oh wait, I did. I’ve read through the Quran four times this year alone and I’m very familiar with this verse. It doesn’t mention scripture, Torah or Gospel.”
Oooh, I am sooo impressed! Oh wait, no I’m not. Ignoramuses make claims and then fail to provide any proof. This is just one verse of many. I just mentioned it because it does not warrant too much discussion. That is how stupid this Christian argument is.
“For all of my readers, I’ll sum up Faiz’s argument. Others disagree. That’s about it. ”
LOL!! So no response, eh? I provided several pieces of evidence to show how utterly silly the netser-Nazarene argument is. For example, if “Matthew” was looking at Isaiah 11:1, then why did he say “as was said through the prophets”? Only Isaiah used “netser” to refer to the Messianic branch. No other prophet did! Apparently Allan is too dumbfounded to answer this question.
“My favorite part is the ending. The people that actually know Hebrew spell Muhammad a certain way, but you say that it’s another way. Okay, fair enough.”
Oh Lord, did you even look at the notes at the end? I provided a source for that. I know, I know. You think your opinions outweigh everything else, which is why you don’t ever feel the need to cite any authoritative source. But unlike you, I cite sources. I engage in honest and serious research. I make no claim without providing sources.
Furthermore, the Hebrew spelling of Muhammad is based on the Arabic name. If it had existed in Hebrew before the coming of Muhammad, it would have been spelled either way. But most importantly, regardless of how you spell it, the ROOT remains exactly the same! That was my point, in order to expose your shoddy methodology!
“In Israel there are many people who speak Hebrew. This includes Jews, Muslims, Christians and atheists and they spell Muhammad a certain way. But you, Faiz, an American who doesn’t speak Hebrew says it should be spelled another way. Okay, it’s their word against yours but don’t be surprised if I go with their rendering. I hope you understand.”
ROTFL!! Honestly Allan, sometimes I think you are a 12 year old who has reading comprehension problems. See above. Try to think clearly. Free yourself of your bias and read my article again. That’s two strikes already.
Faizo, where is your answer to my challenges? You failed to meet them three times in a row. Are you going to leave it like this? I’m still holding my breath.
“Oooh, I am sooo impressed! Oh wait, no I’m not. Ignoramuses make claims and then fail to provide any proof. This is just one verse of many. I just mentioned it because it does not warrant too much discussion. That is how stupid this Christian argument is.”- You’re the one that must prove his case, because you’re the one that brought the verse first. You committed the fallacy of shifting the burden of proof. The verse you cited is very ambiguous, just like all other verses, used by dawamongers to “prove” that the Bible is falsified. Besides, Quranic interpreters are split on what exactly is the meaning of the said passage. It does warrant much discussion, whether you like it or not. You summarized it perfectly: “Ignoramuses make claims and then fail to provide any proof.” Cheers!
“Faizo, where is your answer to my challenges? You failed to meet them three times in a row. Are you going to leave it like this? I’m still holding my breath.”
Orange guy, your so-called “challenges” were answered. Where is the pesky rabbit that I have been asking you for? I’m still holding my breath and waiting to chew that cud. 😉
“You’re the one that must prove his case, because you’re the one that brought the verse first. You committed the fallacy of shifting the burden of proof. The verse you cited is very ambiguous, just like all other verses, used by dawamongers to “prove” that the Bible is falsified. Besides, Quranic interpreters are split on what exactly is the meaning of the said passage. It does warrant much discussion, whether you like it or not. You summarized it perfectly: “Ignoramuses make claims and then fail to provide any proof.” Cheers!”
LOL, well first of all, that is not the topic of discussion. Allan tried to divert to an unrelated topic. But if you want more evidence, here you go:
“O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.” – 5:15
So this is referring to a deliberate attempt by Jews and Christians to conceal the scripture. The Quran also accuses both of verbally altering the scripture:
“And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, “This is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah . And they speak untruth about Allah while they know.” – 3:78
So the Quran says that Jews and Christians concealed parts of the scripture and also altered it verbally, all of which we know is true of your Bible. The additions, deletions, variants and forgeries confirm what the Quran has said. Cheers!
1.”Orange guy, your so-called “challenges” were answered. Where is the pesky rabbit that I have been asking you for? I’m still holding my breath and waiting to chew that cud.”- I’ve already debunked your dishonest “answers” and exposed your rabbit fiasco. Have you stopped reading my responses?
2. You cite just another ambiguous passage. Concealing something does not equal creating a fake version of it. And even if it did, it does not mean all the pure copies of previous Scriptures were destroyed. If you insist it does, show me the evidence. Worse still, the passage speaks about a “party of them”- not ALL of them. Verbal alteration does not make your case any better. Of course some Jews and “Christians” do it- orthodox Jews, Calvinists, etc. And there are also Muslims who distort the Quran verbally (at least according to your branch of Islam)- Shia, Ahmadi, etc. Does this mean the Quran is falsified?
3. ” The additions, deletions, variants and forgeries confirm what the Quran has said. Cheers!”- the Quran does not speak about “additions, deletions, variants and forgeries”. It is very ambiguous on this topic. Besides, the same problem can be observed in the Quranic manuscripts (Sana’a manuscript, for example). Moreover, the “additions, deletions, variants and forgeries” in Biblical manuscript tradition can be effectively detected and obviated. So you don’t have a leg to stand on.
LOL, so you think the Quran has to go into detail regarding the corruption? Earth to orange guy, the Quran is not fixated on Biblical textual criticism. It simply mentions how the Jews and Christians concealed parts of the scripture. That certainly sounds like corruption. Hiding parts of the scripture? Yeah, definitely corruption. Because if you hide the scripture or if you replace the scripture with something, all of that will eventually find its way to the written form. And that’s exactly what we find in your Bible…deletions, additions, forgeries, changes…all evidence of the corruption of your pathetic scripture.
Now, where’s my rabbit? Come on Elmer, surely you can find that pesky wabbit?
1. “That certainly sounds like corruption.”- it certainly does not sound like corruption. Concealing is not the same as altering the text. And it seems the Quran is referring to Jews and Christians that are contemporaries of Mahomet. We have many manuscripts that predate their times and they contain the text we have nowadays. So no candy for you.
2. “Because if you hide the scripture or if you replace the scripture with something, all of that will eventually find its way to the written form.”- uhmm…evidence, please?
3. “And that’s exactly what we find in your Bible…deletions, additions, forgeries, changes…all evidence of the corruption of your pathetic scripture.”- the Quran says to People of the Book “you have nothing until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel”. I guess Allah was unaware of these “deletions, additions, forgeries, changes”. If you think you know better than Allah, why are still Muslim? If the Bible is “pathetic Scripture”, then the Quran is wrong and it’s also pathetic scripture.
Brother Allan,
Since that farce quranandbibleblog mentioned you in the comments sections of Paul Williams’ blog in respect to this same issue of Matthew 2:23, I decided to share my refutation of his nonsense for your benefit. I wrote this for Ken Temple. Enjoy!
Ken,
Let me further help you refute the Muslim commenter who pretended to be responding to your points by simply stating the obvious, i.e., we do not know for certain what Matthew was referring to since the wording “what was SPOKEN by the PROPHETS,” indicates he didn’t have a single prophecy in mind, but what the prophets taught as a whole. I will do so by obliterating the following claim for you Ken:
BEGIN
Zacharias also admits that if “Matthew” had Isaiah 11:1 in mind, then he was simply “making a play” on the word “netser”.[14] Based on this, he also admits that:
“[in] this regard, Isa 11:1 as the origin suffers from the same pitfall as all of the other options – there is no one-to-one correspondence.”[15]
So, this brings us back to the main point which I raised in my previous response to Ruhl. There is simply no such “prophecy” about the Messiah being called “Nazarene” anywhere in the Tanakh. Appealing to the author’s “wordplay” only shows that he was appealing to the “theme” (as Ruhl also admitted), but there is no evidence that Isaiah had the same theme in mind! Ruhl will be hard-pressed to prove that Isaiah was speaking about the town of Nazareth when prophesying about the “branch” from the line of Jesse!
END
Let’s have fun at this Muslim’s expense shall we?
He claims that Isaiah did not have the same “theme” in mind, which I take to mean that the prophet didn’t view the Messiah’s being rejected and looked down upon by others due to what appeared to be his unassuming and humble circumstances, which is the point you were making about Jesus being a Nazarene, namely, that the people could not accept Jesus as the long awaited Messiah because of his background and upbringing. Let’s see if this is the case.
In the first place, we are told that the branch of Isaiah is from the line of Jesse, a clear Messianic prophecy since this connects him with the promises given to David:
“And there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.He shall delight in the fear of the LORD, and he shall not judge by what his eyes see, nor reprove by what his ears hear; BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS HE SHALL JUDGE the poor, and REPROVE WITH FAIRNESS for the meek of the earth. He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt about his waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. In that day there shall be a ROOT (sheresh) of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the peoples. For him shall the nations seek. And his rest shall be glorious. In that day the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, who shall be left, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.” Isaiah 11:1-10
Therefore, in order to properly understand the promises of Isaiah 11 we need to connect it with all that Isaiah says about the Davidic heir:
“Nevertheless there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He contemptuously treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen A GREAT LIGHT; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them THE LIGHT HAS SHINED… For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, to order it and to establish it with justice and with righteousness, from now until forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7
“In mercy THE THRONE shall be established; and one who judges and seeks justice and is diligent in righteousness shall sit on it in truth IN THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, judging” Isaiah 16:5
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Listen, so that your soul may live, and I will make an EVERLASTING COVENANT with you, EVEN THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID. See, I have given HIM AS A WITNESS TO THE PEOPLE, A LEADER AND COMMANDER TO THE PEOPLE. Surely you shall call a nation that you do not know, and nations that did not know you SHALL RUN TO YOU because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; for He has GLORIFIED YOU. Seek the LORD while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:1-7
So far what we see is that the root of Jesse is the child who is born and the son given to reign over David’s throne forever as the Mighty God, being the great light that shines forth from Galilee, the One whom the nations are to enter into a covenant with in order to experience salvation.
Secondly, Isaiah identifies the Davidic heir as the Root (sheresh), a word which connects this same King with the Arm/Servant of the Lord of Isaiah 53. We’ll start with 52:13 for context:
“See, MY SERVANT shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, HIS VUSAGE WAS SO MARRED, MORE THAN ANY MAN, AND HIS FORM MORE THAN THE SONS OF MEN; so he shall sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall consider. Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before Him as a tender plant and as A ROOT (sheresh) out of a dry ground. HE HAS NO FORM OR MAJESTY THAT WE SHOULD LOOK UPON HIM NOR APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN, A MAN OF SORROWS AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF. AND AS WE HID, AS IT WERE, OUR FSACES FROM HIM; HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM. Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was struck. His grave was assigned with the wicked, yet with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; He has put him to grief. If he made himself as an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the good pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the anguish of his soul and be satisfied. By his knowledge MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT shall justify the many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, thus he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Did you catch it Ken? The Branch of Isaiah 11, the Root of Jesse, is the same Arm/Root whom Isaiah says had no beauty that attracted him to the people, but was one who was despised and acquainted with sorrows, deemed to be God-stricken and forsaken by those that saw him. Sure sounds like Isaiah had the same theme that Matthew had in view!
There are further ties between the Davidic heir and Isaiah’s Servant. Recall that Isaiah said that the child born to rule over David’s throne was to be the great light that shines upon those living in darkness in 9:1-2, and the One through whom God establishes his everlasting covenant in 55:1-7. Compare that with the following texts:
“Here is MY SERVANT, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom My soul delights. I have put MY SPIRIT UPON HIM; he shall bring forth justice to the nations. He shall not cry out, nor lift up his voice, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and the smoking flax he shall not quench; HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUSTICE FAITHFULLY. He shall not be disheartened nor be discouraged, UNTIL HE HAS SET JUSTICE IN THE EARTH; and the coastlands shall wait for his law. Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes out of it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it: I the LORD have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You and appoint You FOR A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE, FOR A LIGHT OF THE NATIONS, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, AND THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS out of the prison house.” Isaiah 42:1-7
“Listen to me, O coastlands, and pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb; from the body of my mother He named me. He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden me and made me a select arrow; in His quiver He has hidden me. He said to me, ‘You are MY SERVANT, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity, yet surely the justice due to me is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.’ Now says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be HIS SERVANT, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (yet I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God is my strength), He says, ‘It is a light thing that you should be MY SERVANT to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make you A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS SO THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.’ Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, TO THE DESPISED ONE, TO THE ONE WHOM THE NATIONS ABHORS, to the servant of rulers: ‘Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD who is faithful and the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.’ Thus says the LORD: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you as A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE, TO RESTORE THE EARTH, to make them inherit the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those WHO ARE IN DARKNESS, ‘Show yourselves.’ They shall feed along the paths, and their pastures shall be in all desolate heights; they shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun strike them; for He who has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water He shall guide them.” Isaiah 49:1-10
Note the theme of the Servant being despised and abhorred again.
Now compare this with the following:
“The people who walked IN DARKNESS have seen A GREAT LIGHT; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them THE LIGHT HAS SHINED.” Isaiah 9:2
“… In that day there shall be a ROOT (sheresh) of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to THE PEOPLES. FOR HIM SHALL THE NATIONS SEEK. And his rest shall be glorious. ” Isaiah 11:10
So the Branch of Jesse who is endowed with God’s Spirit, just like the Servant in 42:1, and the child born is the light that draws in the Gentiles to a saving knowledge of God, thereby connecting him with the Servant of Isaiah.
So what we have here is Isaiah identifying the Branch as the Servant of Jehovah who is the child born to rule on David’s throne as the Mighty God, that is first despised and rejected by men, beaten beyond human semblance, and killed for the sins of mankind, and then raised and exalted by God to reign forever.
If you ask me this sure sounds exactly like what Matthew had in mind, and yet none of this agrees with Muhammad. In fact, Matthew even quotes Isaiah 53:4 and 42:1-4 in the following verses:
“When the evening came, they brought to Him many who were possessed with demons. And He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all who were sick, to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” Matthew 8:16-17
“But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them that they should not make Him known, to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will render judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not struggle nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He renders judgment unto victory; and in His name will the Gentiles trust.’” Matthew 12:15-21
Therefore, the testimony of Isaiah and Matthew condemns Muhammad as a false prophet and antichrist.
So what do you think Ken?
Hi Sam,
This is a good response. It takes into account a wide range of Scripture. Most Muslim apologists don’t do that and seem to go with whatever Tovia Singer says about the OT. Bye the way, I expose Singer in this recent post.
http://allanruhl.com/the-end-of-rabbi-tovia-singer/
Faiz seems to have a certain obsession with me. The guy has commented on my page dozens of times while I’ve commented a grand total of zero times on his website. I’m living in his head rent free.
Thanks again for the response.
God bless,
Allan Ruhl