Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Matthew 2:19-23
by: Jerry Johnson.
We can see the dual precepts of obedience and fulfillment in accordance with God’s sovereign plan. Joseph, received a third dream—this time with the command to bring Mary and Jesus back to Israel since Herod had died. This section does not quote a specific prophecy that Jesus would be raised a Nazarene. Perhaps Jesus was going to be despised like people from Nazareth were back then (John 1:46; 7:42, 52). Or maybe Matthew was emphasizing Jesus’ being a “branch” from the root of Jesse (Isaiah 1:11). In either case, Joseph obediently followed divine instruction.