Matthew 1: 18 – 25
Is His Name ‘Immanuel’ Or ‘Jesus’?
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Most of you know that Matthew was the first to put down on paper all the things he heard and saw the Lord Jesus Christ do. A little over 5 years later the disciple Mark wrote down all that the apostle Peter remembered about the Lord. Then approximately 10 years after this the disciple Luke, who was a companion and fellow traveler with the apostle Paul had returned with him to Jerusalem and personally interviewed all the eyewitnesses. This is his recording of what happened. We read in chapter 2 this, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
I am going to give you some information that I want you to consider and check out for yourselves. In the book of Acts chapter 17 we read this, “10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.’ So, I want you to be like these Christians and not only check out whatever things I tell you but also whatever anyone else teaches you no matter how smooth and persuasive they are.
Have you ever heard the term ‘Bo Mitzvah’? The Jewish culture recognizes boys with their entry into manhood with a big celebration. Girls are recognized as women when they turn 12. Their celebration is called a ‘Bot Mitzvah’.
So, what am I getting at? Well, I am suggesting that Mary was around 12 years old when she was engaged to Joseph. This suggestion may be a shock to you but listen to my reasoning. People did not live then as long as we can today. Usually the end of one’s life was in the 40’s. How someone in their twenty’s being in mid-life hit you? You can still see it
in their culture of the mid-east and eastern Europe today. Young girls under 25 are attractive. After they hit their late 20’s they seem to age significantly in their whole physical outlook.
Most of the attractive girls are taken early in marriage. Well, you can say that she wasn’t that attractive so it wasn’t until she was older then she blossomed and was desired by Joseph. That’s a possibility but by the way Joseph hungered to be with her physically and to his apparent death, leads me to believe otherwise. You see as we read in this portion of Scripture – ‘25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.
Joseph did have the opportunity to know Mary in a physical way, but he did not ‘know her’ until the Lord Jesus was born. Afterwards the two had 4 sons and at least two daughters. Does this point surprise you?
Mary brought forth her ‘firstborn Son’. Okay, so now look with me at the Gospel of Mark chapter 6, “ 1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.”
The Word of God says that our Lord Jesus Christ had brothers and sisters. Joseph did not touch Mary until she brought forth her ‘Firstborn Son’ – our Lord Jesus Christ. God did not forbid Joseph and Mary from intimacy the rest of their lives. Some denominations have changed the word of God to fit their beliefs instead of just believing what God has said. That is a no-no as Revelation chapter 22 points out.
Before the wedding ceremony Joseph was told by Mary that she was pregnant. She told him the whole story about how the Holy Spirit had done it. Now millions of women lived and died since Adam and Eve. Now what would you have done if you were Joseph?
It says that he was giving this a lot of thought. ‘Oh, that’s a good one Mary.’
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Do you see some significant things going on here? The angel spoke and recognized Joseph as one from the royal line of David. However, like we read just previously in Matthew’s genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ we come across a guy by the name of Jeconiah - 11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. He also went by the name of Coniah. This guy was so wicked that the Lord wound up doing this which we read about in the book of Jeremiah chapter 22, “24 “As I live,” says the LORD, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return. 28 “Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol— A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, and cast into a land which they do not know? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD! 30 Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.’”
Because of this guy Coniah, Joseph, who was a direct descendent of king David, should have been on the throne ruling as king of Israel instead of hammering wood in his carpenters shop. You will notice that his mind was more focused in the young woman whom he was in love with the relief that she was not unfaithful to him. In fact he loved her so much that he was ready to end the engagement secretly so Mary would not be stoned to death.
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Now here is another point which I think many have not undertaken to think about. I believe that this question is very significant and it is this, ‘The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be called ‘Immanuel’. But we read that here the angel tells Joseph to call the baby ‘Jesus’. They are not the same so how do we combine the two?’
In looking into this my mind was blown away. I hope yours will also. We find out about Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 8 of his book.
1 Moreover the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 2 And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; 4 for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.” 5 The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 “ Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty— The king of Assyria and all his glory; He will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel. 9 “ Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.” 11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “ Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 13 The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. 14 He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.” 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. 18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion. 19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 21 They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
1 Moreover the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 2 And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”
It use to be when a couple got married they had to have two witnesses to verify that their marriage vows were performed. This is how we got our Best Man and Maid of Honor. Didn’t know that useless fact before, did you? Why do we need two witnesses? I can hear you, ‘Because God said so.’ You are right. You get a cookie. In fact in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 19 we read this, “15 “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”
It shall be established. This is why our Precious Lord instructed Isaiah to obtain two witnesses. In front of these two guys please notice that he was to pull out a large poster board to write down the information the Lord gave him. He told him to use a ‘man’s pen’ not just some sissy pretty designer pen but a man’s pen, one that works, not like the kind you find in banks and post offices.
Isaiah was to record the name of his unborn child. The child would be a sign or clear description of the Lord’s future Judgment on the nations of Israel and Judah. Like a marriage, the Lord’s message was to be publically declared and displayed. Please note at this time though, there is no mention that this name would be given to Isaiah’s son.
Like a billboard, you can picture Isaiah hanging this sign outside his house. For all that walked by saw the message, ‘haste the spoil, speed the prey’
3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; 4 for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.”
Now, the description of Isaiah’s wife is new. The prophet had a son already born by the name of She-ar-jash-ub which means ‘a remnant shall return’. Please note that Isaiah’s wife is called a ‘prophetess’. There can be a few possibilities why she was so called this. For one thing, she could have been a prophet like Isaiah, or she is called this because she is the wife of a prophet, and the last reason which I believe is the correct position, is that, she is called a prophetess, because her child will be the first part of the Lord’s prophecy of the near fulfillment of Judgment and Hope.
As a strong message to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem the word of the Lord declared that before this child can say mommy or daddy, the two troublemaker kings of Israel and Syria will be taken out of the picture.
5 The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 “ Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty— The king of Assyria and all his glory; He will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.
In these verses our Holy Loving and Righteous God declares a comparison of His Love compared to the way of the world. Right away I see something that is extremely important and can be missed. Please note the Lord’s words – ‘Inasmuch as these people’. These people are not only the Syrians but also Israelites. Also, please see the significance of the Lord’s remarks ‘Remaliah’s son’. This guy who is the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, is not even the Lord’s recognition of the guys name. Our Lord has at this point made a decision that these Jews were no longer even recognized as His ‘Elect’. They are just thrown into the pot with others.
‘The rivers of Shiloah that flow softly’ sounds sweet but whose message is one of rejection. The waters of Siloam ran from the spring Gihon into Jerusalem. This place was the lifeblood of the city of Jerusalem and was a place where the kings of Jerusalem were coroneted as we read in the book of 1 Kings chapter 1, “28 Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king took an oath and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!” 32 And King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 33 The king also said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 34 There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. 39 Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.”
Our Holy Father has cared for His people in an amazing way. He protected them. He blessed them with success. He gave them wisdom and insight to create new implements to make their lives easier and He let the other countries of the world, that if you mess with the apple of His eye, you mess with Him and you will be severely dealt with. So, how does He get thanked. He gets rejected. Amazing.
In these verses He informs the Jews that since they rejected the peaceful river of His Love then they will receive the flood waters of foreign nations running over them.
Please also take note of the last portion of verse 8, ‘And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.’
Now, who is Immanuel? You might say, ‘Well, it is referring to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’. In a way it does because in truth it is His Land. However, what have we been talking about all this time? We have been talking about Isaiah’s son. I have always had the problem that Isaiah’s son and the future prophecy of the Messiah did not match up right. We see that Isaiah’s son was called Maher-shalal-hash-baz and the future son is called Immanuel. Are you ready to be blown away. Isaiah’s son is also called Immanuel. Let’s see how.
So, how does this fit in? Remember in prophecy there are usually two applications. One will happen in the near future and another will occur later on. Our Lord Is Perfect again. The first virgin is a young married woman [Alma] which is referring to Isaiah’s wife. Her son will be a sign. The future virgin [Bethula] will be the woman referred to in Genesis chapter 3.
You might be saying, ‘Now I am really confused’ How can a child of Isaiah or a future child be a sign to Ahaz?
God has offered to be with Ahaz. The name Immanuel means ‘God with us’ The name of Isaiah’s son is Maher-shalal-hash-baz which means ‘haste the spoil, speed the prey’ So, what do they both have to do. They do not match. So, how can both boys be an answer to Ahaz and a sign for us.
Again, May God be Glorified. He Is Amazing how He Is able to accomplish the impossible. You see Isaiah’s son was also called ‘Immanuel’ or ‘God Is with us’ This son of Isaiah is being referred to by the Lord in chapter 8 and it says this, “ 1 Moreover the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 2 And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; 4 for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.” 5 The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 “ Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty— The king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel. 9 “ Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing. Speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”
Everyone puts the emphasis on just the Messiah. We overlook the fact that our Holy Supreme God is calling the son of Isaiah ‘Immanuel’ also. This child will be a sign to Ahaz and to the people of Jerusalem that even though war rages against them, ‘God is with them’ still. The future Immanuel will not be born for hundred of years. The Immanuel or ‘God with Us’ we read here is a child who is going through the war with Assyria. We read here that our Majestic Holy One is speaking both about the son of Isaiah and the future Messiah our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The answer is that because Ahaz refused God, Our Holy Ruler rejected him. The scheme that Ahaz thought would be successful alternative to defeat Israel and Syria in making a deal with Assyria will not work. The city of Jerusalem will be attacked as described. The boy as an infant will be a sign to Ahaz that God Is with them, the remnant of faithful believers in Jerusalem, not Ahaz and his cronies, for Isaiah’s son will go through all the bitter end results of a war, that is why we have read in chapter 7 the verses of eating war rations ‘churds’ and ‘honey’. Our Lord Is also able to show or point out that Isaiah’s son will be a sign of Judgment because if Ahaz would not accept Immanuel – God with us, then he will get Maher-shalal-hash-baz or a call to the nations to haste to take the spoil, and take speed to prey on the nation of Judah.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was as you know ‘God with us’. He was God’s promised ‘Anointed Holy One.’ He was a sign that God Is in full control and wants to interact in peace with mankind. Some of us blessed ones have had our eyes open to recognize Adoni Yeshua. Like the brazen serpent used by Adoni Yahweh to heal those Israelites bitten by serpents to live as they looked up upon it. We also look to our Lord Who paid the ultimate cost to redeem us and that being His pouring out of His blood and His ultimate death on that tree. We look to Him as the sign of Salvation. And now from this point on we know that ‘God Is with us’ forever.
Yet sadly as Luke writes in chapter 16 not all will look or recognize God’s sign - 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[a] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
