...never meant to be prophecies? In so many occasions while reading the gospel of Matthew, we are confronted with passages from which the reader would conclude that Jesus is like Moses. However, detailed analysis would reveal otherwise:
1) Out of Egypt:
Matthew (2:15):”He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." “
This is in relation to
Hosea, chapter 1:”
1 When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms;”
As we can see, that is not a messianic prophecy. It identifies the son as being the Israelite people, then it goes on “The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals….” Which, in conclusion, we can safely say that the author of Matthew ripped the passage out of context and labeled it as a prophecy.
Furthermore, it should be noted that none of the other gospels mentioned this.
The reason why Matthew invented such thing is to provide some parallels between Moses and Jesus. Just like Moses was called out of Egypt, Jesus was also.
2) The slaughter of Children
Matthew, chapter 2:”
16 When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
17 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more."”
Matthew is quoting Jeremiah:
Jeremiah, chapter 31:”
15 Thus says the LORD: In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.
16 Thus says the LORD: Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward, says the LORD, they shall return from the enemy's land.
17 There is hope for your future, says the LORD; your sons shall return to their own borders.
18 I hear I hear Ephraim pleading: You chastised me, and I am chastened; I was an untamed calf. If you allow me, I will return, for you are the LORD, my God.”
When examined, we also conclude that there is no messianic prophecy here:
1) It is talking about the deportation of the 10 tribes of Israel.
Rachel was the mother of Joseph, on the other hand Leah was the mother of Judah and the son of Joseph was Ephraim. Also, we need to note that the name Israelite was often used to denote to the 10 lost tribes of Israel. We conclude from this that Judah and his descendents were associated with Bethlehem, not Ephraim; therefore, the descendents of Judah were the children of Leah, not Rachel.
2) The verses above specifically say that the children are in the land of the enemy.
3) It is clearer once we examine verse 17, your sons shall return to their own borders.
4) Ramah is about 6 miles north of Jerusalem while Bethlehem is also about 6 miles south of Jerusalem which shows that the Geography doesn’t fit.
It should be noted also that the alleged massacre cl
1) Out of Egypt:
Matthew (2:15):”He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." “
This is in relation to
Hosea, chapter 1:”
1 When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms;”
As we can see, that is not a messianic prophecy. It identifies the son as being the Israelite people, then it goes on “The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals….” Which, in conclusion, we can safely say that the author of Matthew ripped the passage out of context and labeled it as a prophecy.
Furthermore, it should be noted that none of the other gospels mentioned this.
The reason why Matthew invented such thing is to provide some parallels between Moses and Jesus. Just like Moses was called out of Egypt, Jesus was also.
2) The slaughter of Children
Matthew, chapter 2:”
16 When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
17 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more."”
Matthew is quoting Jeremiah:
Jeremiah, chapter 31:”
15 Thus says the LORD: In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.
16 Thus says the LORD: Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward, says the LORD, they shall return from the enemy's land.
17 There is hope for your future, says the LORD; your sons shall return to their own borders.
18 I hear I hear Ephraim pleading: You chastised me, and I am chastened; I was an untamed calf. If you allow me, I will return, for you are the LORD, my God.”
When examined, we also conclude that there is no messianic prophecy here:
1) It is talking about the deportation of the 10 tribes of Israel.
Rachel was the mother of Joseph, on the other hand Leah was the mother of Judah and the son of Joseph was Ephraim. Also, we need to note that the name Israelite was often used to denote to the 10 lost tribes of Israel. We conclude from this that Judah and his descendents were associated with Bethlehem, not Ephraim; therefore, the descendents of Judah were the children of Leah, not Rachel.
2) The verses above specifically say that the children are in the land of the enemy.
3) It is clearer once we examine verse 17, your sons shall return to their own borders.
4) Ramah is about 6 miles north of Jerusalem while Bethlehem is also about 6 miles south of Jerusalem which shows that the Geography doesn’t fit.
It should be noted also that the alleged massacre cl