What is the meaning of Matthew 2:19-23?

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” ²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:19-23 NIV)

The Return to Nazareth

We see here Christ’s return from Egypt to the land of Israel. Egypt may serve as a temporary place to stay or seek refuge, but it’s not a place to live permanently. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, so He needed to return to them. Notice:

I. What led to His return—Herod’s death

Herod died not long after the murder of the infants; some think it was less than three months later. Divine justice acted swiftly! Note this: Herods must die. Proud tyrants, who terrorized the powerful and oppressed the faithful in the land of the living, must eventually face their day and descend into the grave. So why should you fear a mortal man who will die? (Isaiah 51:12-13). Especially when, at death, their envy and hatred perish (Ecclesiastes 9:6), and they cease causing trouble (Job 3:17)—and are punished. The guilt of shedding innocent blood brings swift judgment.

Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus gives a grim account of Herod’s death (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 17, Chapters 6-7): Herod was consumed by a disease that burned him internally with unbearable pain. He was insatiably hungry, suffered from colic, gout, and dropsy, and had such a terrible odor from his illness that no one could bear to be near him. His cruelty became worse as he lashed out in his agony, even ordering the execution of his own son. He also imprisoned many nobles and commanded their execution upon his death, though this was later prevented. See the kind of people who have opposed Christ and His followers! Many who persecuted Christianity first stripped themselves of all humanity—like Nero and Domitian.

II. Heaven’s orders for their return and Joseph’s obedience (Matthew 2:19-21)

God had sent Joseph to Egypt, and he stayed there until God instructed him to return. In all our decisions, we should ensure our path is clear and that God is leading us. We shouldn’t move one way or another without His guidance. These instructions came to Joseph through an angel. Note that wherever we are, if we maintain our relationship with God, He will maintain His with us. No place can block God’s grace. Angels came to Joseph in Egypt, to Ezekiel in Babylon, and to John on Patmos.

1. The angel informed Joseph of Herod’s death and the death of others who sought to kill the Child: “They are dead, who sought the Child’s life.” They are dead, but the Child lives. Sometimes, persecuted believers live to see the graves of their persecutors. The church’s King weathered the storm, as the church has done many times since. Herod and his son Antipater likely worked together to target Jesus, despite their mutual jealousy. If Herod killed Antipater before his own death, then the way was cleared. God’s judgment was evident when one wicked person was used to bring down another.
2. Joseph was directed to return to Israel and obeyed immediately, not making excuses about his comfortable life in Egypt or the difficulties of traveling, especially if this happened in the middle of winter. God’s people follow wherever He leads them. If we viewed this world as our Egypt—a place of bondage and exile—and heaven as our true home, we would just as readily leave when called as Joseph left Egypt.

III. Further direction from God on where to settle in Israel (Matthew 2:22-23)

God could have given Joseph all the instructions at once, but He revealed His plans gradually, keeping Joseph dependent on Him and attentive to further guidance. These instructions came to Joseph in a dream, likely through an angel, as before. While God could have spoken directly through Jesus, the Child remained silent and acted like any other child, hiding His divine knowledge and power as He grew in wisdom.

1. Joseph was warned not to settle in Judea (Matthew 2:22). He may have thought Jesus, born in Bethlehem, should be raised there. However, he feared for the Child’s safety because Archelaus, Herod’s son, now ruled Judea. Though Archelaus ruled only part of the kingdom, the rest being divided among others, he was still a threat. Enemies against Christ and His church rise one after another, maintaining their hostility. God does not expose His people to unnecessary danger unless it serves His glory or tests their faith.
2. Joseph was directed to settle in Galilee (Matthew 2:22). Galilee, ruled by Philip, was a quieter and safer region. God’s providence often provides His people with a refuge from storms. When one place becomes unbearable, another is made more peaceful. Galilee, far to the north, was separated from Judea by Samaria. Joseph was sent to Nazareth, a city in the territory of Zebulun, where Mary had lived when she conceived Jesus (Luke 1:26-27). It was a fitting place for them to settle, surrounded by their relatives. Jesus became known as “Jesus of Nazareth,” though this title became a stumbling block for many Jews who doubted any good could come from Nazareth.

Jesus’ stay and life in Nazareth fulfilled the prophetic word: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” A threefold explanation is given for the phrase, He shall be called a Nazarene.

1. Some interpret it as He shall be called a Nazarite. The Nazarites were a religious and distinct group among the Jews who avoided wine and stayed away from dead bodies to avoid ritual impurity. While Christ was holy, He was not a Nazarite in the strict sense, as He drank wine and touched the dead.
2. Others interpret it as He shall be called a Netzer, meaning branch, referring to Isaiah 11:1, where He is called the branch from the root of Jesse. Christ was the true branch the prophets often spoke about.
3. Others believe the term Nazarene refers to the city of Nazareth, where Christ was conceived and spent much of His life. He shall be called a Nazarene because He lived in Nazareth.  As a result, His disciples were referred to as the sect of the Nazarenes, meaning followers of the one who lived in Nazareth. Christ Himself embraced the title, saying, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting (Acts 22:8).

To be called a Nazarene was an insult, implying someone unworthy of respect or trust, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth (John 1:46)?’ This term was first used by Christ’s enemies to demean Him and stuck as a nickname for Him and His followers. This fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah being despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:2-3) and considered an alien among His people (Psalm 69:7-8). Let us not be discouraged by insults for our faith, remembering that our Savior was also called a Nazarene.