21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name - Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
-Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV)
The question is raised in connection to the birth of Christ as to what He was to be named. Upon a casual reading of the passages above it appears that it was prophesied that He is to be named “Immanuel”. However, in Matthew 1:21, 23 & 25 it indicates He was named “Jesus”. Is this a contradiction or failure to fulfill Isaiah? Not all all!
First let us understand that in the ancient world, particularly among God’s people, names had meaning and often reflected the character of the person or of events associated with one’s parents who named them. It was not unusual to have more than one name or for God to rename someone as well. For example, Abram was renamed Abraham, and Jacob was renamed Israel just to name two. The name of Israel went on to be used to refer to the entire nation of God’s people. Let’s look at some other passages that indicate what some of Jesus’ other names are:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. -Revelation 19:13 (ESV)
There are many other passages that give names or titles for Jesus:
· Alpha & Omega
· Amen
· Bread of Life
· Chief Shepherd
· Messiah
· Son of God
· Son of the Highest
· Holy One of God
· I Am
· King of Kings
· Lamb of God
· Prince of Peace…and there are several more!
Let’s go back to Isaiah for moment. Not only do we have the passage in 7:14 & 9:6 as listed above but there are two other places in Isaiah where the term “Immanuel” occurs.
and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” -Isaiah 8:8 (ESV)
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us. -Isaiah 8:10 (ESV)
In all three passages (7:14; 8:8; 8:10) the name or term “Immanuel” is used. The emphasis in all three focuses on the presence of God among His people.
It is this theology of the name that lies behind Matthew’s use of this passage of Isaiah. By linking Jesus with the concept of Immanuel in Isaiah Matthew is making a theological statement about the mission of the Christ child in the world. Matthew is making a statement about who Jesus is, and why His birth is so momentous.
It is interesting that Jesus is never called “Immanuel” outside of this one verse in Matthew that is quoted from Isaiah 7:14. The term does not occur anywhere else in the gospels being applied to Jesus and is nowhere to be found elsewhere in the New Testament. Yet Matthew does use the concept of “God with us” in one other place.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
The concept of “God with us” becomes a key theological structure for the entire Gospel of Matthew since it brackets the story of Jesus at the beginning and the end. “Immanuel” like other names and titles attributed to Jesus would characterize His character and what others would say about Him as opposed to his proper personal name, “Jesus” which also tells us that He is our deliverer & savior.
