Archive -> October 9, 2004
Is Jesus Emmanuel?
There is a verse in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) which is . . . attributed to the Messiah Jesus, but in reality this quote does not refer to him.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Emmanuel, the son of the Prophet Isaiah, had a few similarities with the Messiah Jesus, although they were born in two different eras of time. Emmanuel was a “Messiah” in his time because he was sent to deliver the House of David from the Kings of Syria and Israel (Isaiah 7:1-13). The last Israelite Prophet, Jesus was also a Messiah. Emannuel was born of a virgin mother name Majia and he was crucified. The Messiah Jesus was also born of a virgin birth and he was betrayed to be crucified, although he was not.
. . . If you read further you will see that:
| Emmanuel | Jesus |
| Ate butter and honey (Isaiah 7:15) | Ate meat (Luke 24:41-42) |
| Knew to refuse evil and choose good (Isaiah 7:15) | Was waxed strong, until his mission was shown unto him (Luke 1:80) |
| Shaved his beard (Isaiah 7:20) | Under Levitical Law was prohibited from shaving his beard (Revelation 1:14) |
| Lived in an area ruled by kings (Isaiah 7) | Was brought up amongst Pharisees, scribes, and Ceasar, not kings (Matthew 23:1-3) |
| Was to deliver the House of David | Was sent unto the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (Matthew 15:22-24, John 16:7) |
At this point, you can see the Messiah Jesus is not Emmanuel.
There are those who cite Matthew 1:23 as clear proof that the Messiah Jesus was to be called Emmanuel upon his birth.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel . . .
First of all, the Messiah Jesus was never called Emmanuel by name by anyone in his time. If you say that he was called Emmanuel in his lifetime, prove it to me, using scriptural quotes. The above verse which is being attributed to the Messiah Jesus was written by Matthew in the year 41 AD, hundreds of years after the Book of the Prophet Isaiah which was revealed in the year 732 BCE in Jerusalem. The truth is the verse in the Book of Matthew was written from the Book of Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14. Since these two writings are hundreds of years apart it was easy and covenient for the verse to be added as part of the Book of Matthew and say it is referring to the Mesiah Jesus. Bear in mind that the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the writings of men, not divine revelations.
Excerpted from The Wisemen by Dr. Malachi Z. York