Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 2:23

"and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene." — Matthew 2:23 (ASV)

Our Lord was called “Netzar,” The Branch. Probably this is the prophecy referred to, for “Nazareth” signifies sprouts or shoots. Possibly some unrecorded prophecy, often repeated by the prophets and known to all the people, is here alluded to.

Certainly He has long been called a “Nazarene,” both by Jews and violent unbelievers. Spitting on the ground in disgust, many a time has His fierce adversary hissed out the name, “Nazarene,” as if it were the climax of contempt. Yet, O Nazarene, You have triumphed! “Jesus of Nazareth,” the greatest name among men.

O Lord, my King, as You are dishonored by Your foes, so shall You be adored among Your friends, with all their heart and all their soul. While others call You, “Nazarene,” we call You Jesus—Jehovah, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:

Galilee was despised, but Nazareth was thought to be the worst part of Galilee. Netzar is a word in the Hebrew signifying a sprout or branch, and Nazareth apparently comes from the same root.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

This is the name commonly given to our Lord in the Old Testament. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Jesus was the sprout, or the shoot, out of the withered stem of Jesse.

When the dynasty of David was like a tree cut down, and only the stem of it left, there sprang up out of it the Netzar, the Nazarene; so he is found dwelling in a city that is called by that name, and he also is called a Nazarene.

And the name clings to him to this day, there are those who will call him by no name but "the Nazarene." There was one who threatened to crush the Nazarene, but when he was dying he had to cry, "O Nazarene, you have triumphed!"; and the Nazarene will always do so.

He shall be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Hallelujah!