for Emmanuel and Jesus are equivalent terms. — See notes on w. 22, 23. Nay, even if the ' in y\W be considered as merely the sign of the third person, still, as is frequently the case with Hebrew names, " GOD" must be understood, and here with especial force. — AM$, He) The pronoun avTog, in the nominative, is always emphatic ; here it is peculiarly so. In the oblique case, it is frequently a mere relative. — <su<sti, shall save) As often, there fore, as the words, " to save" " Saviour," " salvation," " salu tary,1" occur with reference to Christ, we ought to consider, that the name of JESUS is virtually mentioned. — rbv Xaov, AVTOU, His people) sc. Israel, and those who shall be added to the fold of Israel.2 — Aurov, His) and at the same time God's. — Cf. ch. ii. 6.
22. TO\JTO 81 oXov, ysyovsv iva, But the whole of this came to pass, that) The same phrase occurs in ch. xxvi. 56. There are many particulars, in which St Matthew observes that the event an nounced by the angel corresponded exactly with the prediction of Isaiah. (1.) A virgin pregnant and becoming a mother ; (2.) A male child (Cf. Rev. xii. 5); (3.) The Nomenclature of the child ; (4.) The Interpretation of the Name. — 7va TX^wSJj, that it might be fulfilled) The same phrase occurs in ch. ii. 15, 17, 23, iv. 14, viii. 17, xii. 17, xiii. 35, xxi. 4, xxvii. 9, 35. Those things have been fulfilled in Jesus, not only which He performed Himself (and which might therefore appear to the unbelieving to be open to suspicion), but those also which were done to Him by others. Wherever this phrase occurs, we are bound to regard and recognise the character and dignity of the Evangelists, and (however dull our own perception may be in the matter) to believe that they mention an event, not merely corresponding [accidentally] with some ancient prophecy, but one which in consequence thereof, and agreement therewith, could not have failed to occur at the commencement of the New Dispensation, on account of the Divine Truth which was pledged to its fulfilment. The evangelists, however, frequently quote pro-
1 Salutare — conducive to health, whether of body or soul : it is frequently difficult, sometimes impossible, to give at once the full and exact force of these words in an English translation. — (I. B.)
2 The gathering in of the Gentiles to the Church was at that time a mystery even to the angels. — Vers. Germ.