“He was despised and rejected by men;”
Isaiah 53:3

The last prophecy written in Matthew 2 is also very interesting. Let’s take a look:

Matthew 2:23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

This seems straight-forward. Jesus was commonly known as Jesus of Nazareth. However, it’s not quite that simple. You see, there is nothing written in the Old Testament about this. What’s even more interesting is that Matthew says this was “spoken by the prophets” – in the plural. Could this be an error?

Some think it refers to Jesus having been a Nazirite, like Samson, who took a vow to abstain from alcohol or unclean food and to stay away from dead things. Oh, and to keep from cutting his hair. The problem with that is it is spelled different. It’s not the same word. Besides, Jesus didn’t keep those vows, at least some of them.

The answer, like the last one, is that Jesus fulfilled a general sense that the prophets spoke of. Just as Rachel wept for her children who were no more, Jesus was a man whom people despised. And, and for some reason, the town of Nazareth was despised as was anyone who came from there. Even one of the Twelve made a disparaging comment:

John 1:45-46 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

At the end of the day, no one stood between the men who spit in Jesus’ face, beat him almost to death, and crucified him on a cross. Indeed, he was despised. He still it today.

He’s a Nazarene.

Father, what wonders you have in the pages of scripture! What more do you have in store for me? Amen!

Source: “The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy” p. 112-114