Endnote 4 – The First Christmas

Matthew uses a variation of “this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet” five times in the birth story: 1:23, 2:5–6, 2:15, 2:17–18 and 2:23. Often the claimed fulfillment ignores the original meaning of the text; for example, Matthew 2:15 cites Hosea 11:1, which clearly refers to the Exodus.