By applying this quotation from Hosea to Jesus, Matthew identifies Him as the true Israel, the fulfillment of all the types, shadows, and promises of the Old Testament. In Abraham, God said, all nations will be blessed; Jesus begins his preaching with the Beatitudes, and ends with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Joseph was sold by his brothers and rose to the right hand of Pharaoh; Jesus was sold by a follower, deserted by his disciples, and rejected by His brothers, but rose to the right hand of God. Moses delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt; Jesus set people free from the power of disease, demons, and death, as well as the dominion of sin. Israel spent forty years in the wilderness, sinning repeatedly; Jesus spent forty days in the desert, tempted but without sin. Joshua led God’s people into the Promised Land; Jesus (the Greek form of the name “Joshua”) leads us into the New Heaven and the New Earth. Samson, chained between pillars in a pagan temple (Judges 16:25) conquered by his self-sacrificing death; Jesus, nailed upon a Roman cross, defeated Satan and his pagan servants. To David was given the promise of an eternal kingdom for his descendants; Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, received the acclamation, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” and asserted that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (28:18) Solomon drew seekers from far away by his wisdom; Jesus attracted huge crowds through his teaching, and identified Himself as Wisdom itself (Matthew 11:19). Sinful priests offered sacrifices in the Temple; sinless Jesus, true priest and temple of God, offered Himself once for all as a full-perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for our sins. Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22); Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14). Elisha parted the waters of Jordan in the power of his mentor Elijah (2 Kings 2:8); Jesus walked on water by his own power. Unlike barren Israel, Jesus is the True Vine, filled with life for all His branches. May we constantly abide in Him by faith, bearing fruit to His glory and that of the Father!