The Nazarene

In addition to Matthew 2:23, where the term "Nazarene" is used, the Greek word for "Nazarene" (Nazoraios) appears in several other passages, often translated as "of Nazareth." Here are the relevant scriptures using the Cepher translation:

• "And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him and said unto them that were there, 'This fellow was also with Yahusha of Netsereth.'" (Mattithyahu 26:71, Cepher).

• "And when she saw Kepha warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, 'And you also were with Yahusha of Netsereth.'" (Marqus 14:67, Cepher).

• "Saying, 'Let us alone; what have we to do with you, Yahusha of Netsereth? Are you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of Elohiym!'" (Marqus 1:24; cf. Luqas 4:34, Cepher).

• "And when he heard that it was Yahusha of Netsereth, he began to cry out, and say, 'Yahusha, Son of David, have mercy on me.'" (Marqus 10:47, Cepher).

• "And he said unto them, 'Be not affrighted: Ye seek Yahusha of Netsereth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.'" (Marqus 16:6, Cepher).

• "And they told him, that Yahusha of Netsereth passes by." (Luqas 18:37, Cepher).

• "And he said unto them, 'What things?' And they said unto him, 'Concerning Yahusha of Netsereth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before Elohiym and all the people.'" (Luqas 24:19, Cepher).

• "They answered him, 'Yahusha of Netsereth.' Yahusha said unto them, 'I am he.' And Yahudah also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, 'I am he,' they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, 'Whom seek ye?' And they said, 'Yahusha of Netsereth.'" (Yahuchanon 18:5-7, Cepher).

• "Ye men of Yashar’el, hear these words; Yahusha of Netsereth, a man approved of Elohiym among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which Elohiym did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." (Ma’asiym 2:22, Cepher).

• "Then Kepha said, 'Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach of Netsereth rise up and walk.'" (Ma’asiym 3:6, Cepher).

• "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Yashar’el, that by the name of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach of Netsereth, whom ye crucified, whom Elohiym raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole." (Ma’asiym 4:10, Cepher).

• "For we have heard him say, that this Yahusha of Netsereth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Mosheh delivered us." (Ma’asiym 6:14, Cepher).

• "And I answered, 'Who are you, Adonai?' And he said unto me, 'I am Yahusha of Netsereth, whom you persecute.'" (Ma’asiym 22:8, Cepher).

• "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Yahudiym throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Netseriym." (Ma’asiym 24:5, Cepher).

• "I truly thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Yahusha of Netsereth." (Ma’asiym 26:9, Cepher).

The Branch

"Then a rod shall come forth out of the stem of Yishai, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." (Yeshayahu 11:1, Cepher). This is the only verse in the prophets where the Hebrew word nê·tzer (נֵצֶר) is used for "branch" in reference to the Messiah. Other prophecies of the Branch use different Hebrew words.

For example:

• "Behold, the days come, says Yahuah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." (Yirmeyahu 23:5, Cepher).

• "Hear now, O Yahusha the high priest, you and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch." (Zakaryahu 3:8, Cepher).

• "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Yeshayahu 53:2, Cepher).

• "Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Yahusha the son of Yahutsadaq, the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaks Yahuah Tseva'oth, saying, Behold the man whose name is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the Temple of Yahuah." (Zakaryahu 6:11-12, Cepher).

Zakaryahu prophesied of "a man whose name is the Branch." This is likely one of the prophets Matthew referred to when he wrote that Yahusha fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets: "He shall be called a Natsari (Nazarene)." (Mattithyahu 2:23).

Putting It All Together

Matthew used a wordplay in Matthew 2:23 to show that Yahusha was the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies about the Branch. It’s like saying, "The Natsari is the nê·tzer from Netseret." In other words, the Nazarene (Natsari) is the nê·tzer (Branch) from Nazareth (Netseret). Literally put, the Branch is the man from the City of the Branch.

From the Scriptures above, we can form the following conclusion:

Branch = a Man = Servant = Son of David = Temple Builder = King = Nazarene = Yahusha Ha’Mashiach = Messiah.

I am the vine; you are the Natsarim

HISTORY

For almost a century, the early believers in Yeshua the Messiah were culturally and ethnically the same as, and worshiped along side, mainstream Judaism. The first believers in the Messiah Yeshua were Jews. The Torah was of great importance and they kept its laws, keeping the Sabbath and preforming circumcision. They did not follow another religion, but remained in the framework of Judaism. This Messianic movement spread largely among the Jews to begin with, and for some time remained as a sect within Judaism, mostly known as the sect of the Natsarim (Acts 24:5). Thousands of Gentile "converts" and "God Fearers" joined themselves to the Nazarene sect. It is important to say something about the Natsarim, as documentation of their existence and beliefs gives us much insight on how the early believers in Messiah thought and lived. The 4th century "Church Father" Jerome, described the Natsarim as "those who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the Old Law" (Jerome; On. Is. 8:14). Yet another 4th century Church Father, Epiphanius, gave a more detailed description of them:

"We shall now especially consider heretics who..call themselves Natsarim; they are mainly Jews and nothing else. They make use not only of the New Testament, but they also use in a way the Old Testament of the Jews; for they do not forbid the books of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings... so that they are approved of by the Jews, from whom the Natsarim do not differ in anything, and they profess all the dogmas pertaining to the prescriptions of the Law and the customs of the Jews, except they believe in Messiah...They preach that there is but one God (YAHUAH), and His Son Yahusha the Messiah. But they are very learned in the Hebrew language; for they, like the Jews, read the whole Law, then the Prophets... They differ from the Jews because they believe in the Messiah, and from the Christians in that they are to this day bound to the Jewish rites, such as circumcision, the Sabbath, and other ceremonies. They have the Good news according to Matthew in its entirety in Hebrew. For it is clear that they still preserve this, in the Hebrew alphabet, as it was originally written." (Epiphanius; Panarion 29; translated from the Greek).There is evidence that the Nazarene Sect continued to exist until at least the 13th century. The Catholic writings of Bonacursus entitled "Against the Heretics", refers to the Natsrim, who were also called "Pasagini", Bonacursus says: "Let those who are not yet acquainted with them, please note how perverse their belief and doctrine are. First, they teach that we should obey the Law of Moses according to the letter- the Sabbath, and circumcision, and the legal precepts still being in force. Furthermore, to increase their error, they condemn and reject all the Church Fathers, and the whole Roman Church."

For nearly a century, the early believers in Yeshua the Messiah were culturally and ethnically aligned with mainstream Judaism, worshiping alongside their fellow Jews. The first followers of Yeshua were Jewish, and the Torah remained central to their lives. They adhered to its laws, including observing the Sabbath and practicing circumcision. These early believers did not form a new religion but remained within the framework of Judaism. This Messianic movement initially spread predominantly among Jews, and for a time, it existed as a sect within Judaism known as the Natsarim:

Acts 24:5 (Cepher) states:

"For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Yahudiym throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Natsariym."

Eventually, thousands of Gentiles, referred to as "converts" and "YAH-fearers," joined the Natsarim.

The existence and beliefs of the Natsarim provide valuable insight into how the early believers in the Messiah thought and lived. Jerome, a 4th-century "Church Father," described the Natsarim as "those who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the Old Law" (Jerome, On Isaiah 8:14). Another 4th-century "Church Father," Epiphanius, offered a more detailed description:

"We shall now especially consider heretics who... call themselves Natsarim; they are mainly Jews and nothing else. They make use not only of the New Testament but also of the Old Testament of the Jews; for they do not forbid the books of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings... so that they are approved of by the Jews, from whom the Natsarim do not differ in anything, and they profess all the dogmas pertaining to the prescriptions of the Law and the customs of the Jews, except they believe in Messiah... They preach that there is but one God (YAHUAH), and His Son Yahusha the Messiah. But they are very learned in the Hebrew language; for they, like the Jews, read the whole Law, then the Prophets... They differ from the Jews because they believe in the Messiah, and from the Christians in that they are to this day bound to the Jewish rites, such as circumcision, the Sabbath, and other ceremonies. They have the Good News according to Matthew in its entirety in Hebrew. For it is clear that they still preserve this, in the Hebrew alphabet, as it was originally written." (Epiphanius, Panarion 29, translated from the Greek).

Evidence suggests that the Nazarene sect continued to exist until at least the 13th century. Catholic writings, such as Bonacursus’ Against the Heretics, refer to the Natsarim, also known as "Pasagini." Bonacursus wrote:

"Let those who are not yet acquainted with them, please note how perverse their belief and doctrine are. First, they teach that we should obey the Law of Moses according to the letter—the Sabbath, and circumcision, and the legal precepts still being in force. Furthermore, to increase their error, they condemn and reject all the Church Fathers and the whole Roman Church."

The complete text of “Panarion 29” by Epiphanius

1,2 For this group did not name themselves Christians or with

Jesus’ own name, but “Nazoraeans.” (3) However, at that time all

Christians were called Nazoraeans in the same way. They also came to be called “Jessaeans” for a short while, before the disciples began to be called “Christians” at Antioch. (4) But they were called Jessaeans because of Jesse, I suppose, since David was descended from Jesse, but Mary from David’s line. This was in fulfillment of sacred scripture, for in the Old Testament the Lord tells David, ”Of the fruit of thy belly shall I set upon thy throne. ”

THE WAY 

"The Way" was an early term that referred to the movement of believers in Yahusha (Yeshua) the Messiah during the first century. This group, which included the Natsarim, followed Yahusha's teachings while maintaining their adherence to the Torah and Jewish customs. The name "The Way" originates from Yahusha's statement in John 14:6, where He declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." This reflects the belief that Yahusha provided the path to YAH through His teachings, life, and sacrificial death.

Acts 9:2 mentions Saul (later Paul) seeking permission to arrest members of "The Way," demonstrating that this movement was already recognized as a distinct sect within Judaism. These believers were set apart from mainstream Jews due to their faith in Yahusha as the Messiah. They also differed from emerging Christian groups in that they maintained Torah observance, Sabbath-keeping, and Jewish traditions.

Over time, as the term "Christian" became more widely used (first in Antioch, as noted in Acts 11:26), "The Way" became less common. However, in its early years, "The Way" signified the movement's deep roots in Jewish tradition, reflecting the commitment of Yahusha's followers to continue the path He had shown, grounded in the Torah.

Yahusha practiced what could be called First Temple Judaism, which focused on pure worship of Yahuah as outlined in the Torah and the prophetic teachings. This form of worship emphasized Yahuah's commandments, the central role of the Temple, and the covenant with His people. As Second Temple Judaism became more influenced by oral traditions and divisions (e.g., the Pharisees and Sadducees), Yahusha's followers, including the Natsarim, sought to return to the original Way of Yahuah.

The Natsarim—followers of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach—emerged as those committed to the original teachings of Yahuah. They emphasized Yahuah’s Name, His Covenant, and obedience to the Torah, which Yahusha fulfilled but did not abolish (Matthew 5:17). The Natsarim upheld the Torah and Yahusha's teachings, rejecting rabbinic traditions that deviated from Yahuah's instructions.

Distinct from both mainstream Judaism and early Roman Christian groups, the Natsarim faithfully observed the Torah, the Sabbath, and Yahuah's appointed Feast Days. They believed that all Scripture was unified under one Law and that Yahusha embodied Yahuah’s Word through His life.

Despite marginalization due to Roman persecution and the growing influence of the Roman Church, the Natsarim remained faithful to Yahuah's commandments and rejected the incorporation of pagan customs into the Church. Their dedication to Torah observance and Yahusha's teachings set them apart, and they continued to walk in the original Covenant.

The Natsarim represent the original Way that Yahusha and His followers lived by—rooted in the Torah, unified under one Law, and devoted to Yahuah's commandments, which were inscribed in their hearts by the indwelling of His Spirit.

John 14:6  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." 

• What is the way? Ps 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law (Torah) of YAHUAH! 

• And what is the truth? Ps 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law (Torah) is truth. 

• And what is life? Pr 13:14 The law (Torah) of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 

• So what is the Torah? Pr 7:2 Keep my commands and live, And my law (Torah) as the apple of your eye.