Proposition # 8: Matthew 1:22, 23 applies the term Emmanuel, which means God with us, to Jesus. Compare Isaiah 7:14.
Response: The Jews had long hoped for the appearance of the Messiah who would, they thought, deliver them from Gentile domination.
Nearly 600 years before the Common Era the Jews lost their Davidic kingdom when they were overrun by Babylon. They returned to their homeland after Babylon fell, but the Davidic throne was not restored, nor were they free of their Gentile overlords.
About 160 years before Christ they temporarily established their freedom, but the Davidic throne was not restored at that time either.
To make matters worse, until John the baptist there had not been a true prophet of God since Malachi, a period of about 400 years.
Had God forgotten the Jews? Had God forgotten all the Messianic promises?
With the appearance of Jesus the Messiah the answer to these questions became self-evident, God was still with them! Compare this to Luke 7:16 where the raising of a great prophet is equated to God’s visitation.
[1] “Emmanuel” literally and simply means “God is with Us” and He is with us through His only begotten son, whose name is “Jesus.”