David Garland believes Matthew is making a word play on the word “nazarite.” By doing so, he is comparing Jesus to Samson. Like Samson, Jesus “was made holy to God from his mother’s womb (Judges 16:17) and was to save Israel from its enemies (Judges 13:5). Like Samson, Jesus is a specially consecrated person who will save his people. Like Samson, Jesus will save his people through his own death” (Reading Matthew, 31).
