The Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled
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The apostles throughout the New Testament appealed to two areas of the life of Jesus of Nazareth to establish His Messiahship. One was the resurrection and the other was fulfilled messianic prophecy.[1]
Luke 24 (v. 27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (v. 44) Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” (v. 46) “….Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day….”
Let us now see for ourselves as we look at many of the prophecies that were fulfilled!
In Matthew 2, the scribes tell Herod with great assurance that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.
Matt 2 (v. 4) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (v. 5) So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: (v. 6) But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.
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The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. |
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Prophecy given in the Old Testament: |
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament: |
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Micah 5 (v. 2) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, thought you are little among the thousands of Judah; Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. |
Luke 2 (v. 4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee….into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…. (v. 5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. (v. 7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son…. |
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Matt 2 (v. 1) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…. |
It was well known among the Jews that the Christ would come from Bethlehem (see John 7:42). It is only fitting that Bethlehem, meaning the house of bread, should be the birthplace of the one who is the Bread of Life.[2]
John 7 (v. 41) ….but some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?” (v. 42) “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
Jewish source: “Targum Isaiah” on Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a damsel is with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.[3]
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The Messiah would be called Immanuel. |
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Prophecy given in the Old Testament: |
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament: |
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Isa 7 (v. 14) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. |
Matt 1 (v. 21) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus…. (v. 22) Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: (v. 23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” |
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Isa 9 (v. 6) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given….And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. |
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Jewish source: The Jewish scholar “Maimonides,” in a letter to the community of Yemen, denounces a purporter of the Messiahship by writing: “The Messiah will be a very great Prophet, greater than all the Prophets…. The Creator, blessed be He, will single him out with features wherewith He had not singled out Moses….”[4]
Christ compared to Moses:
(1) He was delivered from a violent death in His infancy.
Exod 1 (v. 22) So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying: “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river….” (v. 2) So the woman conceived and bore a son…. (v. 3) But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes….daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
Matt 2 (v. 1) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king…. (v. 16) Then Herod….was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
(2) He was willing to become Redeemer of His people (Exod 3:10).
Exod 3 (v. 10) “Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Exod 32 (v. 31) Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have sinned a great sin…. (v. 32) Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
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The Messiah would be a great Prophet. |
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Prophecy given in the Old Testament: |
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament: |
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Deut 18 (v. 17) And the Lord said to me…. (v. 18) I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. |
Matt 21 (v. 10) And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying: “Who is this?” (v. 11) So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” |
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John 6 (v. 14) Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said: “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” |
John 4 (v. 19) The woman said to Him: “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.”
Kligerman says, “The use of the term ‘prophet’ by the Jews of Jesus day shows not only that they expected the Messiah to be a prophet in accordance with the promise in Deuteronomy 18, but also that He who performed these miracles was indeed the Promised Prophet.”[5]
Luke 7 (v. 16) Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying: “A great prophet has risen up among us;” and “God has visited His people.”
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He was to enter Jerusalem on a Donkey. |
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Prophecy given in the Old Testament: |
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament: |
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Zech 9 (v. 9) Rejoice greatly, Oh daughter of Zion! Shout, Oh daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. |
Matt 21 (v. 1) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem….Jesus sent two disciples, (v. 7) They brought the donkey and the colt…. and set Him on them. (v. 8) And a very great multitude….cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (v. 9) Then the multitudes who went before…. cried out, saying: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (see also Luke 19:29-38) |
In the next few prophecies we find that in both prophecy & fulfillment the following:
(1) Betrayed by a friend.
(2) The price of 30 pieces (not 29).
(3) The value of silver and (not gold).
(4) Thrown down and (not placed) down.
(5) In the House of the Lord.
(6) Money used to buy potter’s field.
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The Messiah would be sold and betrayed. |
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Prophecy given in the Old Testament: |
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament: |
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Psm 41 (v. 9) Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. |
Matt 26 (v. 21) Now as they were eating, He said: “….one of you will betray Me.” (v. 25) Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.” |
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Psm 55 (v. 12) For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me, who has magnified himself against me, then I could hide from him. (v. 13) But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. |
Matt 26 (v. 48) Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying: “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” (v. 49) Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. (v. 50) And Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. |
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Zech 11 (v. 12) Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. |
Matt 26 (v. 14) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (v. 15) and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” |
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Zech 11 (v. 13) And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.
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Matt 27 (v. 3) Then Judas His betrayer…. brought back the thirty pieces of silver…. (v. 4) saying, “I have….betrayed innocent blood.” (v. 5) Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed…. (v. 6) But the chief priests…. (v. 7) ….took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. |
References:
1. Josh McDowell, (1979). Evidence that demands a verdict (vol.1), p.141, Here’s Life Publishers, Inc.
2. Matthew Henry, (1972). Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (vols.I&II), p.1414, Sovereign Grace Publishers.
3. J.F. Stenning, (1949). The Targum of Isaiah, p.24, Clarendon Press.
4. A. Cohen, (1927). The Teachings of Maimonides, p.221, George Routledge & Sons, Ltd.
5. Aaron Kligerman, (1957). Messianic Prophecy in the Old Testament, p.22-23, Zondervan Publishing House.
Image #1: Review and Herald Publishing Assoc, (n.d.). The Road to Emmaus. Retrieved from http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/food-for-thought/41617/14
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