Tuesday, March 1, 2011

NT Use of OT Part 7: Literal Prophetic Fulfillment (2)

In my last entry I offered nine examples of Literal Prophetic Fulfillment of OT passages in the NT. Below are eleven more examples:

Matt 21:4-5 / Zech 9:9
"This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
    ‘SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
         "BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
         GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
         EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN."'"

As Jesus comes to Jerusalem prior to His death, Matthew indicates that Zech 9:9 is literally fulfilled. Jesus arrives people humbly on a donkey. Matthew does not quote the next verse, Zech 9:10, which speaks of the King’s "dominion . . . from sea to sea" and to "the ends of the earth." This will be fulfilled with Jesus’ second coming. Nevertheless, Zech 9:9 was literally fulfilled when Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey. This is a case of Literal Prophetic Fulfillment.

John 12:15 / Zech 9:9
"FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT."

Like the case with Matt 21:5 above, John 12:15 indicates that Jesus fulfilled Zech 9:9 when He entered Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt.

Luke 2:32 / Isa 9:2; 42:6; 49:6
"A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
         And the glory of Your people Israel."

Simeon quoted a truth found in Isa 9:2; 42:6; and 49:6 that an individual (a Child and a Servant) would come who would restore Israel and bring revelation to the Gentiles. Jesus is the person who fulfills this prophecy.

Luke 3:4-6 / Isa 40:4-6
"as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
         ‘THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
         ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
         MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
    ‘EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED,
         AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW;
         THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT,
         AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH;
    AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’"

Isaiah 40 discusses a future hope for Israel. John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah 40:4-6 which predicted a coming "voice" who will prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke 4:17-19 / Luke 61:1-2
"And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
    ‘THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
         BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
         HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
         AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
         TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
    TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.'"

Isa 61 is a futuristic messianic passage that discusses a coming person upon whom the Spirit will reside. He will preach and bring liberty to the poor and oppressed and will also establish kingdom blessings. Jesus quotes 61:1-2 in reference to himself saying, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). It is significant that the verses after verse 2 which speak of the day of vengeance and kingdom blessings were not quoted. These will be fulfilled in connection with Jesus’ second coming.

Luke 7:22 / Isa 35:5; 61:1
"And He answered and said to them, ‘Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.’"

This passage parallels Matt 11:2-5. Jesus may be referring to Isa 35:5 Isa 61:1, messianic texts that He views as being fulfilled with himself.

Luke 7:27 / Malachi 3:1
 "This is the one about whom it is written,
         ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
         WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’"

Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1 to show that John the Baptist is the fulfillment of the messenger who would precede the Messiah.

Acts 2:34-35 / Psalm 110:1
"For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
         ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
         "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
    UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'"

Peter quotes Psalm 110:1, Psalm 110 is a psalm of David in which David viewed God’s coming Messiah as being his Lord. Peter indicates that Jesus is this "Lord" that David spoke of. This shows Jesus’ identity as King. Again, this shows Literal Prophetic Fulfillment.

Acts 3:22 / Deut 18:15, 18
"Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.'"

In Peter’s second sermon in Acts, he quotes Deut 18:15, 18 to show that Jesus is that "prophet" Moses predicted would come. So Jesus is the literal fulfillment of Moses’ prediction in Deut 18.

Acts 8:32-33 / Isa 53:7-8
"Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
         ‘HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
         AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
         SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
     ‘IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
         WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
         FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.'"

Rom 15:12 / Isa 11:10
Again Isaiah says,
         "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
         AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES,
         IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."

The messianic passage of Isa 11:10 predicted that a descendant of Jesse would someday rule over the Gentiles and give them hope. Jesus is this person who fulfills Isa 11:10.

In his discussion with the Ethiopian eunuch Philip explained that Isa 53:7-8 was a reference to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s suffering Servant.

Soon I will post other examples of Literal Prophetic Fulfillment.

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