How does Deuteronomy 18:15 foreshadow the coming of Jesus as a prophet? The Promise Revisited “Yahweh your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, from your brothers. You must listen to Him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) Initial Takeaways • “Raise up” – God, not human ambition, initiates this Prophet’s ministry. • “A Prophet like me” – Moses is the pattern; the coming One will match and surpass him. • “From among you, from your brothers” – fully Israelite, sharing the people’s flesh and story. • “You must listen to Him” – obedience to this Prophet equals obedience to God Himself. How the Verse Points Forward to Jesus 1. Shared Origin • Jesus comes “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), born into Israel—“from among your brothers.” • His genealogy confirms His place within the covenant family (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). 2. Moses-Like Yet Greater • Both spared from death in infancy (Exodus 2; Matthew 2:13-15). • Both mediate covenants—Moses the old, Jesus the new and better (Hebrews 8:6). • Both deliver from bondage—Moses from Egypt, Jesus from sin (John 8:34-36). 3. Divine Commissioning • At Jesus’ baptism the Father affirms Him: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5), echoing “You must listen to Him.” 4. Unique Prophetic Authority • Jesus speaks only what He hears from the Father (John 12:49-50). • Crowds recognize that He teaches “as one having authority” (Matthew 7:28-29). • Miraculous signs validate His words, similar to Moses’ wonders (John 3:2). 5. Explicit New-Testament Identification • Peter applies Deuteronomy 18:15 directly to Jesus (Acts 3:22-23). • Stephen does the same before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:37). • The question to John the Baptist—“Are you the Prophet?” (John 1:21)—shows Israel’s expectation of this very passage. Why It Matters Today • Scripture’s precision: God promised, centuries passed, Jesus came—every word proved true. • Obedience: “You must listen to Him” still stands; rejecting Jesus is rejecting God’s own voice (Hebrews 12:25). • Assurance: The same Lord who fulfilled this promise will keep every other promise recorded in His Word. Living in Light of the Promised Prophet • Treasure His words—daily Scripture intake is not optional but commanded. • Trust His redemptive power—He delivers from sin just as surely as Moses delivered from Egypt. • Tell His story—Deuteronomy 18:15 shows the gospel’s roots; share how prophecy and fulfillment meet in Christ. |
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