What role does prophecy play in understanding Jesus' fulfillment of the Law? Setting the Stage: Matthew 11:13 “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.” Prophecy’s Purpose Inside the Law • The Torah is not just rules; it is forward-looking revelation. • Through sacrifices, festivals, and types (Passover lamb, bronze serpent, Day of Atonement), God embedded previews of the Messiah. • Prophets then expanded those previews with explicit promises of a coming Deliverer (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Deuteronomy 18:18). • Until John the Baptist, every prophetic voice kept pointing ahead; John finally pointed to Someone present: “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Jesus, the Fulfillment • Matthew 5:17 — “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” • Luke 24:44 — “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” • Prophecy clarifies that the Law’s demands are met, its symbols realized, and its storyline completed in Christ. Key Old-Testament Prophecies Realized in Christ • Deuteronomy 18:18 — The greater Prophet: Jesus teaches with divine authority (Matthew 7:29). • Psalm 118:22 — Rejected Stone: fulfilled in His crucifixion and resurrection (Acts 4:11). • Isaiah 53 — Suffering Servant: atonement through the cross (1 Peter 2:24). • Jeremiah 31:31 — New Covenant: ratified by His blood (Luke 22:20). • Micah 5:2 — Birth in Bethlehem: recorded in Matthew 2:1-6. Why Prophecy Matters for Understanding the Law • Direction: The Law acts as a “guardian to lead us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). • Completion: “Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4). • Continuity: Prophecy shows God’s single, unfolding plan—promises made in Sinai are kept at Calvary. • Certainty: Fulfilled prophecy underlines Scripture’s reliability and God’s faithfulness (Hebrews 1:1-2). Living It Out • Read Old-Testament commands and ceremonies with Christ’s finished work in view. • Let fulfilled prophecy strengthen confidence that every remaining promise—His return, resurrection, final justice—will arrive just as surely. • Share the gospel the way the prophets did: spotlighting Jesus as the One who perfectly meets God’s holy Law for us. |
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