How does Deuteronomy 18:17 connect to Jesus as the ultimate Prophet? The Promise in Deuteronomy 18:17 “Then the LORD said to me, ‘What they have spoken is good.’” (Deuteronomy 18:17) • Israel had just asked for a mediator who could speak God’s words without the terrifying display of Sinai (Deuteronomy 18:16). • God Himself affirms their request as “good,” immediately promising a prophet who will speak His words faithfully (vv. 18-19). • Verse 17 is therefore the divine endorsement of a coming, singular prophetic office that perfectly bridges God and His people. Tracing the Line: From Moses to the Ultimate Prophet • Moses was Israel’s foundational prophet, but even he pointed forward: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15). • Each Old Testament prophet partially fulfilled this role, yet none matched Moses’ intimacy with God (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). • God’s “good” plan (v. 17) anticipates One greater than Moses—One who would know the Father “face to face” in absolute fullness (John 1:18). Jesus Fulfills the Promise • Incarnation: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God Himself steps into the mediator role requested at Sinai. • Authority: “For I did not speak on My own, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49). • Recognition: —“We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law” (John 1:45). —“This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). New Testament Confirmation • Peter: “Moses said: ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers’ … Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on… have proclaimed these days” (Acts 3:22-24). • Stephen: “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me’” (Acts 7:37). • Hebrews: “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). The final, climactic word comes through Jesus. Why Verse 17 Matters for Christology • Divine Approval: God’s “What they have spoken is good” guarantees the mediatorial office that Jesus perfectly occupies. • Continuity: The verse ties the yearning at Sinai to its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, showing a seamless plan across Scripture. • Certainty: Because God declared the plan “good,” believers can trust that Jesus completely satisfies every prophetic expectation. Living in the Light of the Ultimate Prophet • Confidence in Revelation—Jesus’ words carry absolute authority; ignoring them is rejecting God’s endorsed spokesman (John 8:47). • Clarity in Guidance—No need to look elsewhere; the One promised in Deuteronomy speaks today through Scripture (Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 12:25). • Commitment to Obedience—Since God called the plan “good,” aligning life with Jesus’ teaching is the surest path of blessing (John 14:23-24). |
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