How does Matthew 28:18 connect to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's reign? The King’s Declaration in Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’” (Matthew 28:18) Why This Statement Matters • Jesus speaks after His resurrection, confirming that the promised Messiah now actively rules. • “All authority” echoes the language of absolute dominion reserved for God alone in the Old Testament. • The disciples, steeped in Scripture, would immediately connect this claim to the prophetic hope of the Messiah’s worldwide reign. Old Testament Prophecies Anticipating Universal Sovereignty • Psalm 2:7-8 – “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD… ‘Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.’” • Psalm 110:1-2 – “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand… The LORD will extend Your mighty scepter from Zion; rule in the midst of Your enemies.’” • Daniel 7:13-14 – “One like a son of man… was given authority, glory, and sovereignty; all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” • Isaiah 9:6-7 – “The government will rest on His shoulders… Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” • Zechariah 9:9-10 – “Your King is coming to you… His dominion will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Direct Connections Between Matthew 28:18 and the Prophets • “All authority… has been given to Me” parallels Daniel 7’s gift of universal authority to the Son of Man. • “In heaven and on earth” widens Psalm 2’s “ends of the earth,” confirming cosmic scope. • Jesus’ post-resurrection enthronement fulfills Psalm 110’s “Sit at My right hand,” indicating His present rule, not merely a future event. • Isaiah 9’s promise that the government rests on Messiah’s shoulders appears realized as Jesus commissions His followers with divine authority (Matthew 28:19-20). The Transfer of Authority: From Promise to Possession • The Father “gives” authority to the Son (Matthew 28:18), mirroring the courtroom scene of Daniel 7 where the Ancient of Days bestows dominion. • Resurrection serves as the divine vindication that installs Jesus as the reigning King foretold in the Psalms and Prophets (Romans 1:4). • Jesus now wields the scepter anticipated in Psalm 110, ruling even as He sends His disciples to make that reign visible among all nations. Practical Takeaways for Believers • Confidence: The Great Commission rests on the unshakeable authority of the risen Messiah. • Obedience: Following Jesus’ commands is participation in His prophesied kingdom expansion. • Hope: Every Old Testament promise of the Messiah’s righteous, worldwide rule is already inaugurated and will be consummated at His return (1 Corinthians 15:24-25). |
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