How does this verse connect with Isaiah 53:12's prophecy about the Messiah? The Verse Under Study “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ And indeed, what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.” – Luke 22:37 Isaiah 53:12 in View “Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life to death, and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” – Isaiah 53:12 Direct Links Between the Two Passages • Shared phrase: “numbered with the transgressors” appears in both texts verbatim. • Speaker and subject: Isaiah foretells the Suffering Servant; Jesus applies that prophecy to Himself. • Timing: Isaiah looks ahead; Luke records Jesus declaring the prophecy is “reaching its fulfillment” that very night. How Jesus Fulfills Isaiah 53:12 • Identification with sinners – Luke 22:37 locates Jesus among the “lawless” (see also Matthew 27:38; Luke 23:32–33). • Voluntary self-sacrifice – “He poured out His life to death” (Isaiah 53:12) parallels Jesus’ imminent crucifixion (Luke 23:46). • Sin-bearing work – “He bore the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12) finds its New-Testament echo in 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 1 Peter 2:24. • Ongoing intercession – Isaiah points to Messiah’s priestly role; Hebrews 7:25 confirms Jesus “always lives to intercede.” Wider Scriptural Harmony • Mark 15:28 (earlier manuscripts): quotes the same line, situating it at the crucifixion scene. • Acts 8:32–35: Philip uses Isaiah 53 to preach Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch. • Romans 5:8 while we were still sinners, “Christ died for us,” mirroring the “transgressors” motif. Key Takeaways • Jesus Himself anchors Isaiah’s prophecy in real history, affirming Scripture’s reliability. • The Messiah’s mission centers on substitution—standing in the place of sinners, not merely beside them. • Fulfillment stretches beyond the cross: His resurrection and ongoing intercession complete Isaiah’s portrait, offering confident hope to all who trust Him. |