How does Matthew 23:39 connect with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah? Setting the Scene Matthew 23:39: “For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Jesus ends His lament over Jerusalem with a direct quotation from Psalm 118:26. By doing so, He ties Israel’s future acceptance of Him to promises already woven through the Old Testament. Psalm 118: The Messianic Welcome • Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.” • This psalm is part of the Hallel (Psalm 113–118), sung at Passover—heightening the connection to Jesus, the Passover Lamb (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7). • The psalm pictures a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22), exactly what Jesus applies to Himself (Matthew 21:42). • By quoting v. 26, Jesus affirms that the nation will one day greet Him with the same words they sang at His earlier triumphal entry (Matthew 21:9), but in a deeper, repentant acknowledgment of His true kingship. Prophetic Pattern: Rejection First, Acceptance Later • Isaiah 53:3 – “despised and rejected by men” points to Messiah’s initial rejection. • Daniel 9:26 – “the Anointed One will be cut off” foretells His death before the kingdom’s consummation. • Psalm 118:22 – “the stone the builders rejected” anticipates the same sequence. These texts establish a two-stage mission: suffering and being rejected, then returning in glory to be received. National Repentance Foretold • Zechariah 12:10: “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him…” • Hosea 5:15: “I will return again to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face…” Both passages predict Israel’s collective turning to the Lord after a period of estrangement—mirroring Jesus’ “until you say” in Matthew 23:39. The King’s Triumphant Arrival • Zechariah 9:9: “Behold, your King is coming to you… humble and mounted on a donkey.” • First fulfillment: Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:5). • Final fulfillment: the Second Coming, when the nation will again cry out Psalm 118:26, this time in full faith (cf. Revelation 1:7). “Until You Say”: A Divine Timetable • Jesus sets a clear condition: national Israel’s recognition of Him. • This condition aligns with Deuteronomy 30:1-3, where return and blessing follow repentance. • It underscores God’s faithfulness to covenant promises made to Abraham, David, and the prophets. Key Takeaways • Matthew 23:39 is not a random farewell; it is a deliberate link to Messianic prophecies. • The verse assures that Scripture’s storyline culminates with Israel’s restoration and the Messiah’s visible reign. • Believers today can trust that every promise—no matter how long deferred—will be fulfilled exactly as written. |
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