How does Matthew 26:2 connect to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah? Matthew 26:2 – The Prophecy on Jesus’ Lips “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Passover and the Lamb – Exodus 12 Foreshadowing • Passover occurred on the fourteenth day of the first month; Jesus times His words exactly two days before the feast, signaling that He Himself is the true Passover Lamb. • Exodus 12:5, 13 – “Your lamb shall be an unblemished male… When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” • 1 Corinthians 5:7 links the type to the fulfillment: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” “Handed Over” – Echoes of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant • Isaiah 53:6 – “The LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” • Isaiah 53:12 – “He poured out His life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors.” • Matthew’s phrase “handed over” mirrors the Servant who willingly submits, confirming Jesus sees Himself in Isaiah’s prophecy. Crucifixion Foreseen – Psalm 22 • Psalm 22:16 – “They have pierced My hands and feet.” • Psalm 22:18 – “They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.” • By announcing crucifixion before it happens, Jesus ties His destiny to David’s prophetic psalm describing a death remarkably like Roman crucifixion centuries before it existed in Israel. Timing in God’s Calendar – Daniel’s Seventy Weeks • Daniel 9:26 – “After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.” • Jesus identifies Himself as the “Anointed One” scheduled to be “cut off,” lining up His imminent crucifixion with Daniel’s predicted timetable. Rejected but Exalted – The Stone and the Piercing • Psalm 118:22 – “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” • Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced.” • Matthew 26:2 signals that rejection and piercing are about to unfold, fulfilling these prophecies. Key Links Synthesized 1. Passover lamb imagery (Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7) – Jesus’ death coincides with the feast. 2. Voluntary submission (Isaiah 53) – He will be “handed over.” 3. Method of death (Psalm 22; Zechariah 12:10) – Crucifixion and piercing foretold. 4. Divine schedule (Daniel 9:26) – The Messiah “cut off” at the appointed time. 5. Rejection leading to exaltation (Psalm 118:22) – Crucifixion precedes resurrection glory. Takeaway Matthew 26:2 does not stand in isolation; it ties Jesus’ self-awareness and mission directly to a rich tapestry of Old Testament prophecy. Every detail—timing, manner, purpose—aligns perfectly, confirming the reliability of Scripture and the identity of Jesus as the promised Messiah. |
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