What Old Testament prophecies connect to the resurrection mentioned in Matthew 17:9? Setting the Scene Matthew 17:9 records Jesus’ words after the Transfiguration: “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” The statement assumes a resurrection that the Old Testament had already foreshadowed. Primary Prophecies of Resurrection • Psalm 16:10 – “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” • David speaks, but Peter (Acts 2:25-32) and Paul (Acts 13:34-37) both insist the verse ultimately points to Jesus’ bodily resurrection, since David’s tomb remained occupied. • Isaiah 53:10-11 – “He will prolong His days… After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.” • The Servant dies as a guilt offering, yet lives on to enjoy the fruit of His work, requiring resurrection. • Psalm 22:21-22 – “Save me from the mouth of the lion… I will proclaim Your name to my brothers.” • The Messiah is rescued from death and then praises God in the assembly, fulfilled when the risen Christ calls His disciples “brothers” (Hebrews 2:11-12). • Hosea 6:2 – “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” • A national promise to Israel that also foreshadows the third-day rising of the representative Messiah (1 Corinthians 15:4). Prophetic Pictures and Patterns • Jonah 1:17 – “Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.” • Jesus openly cites Jonah as the sign of His own three-day entombment and resurrection (Matthew 12:40). • Genesis 22 – Isaac is delivered from certain death on the third day of Abraham’s journey; Hebrews 11:19 says Abraham “received him back” figuratively from the dead. • Leviticus 23:10-11 – The firstfruits sheaf is waved before the LORD “on the day after the Sabbath.” Paul calls Christ the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). • 2 Samuel 7:12-13 with Psalm 89:29 – God promises to establish David’s seed and throne forever, implying a ruler who ultimately conquers death. Broader Resurrection Hope in the Old Testament • Daniel 12:2 – “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life.” • Job 19:25-26 – “I know that my Redeemer lives… yet in my flesh I will see God.” These passages nurture a general expectation that God will triumph over the grave, making the Messiah’s resurrection both plausible and essential. Connecting the Dots to Matthew 17:9 • When Jesus hints at His rising, He aligns Himself with every promise above, declaring that the ancient hope is about to burst into history. • The disciples would later preach that His resurrection on the third day (Luke 24:46) fulfilled “all the Scriptures,” drawing directly from these texts. Living Truths to Embrace • God’s Word proves reliable—promises spoken centuries earlier came true in Christ’s empty tomb. • Because Jesus rose as foretold, every other promise of redemption and future resurrection stands firm for all who trust Him. |
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