What Old Testament prophecies connect to Jesus' prediction in Matthew 26:21? The Prediction: Matthew 26:21 “ ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.’ ” Below are the key Old Testament passages that foreshadow and illuminate Jesus’ solemn statement. Psalm 41:9—A Familiar Friend Turns • “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” • Fulfillment pattern: Judas shares table fellowship with Jesus, then betrays Him (cf. John 13:18, where Jesus cites this verse). • Significance: betrayal from within, not from an open enemy. Psalm 55:12-14—The Wound from a Companion • “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it… But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.” • Layers of fulfillment: David’s personal experience prefigures the Messiah’s betrayal by someone regarded as a confidant. Zechariah 11:12-13—Thirty Pieces of Silver • “Then I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they priced Me!” • Matthew expressly links Judas’ payment and the potter’s field to this prophecy (Matthew 27:3-10). • Connects Jesus’ prediction to the exact amount and aftermath of the betrayal. Psalm 109:6-8—His Office Taken by Another • “May another take his position.” (v. 8) • Applied to Judas in Acts 1:20 when the apostles choose Matthias. • Shows the prophetic expectation of the betrayer’s judgment and replacement. Psalm 69:4—Hated Without Cause • “Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head.” • Sets the larger backdrop of unjust hostility culminating in betrayal. Exodus 12:46 & Numbers 9:12—No Bone Broken • While not about betrayal, these Passover instructions point to Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb (John 19:36). The timing of the betrayal at Passover night ties the two themes together: betrayal delivers the Lamb to slaughter. Prophetic Threads to Notice • Table fellowship → betrayal (Psalm 41 & 55) • Specific price of betrayal (Zechariah 11) • Consequences for the betrayer (Psalm 109) • Innocence of the victim (Psalm 69) • Passover timing underscores redemptive purpose (Exodus 12; Numbers 9) Why These Links Matter • They confirm Jesus’ foreknowledge and control over events (John 13:19). • They display the unity of Scripture: centuries-old prophecies converge in a single night. • They strengthen confidence in Christ’s messianic identity and the reliability of God’s Word. |
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