What Old Testament prophecies relate to the figures mentioned in Matthew 16:14? What the Crowd Heard in Matthew 16:14 “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” John the Baptist — Foretold Herald Key prophecies the people would have in mind: • Isaiah 40:3 — “A voice of one calling: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.’” • Malachi 3:1 — “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.” Reasons the crowds linked these verses to John: – John literally ministered “in the wilderness” (Matthew 3:1). – Jesus affirmed that John fulfilled the “messenger” promise (Matthew 11:10). People who missed John’s role thought Jesus might be the promised herald himself instead of the One heralded. Elijah — Promised Forerunner Prophecy shaping the expectation: • Malachi 4:5-6 — “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD…” Why Elijah was on their lips: – He never tasted death (2 Kings 2:11); many anticipated his literal return. – His powerful miracles (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2) matched Jesus’ display of authority over nature and sickness. – Jesus later explained that John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17; Matthew 17:10-13), but the populace still wondered whether Jesus Himself might be Elijah incarnate. Jeremiah — Pattern of the Suffering Prophet No prophecy stated Jeremiah would reappear, yet several of his Spirit-borne themes echoed in Jesus: • Jeremiah’s call and consecration (Jeremiah 1:4-10) paralleled Jesus’ divine sending (John 8:42). • Jeremiah 7:11 — “Has this house… become a den of robbers?” Jesus cited this in cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:13). • Jeremiah foretold a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) that Jesus inaugurated (Luke 22:20). A prophet who wept over Jerusalem and foretold the temple’s ruin (Jeremiah 9:1; 26:6) looked a lot like the Messiah who wept and predicted the same (Luke 19:41-44). The crowd reasoned: “Could He be Jeremiah returned?” “One of the Prophets” — Expectation of a Greater Moses General prophetic promises fostered anticipation that a mighty, end-time prophet would arise: • Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 — “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers… I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” • Isaiah 61:1-2; 42:1-4; 9:6-7; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9 each painted aspects of a liberating, Spirit-anointed figure. Seeing Jesus heal, teach with authority, and proclaim liberty to captives (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-21), many concluded, “This is that prophet.” Putting the Pieces Together 1. Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 point to a preparatory messenger—fulfilled in John, not Jesus. 2. Malachi 4:5-6 promises Elijah’s return; Jesus clarified John fulfilled it, yet His own miracle-working power invited comparison. 3. Jeremiah’s oracles of temple judgment and the New Covenant mirrored Jesus’ ministry, prompting speculation that Jeremiah himself had come back. 4. Deuteronomy 18 and the cluster of Messianic prophecies kept Israel alert for any prophet who spoke and acted with divine authority. Every expectation, whether of herald, forerunner, suffering prophet, or the Prophet-like-Moses, ultimately converges on Christ—who embodies and surpasses them all. |
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