What Old Testament prophecies align with the events in Matthew 26:5? The Setting in Matthew 26:5 “But they said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people.’ ” Religious leaders plot Jesus’ death but postpone the arrest to avoid public uproar during Passover. Old Testament Echoes of a Secret Plot • Psalm 2:1–2 — “Why do the nations rage… The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed.” – Foretells rulers uniting in hostile counsel against Messiah. • Psalm 31:13 — “For I hear the whispering of many: ‘Terror on every side!’ They conspire against me and plot to take my life.” – Mirrors the hush-hush strategy to seize Jesus. • Psalm 41:9 — “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” – Points forward to Judas’ betrayal, the inside element of the plot. • Psalm 118:22 — “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” – Anticipates the religious “builders” rejecting the very foundation God provides. • Isaiah 53:7–8 — “He was oppressed and afflicted… By oppression and judgment He was taken away.” – Captures the wrongful legal maneuvering and covert arrest. • Daniel 9:26 — “After the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing.” – Predicts Messiah’s removal, fulfilled in the impending crucifixion the leaders now scheme. Prophetic Timing: Passover and the Lamb • Exodus 12:6 — “You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the lambs at twilight.” – Jesus, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), must die precisely at Passover; the leaders’ delay inadvertently synchronizes with God’s timetable. • Isaiah 53:4–5 — Details the substitutionary suffering tied to sacrifice, reinforcing the Passover parallel. Linking the Dots 1. Rulers secretly consult (Psalm 2; Psalm 31). 2. Their decision hinges on timing (Exodus 12, Daniel 9) yet God’s sovereign plan overrules. 3. The betrayal element (Psalm 41; Zechariah 11:12–13) soon enters. 4. Rejection by “builders” (Psalm 118) and unjust proceedings (Isaiah 53) converge, setting the stage for the cross. What These Prophecies Reveal About God’s Plan • Human schemes cannot derail divine purpose; they end up fulfilling it. • Scripture consistently paints Messiah as both rejected and yet central to redemption. • The Passover context underscores Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, exactly as foreseen. All these strands weave together to show Matthew 26:5 is not a random footnote; it is the living out of God-spoken prophecy, authenticating Jesus as the promised Messiah. |
    |