What Old Testament prophecies align with Jesus' actions in Matthew 20:17?

◄ Which OT prophecies align with Matt 20:17? ►

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said to them on the way”.

This quiet, determined ascent sets in motion a chain of events Scripture had foretold centuries earlier.

Prophecies About Messiah’s Ascent to Jerusalem

• Psalm 2:6 – “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”

– Messiah’s kingship is linked to Zion (Jerusalem); Jesus heads there to claim it.

• Zechariah 8:3 – “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.”

– God’s promise to be present in the city fits Jesus’ deliberate move toward it.

• Zechariah 9:9 – “See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey…”

– The journey that begins in 20:17 culminates in the Triumphal Entry of 21:1-11, fulfilling this verse.

• Isaiah 50:7 – “I have set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”

– The prophetic Servant resolutely heads toward suffering; Jesus’ determined walk mirrors this imagery.

Prophecies Foretelling Suffering in Jerusalem

• Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 – “He was pierced for our transgressions… the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

– Jesus’ private prediction to the Twelve (vv.18-19) echoes this entire passage.

• Psalm 22:16-18 – “They have pierced My hands and feet… they divide My garments among them.”

– Details He will soon reveal match David’s prophetic psalm.

• Daniel 9:26 – “After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.”

– Points to the Messiah’s violent death inside the holy city.

• Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced.”

– Anticipates both crucifixion and later recognition.

• Zechariah 13:7 – “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd… Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

– Jesus will quote this (Matthew 26:31) as He walks the very path begun in 20:17.

Typological Shadows Highlighting the Journey

• Genesis 22:6 - 14 – Isaac carries the wood up Moriah (Jerusalem’s future temple mount).

– Foreshadows the Father leading the Son toward the same hill.

• Exodus 12; Deuteronomy 16:5-6 – The Passover lamb must be slain at “the place the LORD will choose.”

– Jesus, Lamb of God, heads to that exact place at Passover.

Key Takeaways

• Every step toward Jerusalem in Matthew 20:17 is steered by promises God penned long before.

• Prophets link the Messiah’s arrival in Zion with both kingship and suffering; Jesus embraces both roles.

• The harmony between Matthew 20:17 and the cited passages underscores Scripture’s unified, literal reliability.