The coming of the Messiah into the temple is a significant event prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. This entry explores the prophetic scriptures and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His divine mission and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Old Testament Prophecies

1. Malachi 3:1 · The prophet Malachi foretells the coming of the Lord to His temple: "Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—behold, He is coming," says the LORD of Hosts . This prophecy highlights the sudden and divine nature of the Messiah's appearance in the temple, preceded by a forerunner who prepares His way.

2. Haggai 2:7-9 · Haggai speaks of the glory of the latter temple surpassing that of the former: "I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts... The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will provide peace, declares the LORD of Hosts" . This prophecy is understood to refer to the presence of the Messiah, who brings peace and divine glory to the temple.

New Testament Fulfillment

1. Luke 2:25-32 · The fulfillment of these prophecies is seen in the presentation of Jesus at the temple. Simeon, a righteous and devout man, recognizes Jesus as the Messiah: "Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel'" . This event marks the physical coming of the Lord into His temple, fulfilling the anticipation of the righteous in Israel.

2. John 2:13-17 · Jesus' cleansing of the temple further fulfills the prophecy of His coming. As He drives out the money changers, He declares, "Take these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!" His disciples recall the scripture, "Zeal for Your house will consume Me" . This act signifies His authority and His role in purifying worship, aligning with the prophetic expectation of the Messiah's transformative presence in the temple.

3. Matthew 21:12-14 · During His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus again enters the temple and cleanses it, healing the blind and the lame who come to Him there. This act of divine authority and compassion underscores His fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah's presence in the temple, bringing both judgment and healing.

Theological Significance

The prophecies concerning Christ's coming into the temple emphasize His role as the divine Messenger of the covenant, bringing both judgment and peace. His presence in the temple signifies the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel and the inauguration of a new covenant through His life, death, and resurrection. The temple, as the dwelling place of God's glory, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, who embodies the divine presence and offers salvation to all nations.Haggai 2:7,9
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, said the LORD of hosts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Malachi 3:1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, said the LORD of hosts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... common denominator for this collection of prophecies.". ... several interesting critical
inquiries respecting the component ... him in insisting, that Christ could not ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Introduction
... Satan's counterfeit and opposer of the Christ of God ... the one who fulfills the prophecies
respecting the Antichrist ... Antiochus Epiphanes had been in his grave for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/introduction.htm

Translated from the Greek.
... need is there to speak of the prophecies, which we ... knowledge is said by our Lord
Jesus Christ to be ... find some such rule as this enjoined respecting the divine ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/translated from the greek.htm

The Declensions of Christianity, an Argument of Its Truth.
... infidelity are the subject of his prophecies""There shall ... Respecting arts and sciences,
mankind may never have ... There we shall see Christ's glory, though we ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon iv the declensions of.htm

Subject Index
... the history of symbolical, [1290]492. Isaiah, his prophecy respecting the virgin ...
Israel. Christ is King of, [1292]267. applied to Christ, [1293]262. ...
/.../irenaeus/fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/subject index.htm

Jews.
... Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, in whom ... with a perfect faith,
the prophecies of Moses ... and agreed to various articles respecting the Mosaic ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/jews.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... to become absorbed in calculations beforehand respecting its dates is ... of these psalms
in Christ; and his ... in the interpretation of those prophecies which relate ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

Nicodemus
... Jesus, Nicodemus had anxiously studied the prophecies relating to the ... He wondered
that Christ should speak to him as He did, not respecting his position as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 17 nicodemus.htm

The Opinions
... the house of Elias, whose tradition respecting the millennium ... will moreover reflect,
that unless Christ our Lord ... not that those very clear prophecies of events ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the opinions.htm

The City of God. Index of Subjects.
... Hosea, his prophecies respecting the things of the gospel, [858]375 ... says of,
[955]437; predictions respecting, [956]441 ... effected in the person of Christ, [960] ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /the city of god index.htm

Were Jacob's prophecies about his sons fulfilled? | GotQuestions.org

When were Obadiah's prophecies against Edom fulfilled (Obadiah 1:18-20)? | GotQuestions.org

Where do the Hebrew Scriptures prophesy the death and resurrection of the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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