Matthew Chapters 1-4: Prophecy

This is the second part of my exploration of the first 10 chapters of Matthew:

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means God with us).
Matthew 1:22-23

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
-Matthew 2:5-6

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
-Matthew 2:17-18

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
-Matthew 3:3

And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
-Matthew 4:13-16

 

 

In just the first four chapters of Matthew, Jesus fulfilled five prophecies about him in the Old Testament, some dating back as far as 700 years before his birth.

Jesus is the Messiah, God, Immanuel, and the Prince of Peace. So, why do we not proclaim what we have heard from him?

We have been blessed to meet a God who knows our desires. He listens to us and hears our prayers. He has had a plan for all time, a plan laid out on the pages of history. From Genesis to Daniel, there is foreshadowing after foreshadowing and prophecy after prophecy of and about our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He fulfilled every prophecy written about him, spanning from 2,000 to 500 years before he was born. He is who he says he is: The Son of God.

Takeaway #2: Christ Deserves to be Glorified