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What Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill? (the messianic prophecies)

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Short answer

The New Testament repeatedly presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about a coming Messiah, Jesus Himself said the Scriptures 'bear witness about me' (John 5:39; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44). Some of the most-cited:

Question

What Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill? (the messianic prophecies)

Analysis

The pattern the New Testament draws

The Gospel writers, especially Matthew, repeatedly say an event happened '…' The clearest single passage is Isaiah 53, written centuries before, describing a servant 'despised and rejected,' 'pierced for our transgressions,' silent before his accusers, and buried with the rich, who bears the sins of many and is then vindicated (Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 53:7; Isaiah 53:9). The New Testament applies it directly to Jesus (1 Peter 2:24; Acts 8:32Acts 8:35). Likewise Psalms 22, opening with the very words Jesus cried from the cross (Psalms 22:1; Matthew 27:46), describes pierced hands and feet and soldiers gambling for clothing, details the crucifixion accounts report (John 19:23; John 19:24).

How to weigh it fairly

These fulfillments are a central plank of Christian claims that Jesus is the Messiah, and the correspondences are striking. In fairness: some prophecies are read as direct predictions, others as typological (an earlier person or event patterning a greater one); and Jewish interpreters have historically read a number of these texts differently (for example, taking Isaiah's 'servant' as the nation of Israel). Presenting the prophecies honestly means showing both the New Testament's fulfillment claims and that the readings are debated, the strength of the case is a matter readers can examine for themselves by tracing each reference.

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • John 5:39bsb

    You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,

  • Luke 24:27bsb

    And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

  • Luke 24:44bsb

    Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

  • Isaiah 7:14bsb

    Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

  • Matthew 1:22bsb

    All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

  • Matthew 1:23bsb

    “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” ( which means, “God with us”).

  • Micah 5:2bsb

    But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

  • Matthew 2:5bsb

    “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

  • Matthew 2:6bsb

    ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

  • 2 Samuel 7:12bsb

    And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

  • Isaiah 11:1bsb

    Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

  • Matthew 1:1bsb

    This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

  • Isaiah 53:5bsb

    But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

  • 1 Peter 2:24bsb

    He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

  • Zechariah 9:9bsb

    Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

  • Matthew 21:4bsb

    This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.

What Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill? (the messianic prophecies) · Bubble Bible