Sheep Without a Shepherd (Matthew 26:31-35) Throughout this class, we have explored Matthew’s use of how Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus. We’ll do that tonight (Matthew 26:31/Zechariah 13:7). However, tonight we also have the opportunity to see Jesus, the Messiah, has a prophet. In our passage, Jesus makes two prophecies. Both of Jesus’s prophecies […]

Salvation Through Suffering (Matthew 27:27-50) At the end of Matthew, the Evangelist weaves many Old Testament allusions and prophecies together to speak of the cross. Why would it be so important for Matthew to make sure his audience understood the Messiah was to die on the cross? Remember, the cross was a major obstacle to […]

Issues with Prophecy As we think about the many prophecies in Scripture that refer to Jesus, we need to think seriously about some issues in prophecy. These issues aren’t with Scripture. Rather, the way that we have traditionally thought about Scripture creates numerous issues when we wish to explore prophecies about Jesus. Tonight, we want […]

A Light Has Dawned (Matthew 4:12-17; Fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-7) In Matthew 4:12-17 we find a prophecy from Isaiah. This is a direct prophecy—Isaiah had Jesus only in mind when he wrote these words. There are some who say that the prophecy in its original context referred to Hezekiah. However, the direct nature of this […]

The Virgin Shall Conceive (The Dual Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14) Matthew records a promise that a virgin would conceive and bear a son (Matt 1:20-23). The original prophecy is found at Isaiah 7:14. It seems to me that this is a “double fulfillment” prophecy—the words of Isaiah were fulfilled in his own day and they […]