Matthew frequently references Old Testament prophecies to establish Jesus as the expected Messiah (e.g., Matthew 1:22-23).
Strategic Placement of Fulfillment Citations
Matthew strategically places citations from the Hebrew Scriptures throughout his Gospel to draw direct lines between the events of Jesus' life and the prophetic utterances found in the Old Testament. These citations often follow a formulaic introduction, such as "This took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet" (e.g., Matthew 1:22), making it clear to the reader that Jesus' life and ministry were in direct fulfillment of specific prophecies.
The Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17)
Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage back to Abraham and David, emphasizing Jesus' rightful place in the Jewish heritage as both a son of Abraham and a descendant of King David. This genealogy is not just a list of names; it is a theological statement affirming Jesus as the culmination of God's promises to Abraham and the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant of a Messiah, a king who would reign forever.
Messiah's Birth (Matthew 1:22-23; 2:4-6)
Matthew links Jesus' birth to Old Testament prophecy in several instances. The virgin birth (Matthew 1:22-23) fulfills Isaiah 7:14, while the birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4-6) fulfills Micah 5:2. These prophecies are presented as clear indicators that Jesus' birth was the manifestation of God's redemptive plan, foretold centuries earlier.
Jesus as the New Moses
Matthew presents Jesus as a new and greater Moses. Just as Moses delivered the law to Israel, Jesus delivers the new law on the mount (Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7). This parallel extends further as Matthew depicts Herod's massacre of the infants (Matthew 2:16-18) in a manner reminiscent of Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew male infants at Moses' birth, with Jesus surviving this slaughter as Moses did.
Fulfillment through Jesus' Ministry
Throughout His ministry, Jesus fulfills various prophecies, such as those concerning His healing miracles (e.g., Matthew 8:17, fulfilling Isaiah 53:4), His teaching in parables (Matthew 13:35, fulfilling Psalm 78:2), and His entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:4-5, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9). Each of these fulfillments serves to underscore Jesus' messianic identity and mission.
Jesus' Death and Resurrection
Matthew ties the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus back to Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating that even in His death, Jesus was fulfilling God's sovereign plan as the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53. Matthew 27:9-10 refers to the purchase of the potter's field with the thirty pieces of silver, fulfilling prophecy from Zechariah 11:12-13 and Jeremiah. The resurrection itself, while not directly quoted from the Old Testament in Matthew, is seen as the fulfillment of Jesus' own predictions (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19), which were in line with the Scriptures' expectation of the Messiah's victory over death.
Conclusion
The theme of fulfilling Old Testament prophecies in Matthew's Gospel serves multiple purposes: it asserts Jesus' identity as the Messiah, reinforces the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, and addresses the doubts and questions of a Jewish audience transitioning into the new covenant reality. Through meticulous references to Hebrew Scriptures, Matthew crafts a compelling narrative of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises, inviting his readers to see in Jesus the realization of Israel's hopes and the world's redeemer. This theme not only anchors the Gospel in its Jewish context but also presents a universal Messiah, whose life and mission fulfill God's redemptive plan for all humanity.
