Prophecies Fulfilled
Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophecies
The Lineage of the Messiah
Many say that the first prophecy was in Genesis 3:15, where it is mentioned that the offspring (Messiah) is described as being of the woman (Eve). This is extraordinary as the nation of Israel has always been patriarchal; people are mentioned in terms of their fathers, not their mothers. Because of this, many see this verse as also being a prophecy of Messiah’s birth through a virgin (Galatians 4:4).
Isaiah 7:14 tells that the Messiah will be born of a virgin. In Matthew 1:18-2:1 and Luke 1:26-35, both Gospels report a celebration of sorts that Jesus was born from a virgin.
In Genesis 12:3, God is making a promise to Abram (later, Abraham) about the influence his descendants will have over the earth and says, “In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed.” This is accepted as a statement that the Messiah would descend from Abraham since the Messiah is the source of all true blessings. The bloodline is further refined to Isaac, son of Abraham in Genesis 17:19, 21:12, to Jacob, son of Isaac in 28:14 and to Judah, son of Jacob (or Israel) in 49:10. The Gospel of Matthew begins describing Jesus’ lineage as coming from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, etc.
God promises David, through Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, that Messiah will not only come from his own bloodline, but will also inherit his throne. David’s throne is again promised as the seat of Messiah’s government in Isaiah 9: 6-7 and in Jeremiah 23:5. Matthew again in his first chapter shows lineage through David, as well as in Luke 3:31, and Romans 1:3-4.
Messiah as God/man
| The Messiah will… | Prophecy | Fulfillment by Jesus |
| Be eternal | Micah 5:2 | John 8:58; Ephesians 1:3-24; Colossians 1:15-19 |
| Be the true and only Son of God | Psalms 2:7; Proverbs 30:4 | Luke 1:32; Matthew 3:17 |
| Be called Y-H-W-H | Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:6 | Philippians 2:9 |
What the Messiah will do
| The Messiah will… | Prophecy | Fulfillment by Jesus |
| Not sin | Isaiah 53:9 | 1 Peter 2:22 |
| Begin ministry in Galilee | Isaiah 9:1 | Matthew 4:12-17, Other Gospels confirm this too. |
| Heal anyone who needs it. | Isaiah 35:5-6 | Matthew 11:5 |
| Be a prophet like Moses | Deuteronomy 18:15 | John 7:40; Acts 3:19-22 |
| Enter Jerusalem on a donkey | Zechariah 9:9 | Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-16 |
| Enter the Temple with authority | Malachi 3:1 | Matthew 21:12; John 2:13-22 |
| Bear the sins of others | Isaiah 53:12 | Romans 15:3 |
| Be a priest | Psalm 110:4 | Hebrews 5:5-6, 6:20, 7:15-17 |
| Be born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7 |
| Ascend into Heaven | Psalm 68:18 | Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; John 20:17; Acts 1:9 |
| Escape the powers of death | Psalm 68:20 | Acts 2:31; 13:33; Matt 28:6; Mark 16:6, Luke 24:46; John 20:9-10 |
| Shall be cut off and die | Isaiah 53:8-10; Dan. 9:26 | Luke 23:46; 24:7; John 19:30 |
| Be buried in a rich man’s tomb | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42 |
| Lament and wail, and will go stripped and naked | Micah 1:8 | John 19:23-24 |
What will be done to the Messiah…
| The Messiah will… | Prophecy | Fulfillment by Jesus |
| Be adored by great persons | Psalms 72:10-11 | Matthew 2:1-11 |
| Be anointed with the Spirit of God | Isaiah 11:2, 61:1 | Matthew 3:16; John 3:34; Acts 10:38 |
| Be hated without cause | Isaiah 49:7; Psalms 69:4 | John 15:24-25 |
| Be undesired and rejected by His own people | Isaiah 53:2, 63:3; Psalms 69:8 | Mark 6:3; Luke 9:58; John 1:11 |
| Be plotted against by Jews and Gentiles together | Psalms 2:1-2 | Acts 4:27 |
| Be betrayed by a friend | Psalms 41:9, 55:12-24 | Matthew 26:21-25, 47-50; John 13:18-21; Acts 1:16-18 |
| Be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 26:16 |
| Have his price given for a potter’s field | Zechariah 11:13 | Matthew 27:7 |
| Be forsaken by His disciples | Zechariah 13:7 | Matthew 26:31, 56 |
| Be struck on the cheek | Micah 5:1 | Matthew 27:30 |
| Be spat on | Isaiah 50:6 | Matthew 26:67, 27:30 |
| Be mocked | Psalms 22:7-8 | Matthew 27:21, 39-44 |
| Be beaten | Isaiah 50:6 | Matthew 26:67, 27:26,30 |
| Be thirsty during His execution | Psalms 22:15 | John 19:28 |
| Be given vinegar to quench that thirst | Psalms 69:21 | Matthew 27:34; John 19:29 |
| Be considered a transgressor | Isaiah 53:12 | Matthew 27:38 |
| Be buried with the rich when dead | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
| Be executed by piercing | Zechariah 12:10; Psalms 22:16 | Matthew 27:35; John 19:18 |
| Be sought after by Gentiles and Jews | Isaiah 11:10, 42:1 | Acts 10:45 |
| Be accepted by the Gentiles | Isaiah 11:10, 42:1-4, 49:1-12 | Matthew 12:21; Acts 10:45; Romans 15:9-12 |
| Not have any broken bones | Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20 | John 19:33-36 |
| Raise from the dead | Psalms 2:7, 16:10; Isaiah 53: 9-10 | Matthew 28:1-20; Acts 2:23-36, 13:33-37 |
| Sit at the right hand of God | Psalms 16:11, 68:18, 110:1 | Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11, 7:55; Hebrews 1:3 |