Matt 2:1-25

The whole Bible is about Jesus. The Old Testament points to His coming and our need of Him, the Gospels tells us about His first coming and the rest of the New Testament is about how to live in the good of that as we await His return.

Matthew’s Gospel is full of Old Testament quotes to show how Jesus fulfills O.T Prophecy. Three of them are recorded here.

His place of birth
The wise men came seeking Jesus “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” The answer is Bethlehem – a small town about five miles from Jerusalem. Bethlehem means House of Bread, which is poignant as Jesus describes himself as the “Bread of Life” and it was the place where the shepherds lived. The shepherds who raise lambs who were going to be sacrificed for sin in the Temple. Jesus is the perfect lamb and the perfect sacrifice. Matthew saw this as a fulfillment of a prophecy in Micah 5:2 in v5-6.

The escape to Egypt
Before Herod started killing toddlers, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Egypt to escape. That too Matthew sees as a fulfillment of prophecy, this time Hosea 11:1.

The slaughter of children
Herod’s evil slaughter of toddlers to try and kill this coming “King of the Jews” was foreseen by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:15.

Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection fulfills some 353 OT prophecies. God had a plan before creation to rescue a people from their sin to be in relationship with Him.

Lord, thank you for your amazing plan for Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise. Thank you for making me part of your plan too. Amen