Matthew 1:22 - Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
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What does "Matthew 1:22" mean?
This verse, Matthew 1:22, is a key component of Matthew's writing style and a crucial clue to understanding his overall purpose in writing the Gospel. Let's break down what it means:
"Now all this has happened..." This refers to the preceding events in the narrative, specifically the miraculous conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. It indicates that these events are not random or coincidental, but part of a larger, divinely ordained plan.
"...that it might be fulfilled..." This is the core phrase. "Fulfilled" means to bring to completion, to realize the full potential of something, or to demonstrate that a prophecy has come true. Matthew is emphasizing that the events surrounding Jesus's birth are not new or unexpected, but were predicted long ago.
"...which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet..." This points to the source of the prophecy. The "Lord" is God, and the "prophet" is an individual in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) who received and delivered messages from God. Matthew is asserting that God himself foretold these events through the prophets.
"...saying," This introduces the specific prophecy that Matthew will quote or allude to. The following verse (Matthew 1:23) then quotes Isaiah 7:14, about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son who will be called Immanuel.
In Essence:
Matthew 1:22 is a statement that the events leading to Jesus's birth are the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testaments and presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah whose coming was foretold by God through the prophets.
Why is this important in Matthew's Gospel?
Establishing Jesus's Identity: Matthew wants to convince his audience (primarily Jewish Christians) that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Showing that Jesus's life aligns with Old Testament prophecies is a powerful way to make this case.
Demonstrating Divine Plan: Matthew emphasizes that God is in control of history. The events surrounding Jesus are not accidental; they are part of God's grand plan of salvation.
Legitimizing Christianity: By demonstrating that Jesus's life was foretold in the Jewish scriptures, Matthew is legitimizing the Christian faith as a fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.
Structure and Theme: Matthew frequently uses fulfillment quotations throughout his Gospel. This becomes a key structural and thematic element, continually reinforcing the idea that Jesus is the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament.
In summary, Matthew 1:22 is a crucial verse that establishes a central theme in Matthew's Gospel: Jesus is the Messiah, and his life is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It's a way for Matthew to connect Jesus to the established Jewish faith and demonstrate that he is the promised Savior.
Matthew 1:22 - Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
What does "Matthew 1:22" mean?
This verse, Matthew 1:22, is a key component of Matthew's writing style and a crucial clue to understanding his overall purpose in writing the Gospel. Let's break down what it means:
"Now all this has happened..." This refers to the preceding events in the narrative, specifically the miraculous conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary. It indicates that these events are not random or coincidental, but part of a larger, divinely ordained plan.
"...that it might be fulfilled..." This is the core phrase. "Fulfilled" means to bring to completion, to realize the full potential of something, or to demonstrate that a prophecy has come true. Matthew is emphasizing that the events surrounding Jesus's birth are not new or unexpected, but were predicted long ago.
"...which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet..." This points to the source of the prophecy. The "Lord" is God, and the "prophet" is an individual in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) who received and delivered messages from God. Matthew is asserting that God himself foretold these events through the prophets.
"...saying," This introduces the specific prophecy that Matthew will quote or allude to. The following verse (Matthew 1:23) then quotes Isaiah 7:14, about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son who will be called Immanuel.
In Essence:
Matthew 1:22 is a statement that the events leading to Jesus's birth are the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testaments and presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah whose coming was foretold by God through the prophets.
Why is this important in Matthew's Gospel?
Establishing Jesus's Identity: Matthew wants to convince his audience (primarily Jewish Christians) that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Showing that Jesus's life aligns with Old Testament prophecies is a powerful way to make this case.
Demonstrating Divine Plan: Matthew emphasizes that God is in control of history. The events surrounding Jesus are not accidental; they are part of God's grand plan of salvation.
Legitimizing Christianity: By demonstrating that Jesus's life was foretold in the Jewish scriptures, Matthew is legitimizing the Christian faith as a fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.
Structure and Theme: Matthew frequently uses fulfillment quotations throughout his Gospel. This becomes a key structural and thematic element, continually reinforcing the idea that Jesus is the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament.
In summary, Matthew 1:22 is a crucial verse that establishes a central theme in Matthew's Gospel: Jesus is the Messiah, and his life is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It's a way for Matthew to connect Jesus to the established Jewish faith and demonstrate that he is the promised Savior.