The Beginning Sections of Each Gospel Shows That The New Testament Is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament
When we open our New Testament, we are greeted with four Gospels. Each Gospel gives a unique yet consistent and complementary picture of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The fact Jesus is the focus and fulfillment of the Old Testament may be seen in how each of the four Gospels begins with clear quotes or allusions to the Old Testament to show that the story of Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
To verify this claim, simply read the verses and passages below, especially noting the words in bold. These show that the story of Jesus can only be understood in light of the Old Testament, and that the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus.
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:.. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. Matthew 1:1, 17
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23
When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:4-6
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:14-15
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — 3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:1-4
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. Luke 1:5-7
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:54-55
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us — 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Luke 1:68-75
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:1-4
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:10-11
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Once again, this means that when we read the New Testament it is imperative that we read it as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Anyone who wants to understand Jesus, must see Him as the fulfillment of the Old Testament, and anyone who wants to understand the Old Testament must look to Jesus.
In Christ,
Bret