This Article: (4 Pages)
- 1. A Vision of the Future
- 2. The Messiah's Advice
- 3. The Prophets Reinforce Ezekiel's... Vision
- 4. Many Voices – One Message
2) The Messiah's Advice
Familiarity with the writings of the prophets was clearly established by our Lord, time and time again, during His ministry. He frequently quotes from these writings. In John 5: 39, He advises the Jews to “Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” He directed them to Moses, saying that, “If ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me.” (John 5: 46-47) And again in Luke 16: 31, He again reproves the Jews in saying “If they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.”
The principle clearly established by the Messiah is that an understanding of the writings of Moses and the Prophets was essential for a clear vision of the Creator's purpose and the Messiah's role in this. After His resurrection on the road to Emmaus our Lord spoke to two disciples and His words were that of warning and perhaps even of reproof.
Then He said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Anointed to have suffered these things, and enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 23: 25-27)
The Apostles Heed The Warning
The Apostles did take heed to these warnings. The following quotations show that they placed great reliance on the scriptures, which is all the early believers had, together with occasional letters. They frequently quote from the prophets and the Psalms. Peter, after healing the lame man at the temple gate, admonished the crowds who marvelled at the healing of the lame man. He explained that if they had known the scriptures they would have recognised their Messiah by the power He had revealed in the miracles He had performed.
Peter stated , “Those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled ... and He shall send Jesus Christ, who was before preached unto you: whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began ... for Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you ... and it shall come to pass that every soul, which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed ... Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” (Acts 3: 18-24)
Peter is here emphasising the work of the Messiah and His prophesied return when there has been a “restitution of all things.” The meaning of this phrase is to be found in the Prophets' writings, which includes the revival of the nation of Israel in these last days as God's witness of His promise to all mankind of the reliability of the Word of God and His promise of ultimate peace on this earth. In another place Peter stated that “We have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place.” (2 Peter 1: 19-20)
Philip, another disciple, instructed the Eunuch from Isaiah 53.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter ... then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus.” (Acts 8: 32-35)
Paul in many places quotes from the writings of the prophets, but in the following quotation he points out how the Jews failed to recognise their Messiah and crucified Him, because of their ignorance, which resulted from their refusal to accept and understand the writings of the prophets.
They that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled in condemning Him.” (Acts 13: 27)
It is recorded in many places that Paul reasoned and taught from the prophets. (eg Acts 17: 2, Acts 28: 23, 1 Timothy 4: 13)
James realised that a future tabernacle was to be built and the Gentiles, strangers, would be included in this future plan and for his understanding of this he acknowledges the Prophets. He quotes from Amos 9: 11-12 to support his argument.
“And to this agree the words of the Prophets; as it is written, After this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David ... that the residue of men might seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called.” (Acts 15: 14-17)
The Bereans read the scriptures closely and analysed the truth of what they had been told.
“The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17: 11)
Apollos, although he knew the scriptures, found that there was more to be learnt, and accepted further instruction.
Apollos, a Jew, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus ... and began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him, the scriptures more perfectly.” (Acts 18: 24, 26)
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