Mt. 18:15ff; 19:4f; Dt. 19:15; Gn. 1:27; 2:24, Jesus and the OT

Neither of these passages are prophecy fulfillments.  We want to speak of them briefly to show Jesus’ trust in the Old Testament.  In Mt. 18:15-16, as Jesus gives instructions on maintaining integrity among believers, He quotes Deut. 19:15, a passage which relates a fundamental truth of social justice.  A guilty verdict requires more than one witness.  Just because Jesus was at odds with the Jews does not mean He rejected the law they trusted in.  He rejected their misunderstanding of the law and their failure to see that it pointed to Him. 

In Mt. 19:4-5 Jesus answers the Sadducees trick question by referring to marriage as God created it to be.  This is an important passage, given the way many today refer to the opening chapters of Genesis as myth.  Not only did Jesus believe it to be true; He counted it worthy to be the foundation of Biblical marriage in every society.

Read Matt. 21:1-5; Zechariah 9:9-10, The King on a Donkey

Jesus entered Jerusalem at the time of His “triumphal entry” riding on a donkey.  This is said to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah.  Do these two passages fit together?

Consider the context of Zechariah.  If you have studied Zech. 9-14 you know that it is a deep Messianic section of Scripture.  The immediate passage (9:1-10) speaks of Israel’s King who will speak peace to the nations and whose dominion shall be … to the ends of the earth (9:10).  It speaks of the physical restoration and spiritual salvation of Israel (9:11-11:3).  There is an emphasis on the failure of the shepherds of Israel (11:4-17), including the payment of thirty pieces of silver (11:12-13).  Then, in Ch. 12-14, the prophet turns to the success of Messiah.  It begins with the outpouring of the Spirit and Israel mourning the one whom they pierced (Ch. 12).  The Messiah (the Man who is My Companion, 13:7) is cut off, as well as the events that involve what we understand to be His second advent: Israel’s cleansing (13:8), the gathering of and defeat of the nations by the One who has returned to Jerusalem (14:1-7), and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom (14:8-21).

It is clear, then, that the two “burdens” (9:1; 12:1), that comprise these six chapters, are entirely about the Messiah, Israel’s King.  Therefore, Jesus is correct to see Himself fulfilling this passage.  And indeed, we will return two more times to this passage before we finish the Messianic prophecies of Matthew.

Consider the context of Matthew 21.  Jesus has been telling His disciples that He is headed for Jerusalem where He will suffer, be killed, and be raised the third day (Mt. 16:21).  At Bethphage they have nearly completed their hard walk up the Ascent of Addumim, from Jericho to Jerusalem.  Bethphage, which means house of early or unripe figs (cf. Mt. 21:18-22), was at the top or just below on the backside of the Mount of Olives.  The focus was now becoming very precise, the focus on Jesus’ reason for going to Jerusalem.  This was, as Zechariah indicated, the presentation of Israel’s King.  Zechariah 9:9 tells us everything we need to know about this event.  Jesus presented Himself as the prophet predicted, so no one need be confused about what was happening.  It was the way Solomon had been presented as King (1 Kings. 1:32-40).  The fact that His offer was rejected and He was crucified was also a perfect fit for Zechariah’s prophecy.  He will return again, and they will look on the One whom they have pierced, and will mourn their sin.  He will reign!