The Gospel of Luke, distinguished by its meticulous historical detail and compassionate narrative, underscores the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the promised Messiah through the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Luke, a physician and careful historian, presents a rich tapestry of events and teachings that connect the life of Jesus with the ancient promises made to Israel. By documenting the fulfillment of specific prophecies, Luke offers compelling evidence that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, sent by God to redeem humanity.

These fulfilled prophecies, woven throughout Luke's account, highlight Jesus' divine nature and His role in God's redemptive plan. From His miraculous birth to His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, the life of Jesus is portrayed as a direct fulfillment of prophetic scriptures, validating His messianic identity. Luke's emphasis on these fulfilled prophecies not only authenticates Jesus' divine mission but also strengthens the faith of believers, showing the harmonious continuity between the Old and New Testaments. Through this lens, the Gospel of Luke invites readers to recognize and embrace Jesus as the true Messiah and the Son of God, fulfilling the divine promises made long ago.

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4 BSB

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

• Prophecy: Malachi 4:5-6

  • Old Testament: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 1:16-17

    • "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

  • Commentary: The angel Gabriel’s announcement of John the Baptist’s birth identifies him as the one who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah, fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy and preparing the way for Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

• Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14

  • Old Testament: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 1:26-31

    • "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'"

  • Commentary: The angel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy, emphasizing Jesus' divine origin and His role as God with us.

The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

• Prophecy: Micah 5:2

  • Old Testament: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 2:4-7

    • "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

  • Commentary: Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfills Micah’s prophecy, highlighting His royal lineage and humble beginnings.

Presentation at the Temple

• Prophecy: Malachi 3:1

  • Old Testament: "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 2:25-32

    • "Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.'"

  • Commentary: Simeon’s recognition of Jesus as the Lord’s Christ during the presentation at the temple fulfills Malachi’s prophecy, acknowledging Jesus as the awaited Messiah who brings salvation.

Jesus' Galilean Ministry

• Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2

  • Old Testament: "But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 4:14-15

    • "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all."

  • Commentary: Jesus' ministry in Galilee fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy, bringing light to a region long associated with darkness and spiritual neglect.

Rejection in Nazareth

• Prophecy: Isaiah 61:1-2

  • Old Testament: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 4:16-21

    • "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'"

  • Commentary: Jesus declares the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in His own ministry, emphasizing His anointed mission to bring salvation and freedom, though He faces rejection in His hometown.

Healing the Sick and Casting Out Demons

• Prophecy: Isaiah 53:4

  • Old Testament: "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 4:40-41

    • "Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, 'You are the Son of God!' But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ."

  • Commentary: Jesus’ healings and exorcisms fulfill Isaiah’s depiction of the suffering servant who bears the infirmities of His people, showcasing His compassion and divine authority.

The Parable of the Tenants

• Prophecy: Psalm 118:22-23

  • Old Testament: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 20:17-18

    • "But he looked directly at them and said, 'What then is this that is written: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone"? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.'"

  • Commentary: Jesus identifies Himself as the rejected stone that becomes the cornerstone, fulfilling the psalmist's prophecy and emphasizing His foundational role in God’s redemptive plan.

The Triumphal Entry

• Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9

  • Old Testament: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 19:35-38

    • "And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'"

  • Commentary: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a colt fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy, symbolizing His messianic kingship and the inauguration of God’s kingdom.

The Betrayal and Arrest

• Prophecy: Zechariah 13:7

  • Old Testament: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. 'Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.'"

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 22:47-48

    • "While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?'"

  • Commentary: The betrayal by Judas and the subsequent scattering of the disciples fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy, highlighting the foreknown nature of Jesus' suffering and the testing of His followers.

The Crucifixion

• Prophecy: Psalm 22:16-18

  • Old Testament: "For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 23:33-34

    • "And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments."

  • Commentary: The details of Jesus’ crucifixion, including the piercing of His hands and feet and the casting of lots for His garments, fulfill the psalmist’s vivid depiction, confirming Jesus as the suffering Messiah.

The Resurrection

• Prophecy: Psalm 16:10

  • Old Testament: "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption."

  • Fulfillment in Luke: Luke 24:6-7

    • "'He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'"

  • Commentary: Jesus’ resurrection fulfills the prophecy of the Holy One not seeing decay, affirming His victory over death and His divine nature.

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Matthew's Gospel: Read more...

Mark's Gospel: Read more...

John's Gospel: Read more...