Matthew 13-14 So was fulfilled…?

In Matthew chapters 13-14, Jesus spoke in parables; miraculously fed bread to a multitude; walked across a body of water as if it was dry land. We find those same things mentioned in Psalms 78 and according to Matthew 13:35 Jesus was fulfilling prophecy.

So what prophecy was Jesus fulfilling when he fed the multitude and when he walked across the water?...Since Moses did the same things according to Psalm 78, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren -- him you shall heed -- 16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, `Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' 17 And the LORD said to me, `They have rightly said all that they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

The parallels are below:

Psalm 78:13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.

Matthew 14:29 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Psalm 78:22 because they had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power. 23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; 24 and he rained down upon them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. 25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.

Matthew 14:15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it is already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 [Jesus] said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the multitudes. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

There are many signs and wonders that Jesus did that were like those done by Moses – can you find some of the other ones? It is important that you know that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 so that you aren’t deceived into thinking it was someone else. Do you know what religion claims that someone else fulfilled the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19?

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament