THE LORD SPOKE (January 02)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament - Genesis 3-5

It’s the not in the Devil’s tale. When he told Eve, “You will not surely die”, Satan was practicing the final stage in his devilish plan. It begins with DOUBT (“Did God really say...?”). Then he moves to DISTORTION. He twists God’s words. He puts a different spin on what God has said and then he swoops in with outright DENIAL. God said, “you will surely die” (Gen. 2:17) and the Devil says, “you will not surely die” (Gen. 3:4).

That’s a bold contradiction of God’s Word. If the Devil had started with that, it’s quite possible that Eve would have detected it. But he began slowly and used the same kind of deception that he uses on us. It usually begins with small doubts left unanswered.

When God confronts the man and the woman, their response is also all too typical. God asks Adam what he’d done and Adam responds at first, “the woman made me do it” (Gen. 3:12). When He asks Eve the same question, she begins with, “the snake made me do it” (Gen. 3:13). To err is human - to blame it on someone else is even more human.

But in both cases, what follows next is of utmost importance. When confronted, Adam and Eve both concluded, “and I ate it”. Had they not done so all hope would have been gone. Paradise would have been lost but not regained. Had there been no acknowledgment of sin, there could be no redemption. God brought them to repentance. That’s what Paul says in Romans 2:4. It is “God’s kindness [that] leads you toward repentance”.

That’s an important truth for us to recognize. Even our repentance is the result of God’s mercy and grace in drawing us to Himself.

• II Peter 3:9 - The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
• II Corinthians 7:9-10 - ...Your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended.... Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation....
• II Timothy 2:25 - ...God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth....

Keep reading that last one for it ties it back to Genesis 3. “God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (II Tim. 2:25-26)

 New Testament - Matthew 2

One of the reasons that Matthew’s gospel is placed first in our New Testament line-up is the link he provides to the Old Testament and messianic prophecies. More than any other, he takes a direct quote from an Old Testament text and applies it to Jesus. In fact, he has a favorite formula to introduce such quotes; “this happened in order that it might be fulfilled, that which the prophet spoke....”

But sometimes Matthew’s use of the Old Testament presents a challenge. There are cases where he makes an application that we might call “novel” and would be uncomfortable doing ourselves. Here in chapter two we have examples of four distinct ways in which Matthew handles the Old Testament.

(1) a literal prophecy with a literal fulfillment (vs. 5-6, quoting Micah 5:2) - The syllogism here is tight. This is perhaps the most satisfying kind of quote we find in Matthew, or anywhere else for that matter.
A. The OT says the Messiah will _____.
B. Jesus did _____.
Therefore: Jesus is the Messiah.

(2) a literal prophecy with a typical fulfillment (vs. 15, quoting Hosea 11:1) - This is the hardest kind. If you read Hosea’s text you’re prone to wonder, “where did he get that?” But Matthew employs his quotation formula here too. (See below.) We would probably be more careful about such “interpretations” but this comes under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Israel’s experience in Egypt provided an illustration of an event in the life of the Son of God.

(3) a literal prophecy with an application (vs. 17-18, quoting Jeremiah 31:15) - In its context, this fulfillment was not readily apparent. Matthew’s application is unequivocal.

(4) a summation of prophetic content with a literal fulfillment (vs. 23) - No specific text can be found for this. But notice two things: it is what was said by all the prophets (plural) and it is what was said by the prophets. Much prophecy took place that was never written down.

Perhaps our understanding of these hermeneutical practices may be helped by a better understanding of the word that Matthew uses for “fulfilled”. The Greek word (πληρὸω, playro’o) might be best translated as “filled full”. For example, it’s the word used to express what happens when the priest’s incense fills the Holy of Holies, when fish fill the net, when sorrow fills the heart, and when the wind filled the house on Pentecost, and when Satan filled Ananias’ heart. In terms of fulfillment of Scripture, the meaning of πληρὸω can be “to fill it full” or “flesh it out”. That would give it more of a sense of illustration or application, rather than a direct prophetic fulfillment.

While important, don’t let technicalities ruin your enjoyment of these texts! Jesus is the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies. But He is also the One who fills your heart full as you read the Scriptures and recognize His presence there and in your life.