Fulfilment

Matthew 12:18-21 “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.”

So we read Jesus fulfilling Old testament prophecies - See Isaiah 42 & 52!

Matthew's Gospel was written from a perspective of someone familiar with the Torah and the prophets in scripture.

For hundreds of years they had looked for the promised Messiah, but when he came, just as described, they didn't recognise him.

Or, if they did, his teachings didn't fit in with how they lived their lives.

It was too uncomfortable, too irreligious for them.

Just before the passage above, Jesus was confronted by the religious leaders, who made such a big deal of the Sabbath.

So much so that they started to plot Jesus' death after he healed a man with a withered hand on that day!

Imagine that - the leaders who were meant to reveal God's heart to the people - were so blinded by religious rules and regulations - they weren't rejoicing at the healing miracle but were incensed by the breaking of the Sabbath!

1 Corinthians 2:8

None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The greatest gift is to see Jesus as the fulfilment of God's promise of forgiveness and salvation.

Let's thank Him with all our hearts for the unspeakable gift:

2 Corinthians 9:15 AMPC

Now thanks be to God for His Gift, precious, beyond telling - His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift!