Matthew 1:22

Letters to the Faithful - Matthew 1:22

Berean Standard Bible

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

King James Bible

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Greek Text:

Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος.

Transliteration:

Touto de holon gegonen hina plērōthē to rhēthen hypo Kyriou dia tou prophētou legontos.

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All this took place

This phrase refers to the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, including the angelic announcement to Joseph and the virgin conception of Mary. It emphasizes the divine orchestration of these events, indicating that they were not random but part of a predetermined plan. This aligns with the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His ability to bring His purposes to fruition, as seen throughout Scripture.

to fulfill

The concept of fulfillment is central to the Gospel of Matthew, which frequently highlights how Jesus' life and ministry fulfill Old Testament prophecies. This fulfillment underscores the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, showing that Jesus is the anticipated Messiah who completes the promises made to Israel. The idea of fulfillment also points to the reliability and faithfulness of God in keeping His word.

what the Lord had said

This phrase underscores the divine origin of the prophecy, affirming that it is God Himself who speaks through the prophets. It highlights the authority and inspiration of Scripture, as the words of the prophets are not merely human opinions but divine revelations. This is consistent with the biblical view that all Scripture is God-breathed and authoritative for teaching and instruction.

through the prophet:

The prophet referred to here is Isaiah, specifically pointing to Isaiah 7:14, which prophesies the virgin birth of the Messiah. This connection to Isaiah is significant because it situates Jesus within the larger narrative of Israel's history and God's redemptive plan. Isaiah's prophecies often contain messianic themes, and this particular prophecy is seen as a type of Christ, prefiguring His miraculous birth and divine nature. The use of prophecy also serves to validate Jesus' identity as the Messiah, as He fulfills the specific criteria laid out in the Hebrew Scriptures.

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Matthew 1:22, which reads in the New Revised Standard Version, “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,” serves as a pivotal theological statement in the Gospel of Matthew, encapsulating the evangelist’s conviction that the events surrounding Jesus’ birth are not mere historical occurrences but divinely orchestrated fulfillments of God’s promises articulated through Israel’s prophetic tradition. This verse, nestled within the narrative of Jesus’ birth and the angelic announcement to Joseph, functions as a bridge between the Old Testament and the New, underscoring Matthew’s broader theme of continuity between God’s covenant with Israel and its culmination in Jesus, the Messiah. To unpack the depth of this verse, we must consider its literary context, theological implications, historical setting, and its role in shaping Matthew’s Christological and ecclesiological vision, all while attending to the nuances of the text itself.

The immediate context of Matthew 1:22 is the account of Joseph’s response to Mary’s pregnancy, a situation fraught with social and personal tension. Joseph, described as a “righteous man” (1:19), faces a dilemma: his betrothed is pregnant, and he is not the father. His initial resolve to divorce Mary quietly reflects both his adherence to Torah and his compassion, sparing her public disgrace. However, an angel of the Lord intervenes in a dream, revealing that the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, for he will “save his people from their sins” (1:21). Matthew 1:22 follows this divine announcement, serving as an authorial comment that interprets the event as the fulfillment of a prophetic word, specifically the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which Matthew quotes in the subsequent verse: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us’” (1:23). This narrative structure—event followed by a fulfillment formula—is characteristic of Matthew’s Gospel, appearing multiple times (e.g., 2:15, 2:17, 4:14) to emphasize that Jesus’ life aligns with God’s redemptive plan foretold in Scripture.

The phrase “to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet” is rich with theological weight. The Greek verb plēroō, translated as “fulfill,” carries the sense of bringing to completion or filling to the brim. In Matthew’s usage, it suggests that the events of Jesus’ life are not merely predicted by the prophets but are the climactic realization of God’s intentions for humanity. The passive construction, “what had been spoken,” reflects a Jewish reverence for God’s name, often avoiding direct reference to divine action, while “by the Lord” emphasizes the divine origin of the prophecy. The phrase “through the prophet” (here referring to Isaiah) acknowledges the human instrumentality of God’s revelation, positioning the prophets as mediators of divine truth. Matthew’s formulaic language here is deliberate, signaling to his audience—likely a Jewish-Christian community familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures—that Jesus is the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

The citation of Isaiah 7:14 in Matthew 1:23 requires careful consideration, as it illuminates Matthew’s interpretive approach to Scripture. In its original context, Isaiah 7:14 is addressed to King Ahaz of Judah during a time of political crisis in the 8th century BCE. The prophet assures Ahaz that a young woman (‘almah in Hebrew, translated as parthenos or “virgin” in the Greek Septuagint) will bear a son named Immanuel, as a sign that God will deliver Judah from its enemies before the child reaches maturity. Scholars debate whether Isaiah’s prophecy referred to a contemporary event (e.g., the birth of Ahaz’s son Hezekiah) or a future messianic figure. Matthew, however, guided by the Septuagint’s rendering of parthenos, sees in this text a typological fulfillment in Jesus’ virginal conception. This interpretive move is not a simplistic proof-texting but a theological conviction that the patterns of God’s saving acts in Israel’s history find their ultimate expression in Jesus. The name “Emmanuel” underscores this, affirming Jesus’ identity as the embodiment of God’s presence, a theme Matthew returns to in the Gospel’s conclusion, where the risen Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:20).

Matthew’s use of Isaiah 7:14 also highlights his engagement with his Jewish context. His audience, likely including Jewish Christians navigating their identity in relation to the broader Jewish community, would have been attuned to debates about messianic expectations and scriptural interpretation. By framing Jesus’ birth as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Matthew asserts that Jesus is the true heir to Israel’s hopes, not a departure from them. Yet, his emphasis on the virginal conception—a detail not explicit in the Hebrew text of Isaiah—may reflect a distinctive Christian claim, possibly addressing Greco-Roman as well as Jewish audiences familiar with miraculous birth stories. This dual audience is plausible given the Gospel’s circulation in a mixed cultural milieu, perhaps in a city like Antioch, where Jewish and Gentile Christians coexisted.

Theologically, Matthew 1:22 establishes Jesus as the focal point of salvation history. The verse implies a divine intentionality that spans centuries, suggesting that God’s plan, articulated through the prophets, has always been oriented toward the coming of Christ. This perspective aligns with Matthew’s broader Christology, which presents Jesus as both the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (5:17) and the authoritative interpreter of God’s will. Moreover, the verse underscores the trustworthiness of God’s word: what God speaks through the prophets does not fail but comes to fruition in unexpected yet perfect ways. For Matthew’s community, facing challenges such as persecution or skepticism about Jesus’ messiahship, this assurance would have been profoundly encouraging, reinforcing their faith in God’s sovereignty and fidelity.

The verse also carries ecclesiological implications. By linking Jesus’ birth to Israel’s prophetic tradition, Matthew invites his readers to see themselves as part of the continuing story of God’s people. The “people” whom Jesus will save from their sins (1:21) are not only the Israel of old but the new community of disciples, Jew and Gentile, who follow Jesus. This inclusive vision is subtle in chapter 1 but becomes explicit later in the Gospel, particularly in the Great Commission (28:19). Matthew 1:22, then, is not merely a historical claim about Jesus’ birth but a theological foundation for the church’s identity as the community in which God’s promises are realized.

Historically, Matthew 1:22 reflects the early Christian practice of rereading the Hebrew Scriptures in light of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This hermeneutical approach, evident across the New Testament (e.g., Luke 24:27, Acts 2:16–21), assumes that Jesus is the key to understanding Scripture’s deeper meaning. For Matthew, the events of Jesus’ life are not random but divinely scripted, fulfilling patterns embedded in Israel’s sacred texts. This conviction likely emerged in early Christian communities as they sought to articulate Jesus’ significance in relation to their Jewish heritage and to proclaim him to a wider world. Matthew’s Gospel, probably written around 80–90 CE, codifies this interpretive tradition, providing a written testimony for both catechesis and mission.

In conclusion, Matthew 1:22 is a theological linchpin in the Gospel’s opening chapter, weaving together themes of divine faithfulness, messianic fulfillment, and the continuity of God’s redemptive plan. It invites readers to see Jesus’ birth not as an isolated miracle but as the climax of God’s promises to Israel, realized in a way that transcends human expectation yet remains rooted in the prophetic word. For Matthew’s original audience, this verse would have affirmed their faith in Jesus as the Messiah and strengthened their identity as God’s people. For contemporary readers, it challenges us to consider how God’s promises continue to unfold in our world, calling us to trust in Jesus the One who is God with us Emmanuel, God with us.

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To the beloved brothers and sisters in the faith across every land and tongue,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I write to you concerning the sure word of God, that which was spoken through the prophets and fulfilled in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Let us consider together the words of the Gospel according to Matthew, which declares: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” This verse is not just a historical reference; it is a living testimony to the unshakable faithfulness of our God.

What does it mean that “all this took place”? It refers to the miraculous and humbling events surrounding the birth of Jesus—the conception by the Holy Spirit, the angel’s visitation to Joseph, and the divine assurance that this child was not born of man’s will but of God’s promise. This was no accident of time, no coincidence of history. It was the deliberate unfolding of a plan spoken long before, whispered through the mouths of prophets, and carried through centuries by divine providence.

Matthew is helping us see that everything—every step of the story—was according to what the Lord had spoken. Our God is not silent. He has spoken from the beginning, and His words do not fall to the ground. What He has said, He will do. The birth of Christ was not an improvisation; it was fulfillment. This is the heart of our confidence: the Word of the Lord is trustworthy. His promises are not like shifting shadows, but like the rising sun, certain to appear.

In saying “to fulfill what the Lord had spoken,” the evangelist invites us to see Jesus not merely as a good teacher or moral example, but as the very embodiment of God's ancient promises. He is the completion of every longing, the answer to every cry, the light that dawned after long darkness. God did not abandon His word to the prophet Isaiah when He said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” That name, Immanuel, meaning God with us, is more than a title—it is a declaration of God's presence among us in Christ. In Jesus, God has come near to dwell with His people, not in tents or temples made by hands, but in flesh and blood, in the midst of our brokenness.

Beloved, do not treat lightly the implications of this fulfilled word. If God is faithful to fulfill His promise of a Messiah, then He is surely faithful to fulfill every word He has spoken concerning our lives, our salvation, and His return. You may be walking through trials, standing in valleys where His presence seems hidden. But remember, the fulfillment did not come when all was bright and hopeful. It came in a time of Roman occupation, in a forgotten village, to a betrothed couple with no worldly power. God moves not when the world deems it right, but when His time has come. And when He moves, He moves in accordance with His Word.

Therefore, hold fast to what He has spoken. Let every promise in Scripture be for you a wellspring of hope. When He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He means it. When He says, “I go to prepare a place for you,” trust Him. And when He says, “I am coming soon,” let your heart rejoice. His delays are not denials; His silence is not absence. Just as He fulfilled His Word in the coming of Jesus, so He will fulfill every word yet to be completed.

In a world where words are many and truth is scarce, the Word of the Lord stands apart. Let it be the foundation of your life. Let it shape your thinking, your decisions, and your responses to hardship. Anchor yourself not in emotion or circumstance, but in the unchanging declarations of God. And when you feel uncertain, return to passages like this one in Matthew—reminders that what God has spoken, He has done, and what He has done, He will do again.

Let us walk, then, as people of the promise. Let us encourage one another daily with the faithfulness of God. Let us live in such a way that we become fulfillment vessels of His word to others—carriers of light, messengers of hope, reflections of His truth.

May the same Spirit who overshadowed Mary and brought forth Christ within her now dwell in you richly, bringing forth the life of Christ in your speech, your actions, and your love. And may you, like Matthew, have eyes to see the fingerprints of God's promises fulfilled all around you.

Stand firm. Believe deeply. Trust wholly. For the Word of the Lord endures forever.

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Heavenly Father,

Maker of heaven and earth, Keeper of covenant, and Faithful One throughout all generations, we come before You with hearts bowed in reverence and gratitude. We lift our voices to You, the God who speaks and does not lie, whose every word stands firm and whose promises never fail. You are the Lord who spoke through the prophets, and You are the Lord who fulfilled every word in the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Today, we behold again with awe the truth of what was written in the Gospel of Matthew: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.”

O God, how great and marvelous are Your ways! Before the foundation of the world, You purposed redemption, and through the unfolding of time, You declared it piece by piece, word by word, until the day came when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We praise You that You did not leave us in silence or darkness, but in the fullness of time, You fulfilled what You had spoken. You remembered Your word to Isaiah. You remembered the cry of Israel. You remembered the longing of a world groaning for a Savior—and You sent Jesus, born of a virgin, called Immanuel, God with us.

Lord, we confess that in our frailty, we often doubt what You have spoken. We become discouraged in waiting, forgetful in trials, distracted by the noise around us. But today, we remember. Today, we return to the sure ground of Your Word. We anchor our faith not in what we see, but in what You have said. As You were faithful then, so You are faithful now. As Your word was true in Bethlehem, it is true today—in every season, in every circumstance, in every heart that believes.

O Lord, increase our faith. Teach us to treasure what You have spoken, even when fulfillment seems far off. Help us to remember that the time between promise and fulfillment is never wasted, but full of Your working. Let us not grow weary in hope. Let us not treat prophecy as distant history but as living breath that continues to shape us and call us forward. Let us read Your Scriptures not as distant words for ancient people, but as the present voice of a living God.

Holy Spirit, open our eyes to recognize the fingerprints of fulfillment all around us. Let us see how even now You are accomplishing what You promised through Christ—healing the brokenhearted, setting captives free, drawing the nations to Yourself. Let us live each day as people of the fulfilled Word—marked by trust, by patience, by hope that does not disappoint. And let us be people through whom Your Word is fulfilled in the lives of others: peacemakers, encouragers, witnesses of truth, carriers of the same light that broke into the world through Christ.

God of fulfillment, help us to walk in step with Your purposes. Help us to live not in fear of what is to come, but in faith in what You have declared. Let the truth of Matthew 1:22 echo in our hearts whenever we face uncertainty: that You are a God who speaks, and more than that, a God who fulfills. Let every doubt be met with remembrance. Let every fear be answered with Your promises. Let every waiting season stir up worship rather than weariness.

We thank You, Father, that You did not leave one word unfulfilled. And we trust that You will be just as faithful to complete the work You have begun in us. Until Christ returns, may we live as those who believe in the God who finishes what He begins. May our lives be a song of praise to the One who keeps His Word.

We offer this prayer in the name of the One who is the fulfillment of all prophecy, the Yes and Amen to every promise, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.