Anthony’s Cell
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Jesus Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King, Old Testament Fulfillment
5:17
The audio reading presents an article from the Orthodox Study Bible on Christ's threefold office. It explains how Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings prefigure the Messiah. Deuteronomy 18 promises a prophet like Moses; the New Testament identifies Jesus as this prophet, recognized by crowds after the feeding of the five thousand and cited by Peter in Acts.
Psalm 109 (110) foretells a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek; Hebrews applies this to Jesus as eternal high priest who offers himself as both offerer and sacrifice, securing remission of sins, resurrection, reopening of paradise, sending of the Comforter, and eternal life. Jeremiah promises a righteous Branch from David; Isaiah and Zechariah foretell an eternal kingdom and a priest upon his throne.
Jesus enters Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, accepts the cross as King of the Jews, and will return as conquering King of kings. Psalm 2 and Psalm 21 affirm the Father's establishment of the Son over Zion and rule over nations; Isaiah includes Gentiles; Revelation names him King of kings and Lord of lords. The reading follows the article's structure: introduction on Old Testament offices, the prophet from Deuteronomy, the priest from Melchizedek and Hebrews, the king from Davidic prophecies and Palm Sunday, and conclusion on Christ reigning forever.
Scriptural references include Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Psalms 109:1-4, 2:6, 21:28, Hebrews 3:1, 8:1, 6:20, 8:3, Jeremiah 23:5, Isaiah 9:6-7, 62:2-3, Zechariah 6:13, 9:9, Matthew 21:1-7, 16:28, John 6:14, 7:40, 19:12-22, Acts 3:22-23, Revelation 19:16.
Key moments
- The article from the Orthodox Study Bible introduces Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, and king, explaining that Old Testament figures in these offices prefigured the coming Messiah.
- Deuteronomy 18:15-19 foreshadows Christ as the promised prophet like Moses from among the brethren, indicating the pre-incarnate Word taking human nature.
- The New Testament identifies Jesus as this prophet: after the feeding of the five thousand the crowd calls him the prophet who is to come, and Peter quotes Deuteronomy 18:18-19 in Acts to show Jesus as the fulfillment.
- Psalm 109:1-4 (LXX) foreshadows Christ as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, and Hebrews applies this to Jesus as the apostle and high priest of our confession seated at the right hand of the Majesty.
- As eternal high priest Jesus freely offers himself on the cross as the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling atonement through remission of sins; he is both the offerer and the offering, and by this gift resurrection is promised, paradise reopened, the Comforter sent, and eternal life given.
- Jeremiah records God's promise to raise up a righteous Branch for David who will reign as king and execute judgment and righteousness; Isaiah promises an eternal government from David's throne, and Zechariah 6:13 foreshadows a priest on his throne.
- On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem as a humble servant king on a donkey, willingly accepts the humiliation of the cross with the title King of the Jews, and at his second coming will appear as the all-conquering king of kings to execute judgment, destroy evil, and establish everlasting peace.
- Psalm 2:6 declares the Father established his Son over Zion, Psalm 21:28 says the kingdom belongs to the Lord over all nations, Isaiah includes the Gentiles, Jesus promises the Son of Man coming in his kingdom, and Revelation gives him the title king of kings and lord of lords.