Gospel of Matthew Prophecy Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #4

This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight'." (NRSV 3:3)

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (KJV 3:3)

Another Isaiah shout-out, but this time, it's John the Baptist who's fulfilling the prophecy. Does anyone else get prophecy-fulfilling privileges, or is it just the two all-stars, Jesus and John?

Quote #5

"With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would heal them.'" (NRSV 13:14-15)

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (KJV 13:14-15)

Now we're in Isaiah 6:9-10, and Jesus is explaining why he keeps using those crazy parables to teach the disciples. See, Jesus intentionally speaks in code so that only the special few (i.e., his followers) will understand his message.

Quote #6

"Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'" (NRSV 15:7-9)

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV 15:7-9)

Why does Jesus keep referring to this Isaiah guy? Well, he was one of the major Hebrew prophets (prophets = prophecy), so pointing to his words gives Matthew (via Jesus) some major street cred.