'Rightly Dividing the Word'
Believed John the Baptist
Mat 3:13,16 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Jesus submitted Himself to the last OT Prophet John the Baptist, by being baptized by him.
Jesus Believed the Prophets
Hos 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Not only did Jesus submit to John the Baptist but also to the other prophets. One example was the woman caught in adultery, He showed mercy instead judgment (or sacrifice)
Repentance By the Prophets
Jer 25:4-5 And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, 'Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever."
All the warnings of the prophets were the same:- 'everyone to repent from his evil ways, otherwise judgment with calamities. But unfortunately the Jews refused to listen.
John was sent to warn the Jews by preaching repentance and the end was near (kingdom of heaven is at hand). All those who rejected the gospel would die in their sins (damnation).
Luke 3:8-9 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Fulfilled the Prophets
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus with His disciples continued to preached and baptized the repented Jews so that more Jews would believe Jesus and be saved.
Since Jesus had believed the Prophets and had taken over the ministry of John the Baptist, who was the last Prophet, thus by this very action Jesus had fulfilled the Prophets.
Since our Lord Jesus had fulfilled the Prophet, then any Jew, who is a born again Christian, having believed and accepted the gospel of grace has already kept the Prophet in Christ Jesus.
Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
Note - will share later how Jesus fulfilled the law.
