Among the laws of Deuteronomy 18 – 19, notice the characteristics of a prophet. The Israelites should not pay attention to the pagan Canaanites that will present them with their supposed spiritual credentials (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). Instead, Yahweh promises, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
The main purpose of the prophet will be the communication of Yahweh’s word: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18). The acknowledgement of and obedience to the word of this prophet will be the same as obeying the word of Yahweh Himself: “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:19).
Yesterday we saw that Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the characteristics of the king of Israel; today we will see that He also fulfills the characteristics of the prophet. He said, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me” (John 7:16). Later He specifies, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:49-50). He fulfills the communication of the Father’s word perfectly, and therefore, there are severe consequences if His listeners do not receive them: “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:47-48).
And these words of Jesus Christ were vindicated in His resurrection; His resurrection from among the dead demonstrated that His words were truly from the Father. The apostle Peter points out, “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people’” (Acts 3:22-23). And this prophet is Jesus Christ: “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:26).
Have you accepted the words of Jesus Christ as being the very words of God? Have you accepted the testimony of the Prophet of whom Moses prophesied?
The main purpose of the prophet will be the communication of Yahweh’s word: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18). The acknowledgement of and obedience to the word of this prophet will be the same as obeying the word of Yahweh Himself: “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:19).
Yesterday we saw that Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the characteristics of the king of Israel; today we will see that He also fulfills the characteristics of the prophet. He said, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me” (John 7:16). Later He specifies, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:49-50). He fulfills the communication of the Father’s word perfectly, and therefore, there are severe consequences if His listeners do not receive them: “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:47-48).
And these words of Jesus Christ were vindicated in His resurrection; His resurrection from among the dead demonstrated that His words were truly from the Father. The apostle Peter points out, “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people’” (Acts 3:22-23). And this prophet is Jesus Christ: “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:26).
Have you accepted the words of Jesus Christ as being the very words of God? Have you accepted the testimony of the Prophet of whom Moses prophesied?
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