{"id":44661,"date":"2024-04-12T02:48:56","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T23:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44661"},"modified":"2025-05-17T13:13:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T10:13:37","slug":"what-does-all-the-prophets-and-the-law-prophesied-until-john-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/04\/12\/what-does-all-the-prophets-and-the-law-prophesied-until-john-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does \u201cAll the Prophets and the Law Prophesied Until John\u201d Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s begin by reading the passage in context:<\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 11:12\u201313\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At face value, verse 13 might seem like it means the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament) predicted the coming of John the Baptist specifically. But that\u2019s not quite what Jesus is saying.<\/p>\n

Instead, He is pointing out a transition in redemptive history<\/em>. The phrase \u201cthe Law and the Prophets\u201d is a common Jewish way of referring to the Hebrew Scriptures (see Matthew 5:17, Luke 24:44). These Scriptures governed God\u2019s covenant relationship with Israel, offering His commandments through Moses and speaking His will through prophets.<\/p>\n

A Turning Point in God\u2019s Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus is identifying John the Baptist as the last in the line of the Old Testament prophets<\/strong>\u2014the final messenger under the old covenant who prepares the way for the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1; 4:5).<\/p>\n

Luke 16:16\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This verse from Luke echoes the same point but with added clarity. John\u2019s appearance marks the end of one era and the beginning of another\u2014the inauguration of the kingdom of God<\/strong> through the preaching of the gospel.<\/p>\n

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Under the Old Covenant:<\/p>\n