MATTHEW

Overview of the Old Testament Predictions and

The Inter-Testament Histories

By Johnny Tatum

The purpose of this overview is to unveil the Old Testament prophecies that clearly identify the One Who Was To Come, Messiah, and to present recorded inter-testament histories that lead up to the time of this Person, Jesus of Nazareth.

PART 1: WAS GOD WORKING BEHIND THE "CURTAIN"?

 

PLACEMENT OF MATTHEW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The words of the Bible are inspired, but the order of the Old and New Testament books is not. Mark was probably the first gospel written and the book of James, or possibly the book of Galatians, was the first New Testament book written.

I believe it is providential that the book of Matthew opens the New Testament; this book best gives a logical link back to the Old Testament, particularly since it was written—

 

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

There are striking differences between the closing of the Old Testament with the book of Malachi (450-400 B.C.) and the beginning of the New Testament with the book of Matthew (5/4 B.C.). It is as if the whole world has changed.

Superficially, much of it seems right as we examine the beginning of the New Testament. However, if you keep looking, you will note there are some things that are horribly wrong. Consider the differences in the times of Israel between the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament as presented in the following table:

Striking Differences In The Times Of The Testaments

Closing the Old Testament

—with the book of Malachi

Beginning the New Testament

—with the book of Matthew

Israel is in the Land.

Israel is in the Land.

The Temple is up. It is a smaller and less elaborate version of Solomon's Temple.

Sacrifices are going on.

There is a Levitical priesthood, and there is a high priest descended from Aaron [as there should be].

There is a Temple. Outwardly, this looks better because the Temple is bigger than the restoration Temple of Ezra and Zerubabel. It is even bigger than Solomon's Temple.

There is a priesthood.

The first difference we see that is drastically wrong is the high priest is not descended from Aaron.

The Israelites go to the Temple and to synagogues.

There is not a king over Israel. Israel is under the reign of Persia.

The ruler over Israel is called a Satrap.

We keep looking, and we see a second difference, which is seemingly good: Israel has a king again.

Is that good? No, because this king is not a descendant of David. He is not even a descendant of Jacob.

The king over Israel is a man named Herod [the Great] who is a descendant of Esau (of all people); he is an Edomite. Herod is crowned "king of the Jews", but he is not sovereign. Actually, he is a puppet governor under the sovereignty of Rome — an unknown nation in the Old Testament.

The most striking thing you see is the whole City of Jerusalem is full of Roman soldiers and Roman banners. How did they get there?
 

There are political parties; there are Pharisees and Saducees — there are even lawyers!
 

The Israelites are speaking the common language of Greek. There are three languages: Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

Originally, the Land was called Canaan. When the kingdom was formed, the Land was called Israel. At this time, the Land is divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south.

There is no Judah and no Israel. The Land is divided into Samaria, Galilee and Judea.

How did everything get this way? Obviously, between the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament, numerous changes had occurred.

 

THE 400 YEARS — BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS

Bridging the gap between the Old and New Testaments was a 400-year inter-testament period. To understand the book of Matthew, it is beneficial to know what happened during that period.

SILENT YEARS?

Many scholars use the term silent years to describe the 400-year inter-testament period. I do not like using the term, because it implies God was not speaking. We know, however, God never stops speaking to His people through His Holy Spirit to their spirit.

The 400-year period represents the time span when there were no new, inspired revelations and subsequent additions to Scripture from God. However, without a doubt, God continued working and speaking — just as He does today.

A Picture To Remember:

A CURTAIN IN THE MIDDLE

The biblical history of the world is in three stages:

  1. The Old Testament,
  2. A parenthesis between the Testaments, and
  3. The New Testament

 

The unfolding of this history is similar to a theatrical two-act play with a curtain between the acts, as follows:

Order of Drama:

Synopsis of Scenes:

Act One

Old Testament (begins with Genesis and closes with Malachi).

A Curtain Closes

God closes the curtain for a 400-year period.

Act Two

New Testament (begins with Matthew and closes with Revelation).

The plot of the play is as follows:

Someone — a Deliverer, King, Messiah — was to come.

There was activity behind the curtain, but we could not see what was happening. How do we know there is activity? When the curtain comes up, at the beginning of the second act, everything is different. God was behind the curtain preparing the next stage.

For what was He setting the stage? God was preparing for that moment to send His Son into the world:

God sent His Son when the fulness of time had come. (Galatians 4:4)

God sent His Son, Messiah Jesus, at the right time — when Act Two began!

Who do we see on stage?

Jesus of Nazareth: The ONE Who Was To Come!

 

Next:

Matthew Overview, Part 2: DO THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES REVEAL THIS PERSON?

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