Who Is the Messiah? Part 2: What Does the Old Testament Say?

We have seen that Jesus said he was what the scriptures promised he would be: the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head, the Son of God, the anointed one, the Messiah. Religious leaders tried to kill him NOT because he said he was God, but because he claimed to be the Messiah. This was blasphemy to them. Now we will see how the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Psalms, spoke of the Messiah. This promised redeemer was not God, but His Son.

Who Was the Messiah to Be?

One way to know what the people in Jesus’ time thought of him, is to see the Old Testament scriptures that prophesied of him. That is what they studied and believed.

Jesus was the promised “seed” of the woman in Genesis 3:15. He was Abraham’s “seed” in whom all nations would be blessed (Genesis 26:4). And was David’s “son” who would sit on the throne forever (I Chronicles 22:10). He is the great subject of the scriptures.

In Isaiah he is “the branch of the Lord” (4:2); “a stone of stumbling to some” (8:14); a Branch and “the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear [respect] of the Lord” (11:1,2); “precious and tried and sure” (28:16); “was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for [forgiveness of] our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (53:5); “cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (53:8).

The Book of Psalms has many truths regarding who the Messiah would be. Psalms can be divided into five books, each corresponding to one of the five books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy). Note some of the scriptures concerning the Messiah in each of these five Books in Psalms.

(Psalms 1—41) Genesis Book of Psalms 

Psalms 2:1,2:
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying.

Quoted by Peter in Acts 4:25,26 regarding attacks by religious and political leaders  

Psalms 2:7:
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  

Quoted by Paul in Acts 13:33, preaching at Antioch of Pisidia and in Hebrews 5:5 concerning Jesus Christ as God’s Son

Psalms 8:4:
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 2:6 concerning Jesus as Adam’s son

Psalms 16:8-11:
I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:25-28 

Psalms 16:10:
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  

Quoted by Paul in Acts 13:35 while preaching about Jesus Christ at Antioch of Pisidia

Psalms 22:16,17:
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.  

Fulfilled at Jesus’ crucifixion in John 19:37

Psalms 22:18:
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Fulfilled by the soldiers at Jesus’ crucifixion in John 19:24

Psalms 32:1,2:
A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  

Quoted by Paul in Romans 4:6-8 of righteousness in Jesus Christ  

Psalms 34:20:
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Fulfilled at Jesus’ crucifixion in John 19:36

Psalms 35:19:
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 

Quoted by Jesus about himself in John 15:25   

Psalms 41:9:
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Jesus referring to Judas Iscariot in John 13:18

Peter possibly referring to Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:16  

Psalms 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justifiedwhen thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Quoted by Paul in Romans 3:4 concerning God’s righteousness to mankind in Christ

(Psalms 42—72) Exodus Book of Psalms 

Psalms 68:18:
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.  

Quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:8 about God’s gifts through what Christ accomplished for us 

Psalms 69:4:
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

Quoted by Jesus about himself in John 15:25    

Psalms 69:9:
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.  

Remembered by Jesus Christ’s disciples in John 2:17

Psalms 69:21:
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Fulfilled at Jesus’ crucifixion in John 19:28-30

Psalms 69:22,23:
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

Quoted by Paul in Romans 11:9,10 about those having a spirit of slumber

Psalms 69:25:
Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

Quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20 concerning Judas Iscariot

(Psalms 73—89) Leviticus Book of Psalms

Psalms 78:2:
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.

Quoted in Matthew 13:35 concerning Jesus teaching the multitude in parables

Psalms 78:24,25:
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.

Summarized by those seeking bread from Jesus in John 6:31

Psalms 82:6:
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.  

Quoted by Jesus about himself in John 10:34 

(Psalms 90—106) Numbers Book of Psalms

Psalms 91:11:
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  

Quoted by the Devil to Jesus while tempting him in Matthew 4:6 

Psalms 95:7,8:
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 3:15; 4:7 concerning our rest in Christ

Psalms 95:11:
Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.  

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 4:3 concerning our rest in Christ

Psalms 102:25-27:
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 1:10-12 concerning God’s eternal plan in sending Jesus Christ

 (Psalms 107—150) Deuteronomy Book of Psalms

 Psalms 109:3:
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.  

Possibly quoted by Jesus about himself in John 15:25   

 Psalms 110:1:
A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”  

Jesus asked the religious leaders, “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?” and then quoted this scripture in Matthew 22:43,44. Then he asked: “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”

Quoted also by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:34,35

Psalms 110:4:
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.  

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 5:6 and Hebrews 7:17

 Psalms 116:10:
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted. 

Quoted by Paul in II Corinthians 4:13 about life with the gift of holy spirit

 Psalms 118:22,23:
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.  

Quoted by Jesus concerning himself in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10,11; Luke 20:17

 Psalms 119:161:
Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Possibly quoted by Jesus about himself in John 15:25   

Psalms 132:11:
The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.  

Quoted by the people in John 7:42 concerning Jesus as a prophet and Messiah who would sit at God’s right hand

Psalms 144:3:
Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!  

Quoted by Paul in Hebrews 2:6 concerning Jesus as Adam’s son

So many prophecies about the Messiah are found in the Book of Psalms.

In the Genesis Book of the Psalms the Messiah is God’s anointed, His Son, the son of man (Adam), His holy one who would be raised from the dead. The Messiah would suffer and be pierced, stared at, have his garments parted, be a sacrifice and covering for sin, have no bone broken, be hated without cause, and have his own “friend” betray him.

In the Exodus Book of the Psalms the Messiah is God’s gift-giver, hated without cause, zealous for His house, and given gall and vinegar.

In the Leviticus Book of the Psalms the Messiah is God’s teacher in parables, bread from heaven, and the one who makes us children of God.

In the Numbers Book of the Psalms the Messiah is God’s dear one protected by angels, the one who brings His rest, and His unchanging purpose to save all people.

In the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms the Messiah is God’s sent one who is libeled and hated without cause, the one who will sit at God’s right hand, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, the one who believed and spoke what God wanted, the stone refused by the “builders” that becomes the cornerstone, persecuted by worldly leaders without cause, the son of David who would sit on David’s throne, and the son of man (Adam) that God takes knowledge of.

The Old Testament shows that the Messiah was to be a suffering savior, a high priest, God’s Son, a ruler on David’s throne, raised from the dead, seated at God’s right hand. It NEVER shows the Messiah to be God.

In Part 3, we will see what the Judeans of Jesus’ time believed the Messiah should be. We will see how Jesus carried out what the Messiah should do. And we will see how different God’s Son was from the expectations of those who did not understand God’s Word.