March 3rd

When discussing “fulfillment”, Scripture discusses this term by discerning in history the pattern of God’s action and the shape of things to come. Things throughout the bible always remain open to fulfillment. Though there are times in which Scripture uses fulfillment to announce future things that are to come, the majority of times this term refers to visualizing the pattern of God’s actions and the way things are brought to be. When Mathew refers to the citation from Hosea “out of Egypt I called my son”, it may be incorrectly assumed that he is talking about the future and how Jesus will leave Egypt once it is safe for him and Heron has died. Yet, this citation refers to the past and to God’s lament over Israel’s faithlessness and the years of Exodus under Moses. 

In the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke we can see the different elements of the Old Testament narrative that were previously discussed in the way in which we see how there begins to exist the development of the new covenant that was hinted towards in the Old Testament. With the birth of Jesus we can see how this new law and covenant, as well as the new prophet that was foreshadowed begins to exist. With Jesus, a new covenant begins to be generated, one that serves as a continuation of the previous one. Similarly, we see an intense focus on the element of Kingship, both on how we can see the descendants of David still being the chosen ones to “rule” over Israel, and on God’s emphasis on his power and rule over the people. God makes a demonstration of his divine power to Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah by allowing Elizabeth to conceive despite her infertility and making Mary pregnant of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. This is God’s way of reinforcing his power and rule over the people of Israel, once again highlighting that he is the ultimate King of the people.