Of all the things that can be learned from the Bible, we must learn that the Bible is primarily a book about Jesus (I John 5:9-13 cp. John 5:37-47). God documented so many things about His Son, the Messiah, that it should be seen as unmistakable that the Jesus of the Bible is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God. Yet, there was and is confusion about the identity of Jesus. God's Spirit must reveal this to our hearts and mind from God's Word (Matthew 16:13-17 cp. Acts 17:10-12; 18:4-6cp. 16:14).

Our Scripture Reading from Matthew uses the word "fulfilled" four times (Matthew 1:22; 2:15,17,23). Also, notice the phrase "It is written" (Matthew 2:5). It was Matthew's emphasis, throughout his Gospel, to draw attention to many writings of the Old Testament that were fulfilled prophecies concerning Jesus Christ (eighteen examples - see note below).

Despite all this documentation, Satan still raises up counterfeits to confuse and blind people from seeing the truth about Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:1-6). Satan is a counterfeiter. He attempts to confuse the truth about God and His power by imitating God. (See Exodus 7:1-12 cp. II Corinthians 11:3,13-15).

False Christs had presented themselves to Israel before Jesus came (Acts 5:34-39). Jesus warned that false Christs would come after Him (Matthew 24:24). There are false Messiahs, false prophets, and false gospels (II Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1; I Timothy 4:1; I John 2:18-26; 4:1-6; Jude 3-4. Only God's Word and God's Spirit can protect us from them (John 10:1-5; Romans 1:16; 10:17; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; I Peter 1:18-25). We must actively seek the Lord to get through this maze of deception (Isaiah 55:1-3,6-11; Matthew 7:7-8,13-23; Colossians 2:8).

Read Matthew 11:1-6; Luke 7:11-23. John the Baptist was in prison. He sent two of His disciples to inquire if Jesus was the true Christ, or should they seek for another. John was not really doubting this, but he had disciples who were going to lose their leader soon. John was redirecting his disciples to continue in their life and ministry with Christ. See John 3:30. Of all the religious teachers and leaders; of all the denominations and religious movements in this world, make sure that you are personally following the one-and-only Savior, Jesus Christ. See John 5:22-25; 6:35-45,63; 8:30-36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 3:16; I John 5:12.

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Matthew used the word "fulfilled" to show Christ's life and ministry were foretold in the Old Testament: Matthew 1:22-23; 2:14-15, 16-18, 22-23; 4:13-16; 8:16-17; 12:15-21; 13:13-15, 34-35; 21:1-5; 26:51-54, 55-57; 27:3-10, 35. See also, "It is written." Matthew 2:4-6; 11:9-11; 26:23-25; 26:31 cp Luke 24:44-48.