"But this has all taken place that the writings of the Prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56)
What does 'might be fulfilled' mean?
The meaning of this statement has often been misconstrued.Some have suggested that the purpose of all the Prophets' teachings was to predict the arrival and persecution of Jesus.
Such an irresponsible interpretation has had the effect of muting the key teachings of the Prophets, upon which Jesus' teachings were based.
Such a notion - that the purpose This is a mischaracterization of not only Jesus' statement but of the teachings of esteemed servants of God such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Job and others.
Did Jesus' teachings mirror the Prophets' teachings?
The Prophets' teachings focused upon devoting our lives to God and loving God. Is this not also what Jesus taught? Just consider the major teachings of some of the Prophets:"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)The teachings of the Prophets were thus consistent: We should come to love God, walk with God, be attentive to God, revere Him, think of Him, serve Him, and live our lives for Him. These are the teachings of the Prophets.
"And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to revere the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut. 10:12)
"Love the LORD your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always." (Deut. 11:1)
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut. 11:13)
"If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow - to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to hold fast to Him" (Deut. 11:22)
"You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut. 13:3)
"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." (Deut. 30:6)
"For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." (Deut. 30:16)
"And that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life" (Deut 30:20)
"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." (Joshua 22:5)
"So be very careful to love the LORD your God." (Joshua 23:11)
"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth - you who keep your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way." (2 Chron 6:14)
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands (Nehemiah 1:5)
"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever." (Psalm 52:8)
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands" (Daniel 9:4)
"But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always." (Hosea 12:6)
"Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love" (Joseph 2:13)
These are writings of the Prophets that Jesus refers to. Jesus "fulfilled" these teachings because he himself loved God, walked with God, and revered God.
(With respect to the phrase, "fear the Lord" used in much of the Old Testament - the word "fear" is translated from the Hebrew word יָרֵא (yare'), means "to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe" and "to revere.")
Why was Jesus referring to the Prophets?
If Jesus is not saying the Prophets predicted this, then what is he saying?Jesus is speaking to the fact that his life and teachings all satisfy these very same messages taught by the Prophets. The word "fulfill" is being translated from the Greek πληρόω (plēroō), which means, according to the lexicon, 'to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out,' 'to carry into effect, bring to realization, realize' and 'of matters of duty: to perform, execute'.
In other words, Jesus acted on the teachings of the Prophets. His life accomplished those teachings. His life manifested those teachings. His life carried out those teachings. His life satisfied those teachings.
And most specifically, Jesus' allowing himself to be arrested, tortured, and executed specifically fulfills (accomplishes, manifests, carries out) those teachings. Why?
We must remember why the chief priests of the temple institution arrested Jesus. Because they were intimidated by Jesus' teachings. His teachings threatened their positions of ecclesiastical (political) authority.
And it was on those very teachings that Jesus took a stand - because He loved God. He walked with God. He served God. His service was teaching on behalf of God. And they arrested him for this service to God - his teachings. Therefore, a more appropriate translation of this statement, as stated in the Lost Gospels of Jesus, would be:
Yet all this took place so the Scriptures of the Prophets might be executed.
Should we trust interpretations of compensated teachers?
It is a very practical matter. When a person receives payment or a salary in exchange for translating scripture or giving lectures, incentive relates to payment.The act is no longer service: It becomes an obligation.
A person receiving payment for a service becomes indebted or obligated to those who are paying. This means they must perform that service to the satisfaction of whoever is paying - the payor.
If the payor is an institution, the pastor, reverend, priest, or translator (scribe) must satisfy the institution and those who represent it.
Ultimately, because most religious institutions rely on donations from parishioners, the pastor, reverend or priest must satisfy those parishioners. This means they must not teach or translate something that the parishioners don't like.
Jesus didn't do that. Neither did John the Baptist nor the Prophets before them. They were messengers of God. They taught what God told them to say. They were not indebted to those they were speaking to.
Therefore, a person cannot be serving God while providing a service in exchange for money. Jesus himself clarified why this is so:
Service with an expectation of another return is not a spiritual activity. Service with an expectation of return is tainted and thus spoiled.
For this reason, teaching efforts driven by personal financial award, gaining followers, and/or the political positioning of one's institution are not accepted by the Supreme Being as service. And being appointed or elected by such an institution also cannot be accepted.
Jesus also instructed this process when he told his disciples that were being sent out to preach to not carry or collect money:
This doesn't mean that a true teacher cannot accept donations given voluntarily if used specifically for the purpose of preaching.
But once a profitable payment or a salary is accepted in exchange for the service of teaching, that teaching is spoiled. The exchange of money for service has replaced the potential for loving service to the Supreme Being.
Jesus' teachings executed the Scriptures of the Prophets. And what were Jesus' teachings? The very same teachings that Abraham, Moses, David and all of the other bonafide ancient teachers ("Prophets") taught:
A person receiving payment for a service becomes indebted or obligated to those who are paying. This means they must perform that service to the satisfaction of whoever is paying - the payor.
If the payor is an institution, the pastor, reverend, priest, or translator (scribe) must satisfy the institution and those who represent it.
Ultimately, because most religious institutions rely on donations from parishioners, the pastor, reverend or priest must satisfy those parishioners. This means they must not teach or translate something that the parishioners don't like.
Jesus didn't do that. Neither did John the Baptist nor the Prophets before them. They were messengers of God. They taught what God told them to say. They were not indebted to those they were speaking to.
Therefore, a person cannot be serving God while providing a service in exchange for money. Jesus himself clarified why this is so:
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)Because "money" represents materialism and the expectation of reward in return for service. service in return for money runs contrary to the service of God. This is because serving the Supreme Being is a spiritual activity. It is to be an activity based on caring for the Supreme Being and wanting to please the Supreme Being.
Service with an expectation of another return is not a spiritual activity. Service with an expectation of return is tainted and thus spoiled.
For this reason, teaching efforts driven by personal financial award, gaining followers, and/or the political positioning of one's institution are not accepted by the Supreme Being as service. And being appointed or elected by such an institution also cannot be accepted.
Jesus also instructed this process when he told his disciples that were being sent out to preach to not carry or collect money:
"Do not take a purse or bag ..." (Luke 10:4)He didn't want them carrying a purse because he didn't want them to collect any money for their preaching services. He also told them not to carry a bag so they would not be tempted to collect anything other than money.
This doesn't mean that a true teacher cannot accept donations given voluntarily if used specifically for the purpose of preaching.
But once a profitable payment or a salary is accepted in exchange for the service of teaching, that teaching is spoiled. The exchange of money for service has replaced the potential for loving service to the Supreme Being.
Jesus' teachings executed the Scriptures of the Prophets. And what were Jesus' teachings? The very same teachings that Abraham, Moses, David and all of the other bonafide ancient teachers ("Prophets") taught:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
