Is Yeshua the Promised Messiah?

By the mere fact that this question is being raised, some Christians may feel uncomfortable or become enraged even. But this is a legitimate question when it comes to a person who is yet to accept Yeshua (Jesus’ true Hebrew name) as the Messiah. In my personal journey, I like many other Christians believed in the Old Testament because I believed in Jesus. But now I can confidently say that I believe in Yeshua because of the Tanakh (Old Testament).

The Scriptures were the basis for the New Testament writers to prove that Yeshua was truly the promised Messiah. Over and over, throughout the Gospels, we see the writers bring references from the Torah, Writings & Psalms to show how Yeshua fulfilled specific Prophecies, thereby proving to the reader that He is the promised One.

To the most part, Christians have grown up with the belief that Yeshua is this promised Messiah, and have had no need to question its authenticity.

Those who claimed to be or was pronounced to be Messiah

1. Todah (Theudas) mentioned in Acts 5:36
2. Judah HaG’lili (Judas of Galilee) mentioned in Acts 5:37
3. Bar-Kosiba pronounced as Messiah by Rabbi Akiva in 132AD and given the name Bar-Kochva
4. Sabbatai Zevi pronounced as Messiah in 1666
5. Jacob Frank who proclaimed to be a Messiah in 1759
6. Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) who is believed to be the Messiah among the “Chabad” movement, and is said to be coming again.
7. and many others…

Why believe Yeshua is the promised Messiah?
There are many prophecies about the Messiah in the Scripture, of which some prophecies are significant and clear while others are not. The clearest way to convincingly answer whether Jesus/Yeshua could be the promised Messiah would be to compare these Scriptures against His story. This story is laid out in detail throughout the 4 Gospels and some of the other Books and Letters of the New Testament. The main purpose of the Gospels were to prove to the reader that Yeshua is this promised Messiah. So let us compare the Prophecies and the fulfillments of the prophecies mentioned in the New Testament writings according to the witness of these writers who laid their lives for what they believed.

PROPHECY (Messiah must…)	Scripture Reference	Fulfillment
Be the Seed made of a woman bruise the head of the serpent	Gen 3:15	Gal 4:4, 1Jn 3:8
Be the Seed of Abraham	Gen 12:3	Mat 1:1, Gal 3:16
Be the Seed of Isaac	Gen 17:19, 21:12	Mat 1:2, Luk 3:34, Heb 11:17-19
Be the Seed of Jacab Be the Star of Jacob	Gen 28:14, Num 24:17-19	Mat 1:2, Luk 3:34, Rev 22:16
Descended from Judah	Gen 49:10	Mat 1:2-3, Luk 3:33, Heb 7:14
Descended from David Heir to the Throne	2Sam 7:12-13, Jer 23:5, Isa 9:6,7, 11:1-5	Mat 1:6, Rom 1:3, Luk 1:32
Exist Forever	Micah 5:2	Joh 8:58, Col 1:15-19
Be the Son of God	Psalm 2:7, Pro 30:4	Mat 3:17, Luk 1:32
Bear the Name of God (YHVH)	Jer 23:5,6	Philip 2:9-11
To appear 69×7 Yrs after rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem	Dan 9:25,26	Mat 2:1,16,19. Luk 3:1,23
Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2	Mat 2:1, Luk 2:4-7
Be born of a Virgin	Isa 7:14	Mat 1:18-25, Luk 1:26-35
Be Revered by Kings	Psa 72:10,11	Mat 2:1-11
Follows a messenger who prepares the way	Isa 40:3-5, Mal 3:1	Mat 3:1-3, Luk 1:17, 3:2-6
Be anointed by the Spirit of God	Isa 11:2, 61:1, Psa 45:7	Mat 3:16, Joh 3:34 Act 10:38
Be a Prophet like Moses	Deut 18:15,18	Act 3:20-22
Liberate the afflicted, proclaim freedom to the prisoners and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor	Isa 61:1,2	Luk 4:18,19
Engage in a Healing Ministry	Isa 35:5,6, 42:18	Mat 11:3-5
Lead a Ministry in Galilee	Isa 9:1-2	Mat 4:12-16
Be Caring, Compassionate, Meek & Humble	Isa 40:11, 42:1-3	Mat 12:15-21, Heb 4:15
To be Sinless	Isa 53:9	1 Pet 2:22
Bear the Transgressions of others	Psa 69:9, Isa 53:12	Rom 15:3
Be a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek	Psa 110:4,	Heb 5:5,6, 6:20, 7:15-17
Enter Jerusalem riding on a Donkey	Zec 9:9	Mat 21:1-11, Mar 11:1-11
Enter the Temple with authority	Mal 3:1	Mat 21:12 – 24:1, Joh 2:13-22
Be hated without a cause	Psa 69:4,	Joh 15:24-15
Undesirable and rejected by His own people	Isa 53:2, 63:3, Psa 69:8	Mar 6:3, Joh 1:11, 7:3-5
Rejected by the rulers	Psa 118:22	Mat 21:42, Joh 7:48
Rejected by Jews & Gentiles alike	Psa 2:1,2	Act 4:25-27
Betrayed by a friend	Psa 55:12-14	Act 1:16-18 Mat 26:21-25, 47-50;
Be sold for 30 Pieces of Silver	Zec 11:12	Mat 26:15
Pay the price for the Potter’s field	Zec 11:13	Mat 27:3-10, Act 1:18,19
Must be abandoned by His disciples	Zec 13:7	Mat 26:31,56
Be beaten with a Rod	Mic 5:1	Mat 27:30
Be Beaten and Spat upon	Isa 50:6	Mat 26:67, 27:30,31
Have His Feet and Hands Pierced	Zec 12:10, Psa 22:16,17	Mat 27:35, Luk 24:39 Joh 20:25,27
Be craving of Thirst	Psa 22:15	Joh 19:28
Be given Vinegar to Drink	Psa 69:21	Mar 15:36, Joh 19:29
Have none of His bones broken	Psa 34:20,	Joh 19:33-36
Be Considered a Sinner	Isa 53:12	Mar 15:28, Luk 22:37
Be put to death after 69×7 Yrs after rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem	Dan 9:24-26	Mat 2:1, Luk 3:1,23 1Pet 3:18
Be a whose Death will be atonement to all mankind	Isa 53:5-7,12	Mar 10:45, Joh 1:29, 3:16, Acts 8:30-35
Be Buried among the Rich	Isa 53:9	Mat 27:57-60
Rise again from the dead	Isa 53:9-10, Psa 16:10, Psa 2:7	Mat 28:1-20, Act 2:23-36, Act 13:33-37
Be lifted up to the right hand of God	Psa 16:11, 68:18, 110: 1	Luk 24:51, Act 1:9-11, Act 7:55, Heb 1:3
Perform priestly duties in Heaven	Zec 6:13	Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25, 8:2
Be the Cornerstone of God’s Congregation	Isa 28:16, Psa 118:22,23	Mat 21:42, Eph 2:20, 1Pet 2:5-7
Be the Person to whom even the Gentiles will turn to	Isa 11:10, 42:1	Mat 12:21, Rom 15:12, Act 10:45
Be accepted by the Gentile Nations as Ruler	Isa 49:1-12, Psa 18:49, Deut 32:43, Psa 117:1	Rom 15:9-11
Fulfill God’s Appointed Days	Lev 23	View the graph

Conclusion
While there are many claimants to the Messiah-ship of God, there is only one person in history who fulfilled a large array of Scriptures to prove that He is indeed the Messiah. Any person who is unsure whether He truly matches this position must read and compare the Scriptures with the writings of the New Testament to see whether these match up. To those of us who firmly believe that Yeshua is indeed the promised Messiah, we should also know the reason for that belief is all of the evidence laid out in the New Testament pointing at the Scriptures. The Scriptures and the many pieces of evidence it puts forth is why we believe that Yeshua, unlike other claimants, is the real “Messiah Ben Joseph” who will return someday as “Messiah Ben David”.

I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. What is the definition of “Fulfill”.

So many of us have heard the famous words of our Messiah Yeshua(Jesus’ true name), in Mat 5:17-19  “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

He said that He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. But what did He mean when He said that He came to Fulfil? Did He mean that He would complete it, so that we do not need to keep it? Did He mean that the Law will be finished/abolished after Him? What is the true meaning of Fulfil? Let us look at the word in Greek as it is written in the Original Manuscripts, to understand the word which is translated in English as “Fulfil”

Strong’s Greek Concordance
G4137 – πληρόω – plēroō – play-ro’-o – to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: – accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

Since we have looked at the meaning of the Original Greek Word, let’s look at some of the other places where this word has been used. Looking at the usage of this word and how it has been translated elsewhere will give us a clearer meaning into it. (G4137 – play-ro’-o – has been marked in bold)

Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Mat 23:32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Joh 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Joh 16:6  But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Joh 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Rom 15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Php 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

1Jn 1:4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Looking at the above verses, you will get a clearer picture of the meaning behind the word “Fulfil” Yeshua used in Matthew 5. The word Fulfil which is “G4137 – play-ro’-o” in the Greek, in most places is used as “Filled”, “Fill up”, “Full” & even as “perfect” and “fully preach”. If we use these definitions in place of “Fulfil”, the meaning of the verse becomes clearer.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to “fill up” / “perfect” / “fully preach”.

The next verse, confirms this meaning.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Yeshua said that not a “Jot” or “Tittle” (Which are small parts in the Hebrew letters like fullstops and commas) will pass from the “Law”(5 Books of Moses), till all is fulfilled. (The word translated as fulfilled in this verse is not “G4137 – play-ro’-o”. (It is G1096 – γίνομαι
ginomai – ghin’-om-ahee – A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.): – arise be assembled, be (come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, be done, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.)

Has Heaven and Earth passed away? Has all which is written in the Old Testament Scriptures been fulfilled? Have all the prophecies come to pass? Till all of the prophecies of the Old Testament come to pass, not one word can be abolished from God’s Words. This is further clarified by Yeshua’s next few words.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So, according to our savior’s words, not even the smallest Commandment which God uttered can be abolished. He warns people not to break them or teach others to break them. And His words in Mat 5:17 was meant as I am not come to destroy, but to “fill up” / “perfect” / “fully preach”. This is what He achieved in His lifetime on this earth. He Fully preached God’s word, helping people to see the “Spirit” in the “Word”. Not to follow God’s Commandments in a rigid form to the letter, but to do it with one’s heart and spirit with Love.

So let us also follow in His footsteps and play-ro’-o His word. Not to cause it to end or abolish, but to fill up/ fully do / fully preach His Words, which are not His own but belong to God Almighty.