All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that the events surrounding Jesus' birth weren't just random occurrences; they were meticulously orchestrated by God. Matthew emphasizes that "all this" – the virgin conception, Joseph's dilemma, the angelic message, and Jesus' name – was done to bring about the fulfillment of prophecy, revealing God's active hand in orchestrating history to prove His faithfulness.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
English Standard Version (ESV)
Matthew is recounting the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus, presenting it not as a random event, but as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This verse directly links Joseph's decision to accept Mary and raise Jesus to a specific prediction made by the prophet Isaiah, setting the stage for the quotation of that prophecy in the following verse.
Was God's main goal in sending Jesus to prove the prophets right? Or was there something bigger at play?
Matthew 1:22-23 is a pivotal moment where the narrative pivots to highlight how Jesus's birth isn't just an event, but a divinely orchestrated fulfillment of God's long-standing plan.
Beyond Coincidence
Many passages in the Old Testament were indeed predictive, but Matthew emphasizes that Jesus's coming wasn't merely to fulfill those predictions. The primary goal was God's plan of salvation for humanity. The prophecies were like signposts pointing to the ultimate reality that was about to unfold.
Prophecy as a Witness
The prophecies served as a witness to God's faithfulness and a confirmation of Jesus's identity as the promised Messiah. They weren't the reason for God sending His Son, but rather evidence and assurance that God's redemptive plan was unfolding exactly as He had purposed.
The Ultimate Goal
As Benson notes, the events foretold by the prophets came to pass not because of the prophecies, but the prophecies predicted them because they would come to pass. God's overarching purpose was salvation, and the prophecies were interwoven into that tapestry, confirming His faithfulness along the way.
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When God speaks, who is the ultimate source, and who is the messenger? It matters more than you might think.
Matthew 1:22 uses specific language to describe how God's message reached humanity. Understanding the subtle difference between 'through' and 'by' reveals a deeper appreciation for God's agency and the human role in His communication.
God's Direct Agency
The phrase 'spoken by the Lord' (or in the original Greek, 'hupo' Kyriou) emphasizes that the ultimate source and authority behind the prophecy was God Himself. It wasn't just a human idea or a religious concept; it originated from the Divine Being.
The Prophet as the Instrument
However, the prophecy was conveyed ' through the prophet' (or in the original Greek, 'dia' tou prophētou). This signifies that the prophet was the instrument, the conduit, through which God's message was delivered to humankind. God didn't bypass human beings but chose to work through them, highlighting His willingness to engage with us in the unfolding of His plan.
A Partnership in Revelation
This distinction is crucial. It shows that God is the primary actor, but He also values and utilizes human participation. The prophet, like Matthew himself, was chosen and empowered by God to record and convey His timeless truths.
How can one verse predict two very different events? Explore the layers of meaning in ancient prophecy.
The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, quoted by Matthew, has a fascinating characteristic: it speaks to two distinct fulfillments, an immediate historical one and a ultimate Messianic one.
The Immediate Historical Context
Originally, Isaiah's prophecy was given to King Ahaz during a time of national crisis, as Judah was threatened by invading armies. The 'sign' of a virgin bearing a son named Immanuel was a reassurance to Ahaz that the land would be delivered from its immediate enemies before the child was old enough to discern good from evil. This served as a sign of God's presence and protective power for that generation.
The Deeper Messianic Fulfillment
Matthew, however, applies this prophecy directly to the birth of Jesus. He sees in the virgin birth and the name Immanuel ('God with us') a far more profound and ultimate fulfillment. While the original context was about God's deliverance of Judah from a political threat, Matthew highlights how Jesus's birth signifies God's presence with humanity in a much more profound way – entering our world to save us from our sins.
Layers of Divine Revelation
This dual fulfillment demonstrates that God's prophetic word is often richer and deeper than its initial historical context might suggest. The New Testament writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, could see the 'ideal' or 'theological' dimension of these prophecies, recognizing how they pointed forward to Christ and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan across history.
Understand the original words
plēroō · Greek Verb
To bring to pass, complete, or realize what was promised or foretold by God in Scripture.
This verse anchors Jesus' birth not just in theological fulfillment, but in a specific, ancient promise made centuries earlier during a time of national crisis. It connects the intimate event of a virgin's pregnancy with the grand unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout Israel's history.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Immanuel given to Ahaz
The prophet Isaiah delivers a sign to King Ahaz of Judah: a young woman will give birth to a son named Immanuel (God with us) before the land is ravaged by invading armies.
c. 740 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War begins
Rezin of Aram (Syria) and Pekah of Israel invade Judah, threatening Jerusalem and its king, Ahaz. Ahaz seeks alliance with Assyria.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports some of the Judean elite, including Daniel, beginning the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon, ending the Davidic monarchy in Judah.
c. 20 BC - 1 BC— this verse
Joseph and Mary's Betrothal and Pregnancy
Mary, a young woman betrothed to Joseph, is found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a descendant of David, plans to quietly dissolve the engagement.
c. 1 BC - AD 1
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and uniting God's presence with humanity.
This is the specific prophecy quoted by Matthew, directly linking the virgin birth to Old Testament scripture and fulfilling the statement in Matthew 1:22.
Isaiah 9:6This passage describes the future child with titles like 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,' echoing the divine significance of Immanuel ('God with us') mentioned in the fulfillment.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy speaks of a 'new covenant' that God will make, written on their hearts, where He will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more, aligning with the salvific purpose of Jesus' birth to fulfill God's redemptive plan.
Luke 1:31-35This passage provides the parallel account of Jesus' miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing God's direct intervention and the fulfillment of divine promises through Mary, underscoring the event's prophetic significance.
Romans 15:8-9Paul explicitly states that Jesus became a servant to the circumcised to confirm God's promises to Israel and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, directly connecting Jesus' earthly ministry and birth to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and God's broader plan.
vincentMatthew 1:22: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,"
Through the prophet (διά)So the Rev. rightly, instead of by. In quotations from the Old Testament, the writers habitually use the preposition διὰ (through) to denote the instrumentality through which God works or speaks, while they reserve ὑπὸ (by) to express the primary agency of God himself. So here the prophecy in Matthew 1:23was spoken by the Lord, but was communicated…
bensonMatthew 1:22: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,"
Matthew 1:22. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled — That is, by the doing of all this was fulfilled the following prophecy. For we are not to suppose that the bare accomplishment of an ancient prediction was the end God had in view in sending his Son into the world; which would imply that, if no such prediction had been given, God would not have sent his Son. No: G…
This verse highlights that the events surrounding Jesus' birth weren't just random occurrences; they were meticulously orchestrated by God. Matthew emphasizes that "all this" – the virgin conception, Joseph's dilemma, the angelic message, and Jesus' name – was done to bring about the fulfillment of prophecy, revealing God's active hand in orchestrating history to prove His faithfulness.
Matthew is recounting the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus, presenting it not as a random event, but as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This verse directly links Joseph's decision to accept Mary and raise Jesus to a specific prediction made by the prophet Isaiah, setting the stage for the quotation of that prophecy in the following verse.
Matthew is recounting the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus, presenting it not as a random event, but as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This verse directly links Joseph's decision to accept Mary and raise Jesus to a specific prediction made by the prophet Isaiah, setting the stage for the quotation of that prophecy in the following verse.
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:" — This verse highlights that the events surrounding Jesus' birth weren't just random occurrences; they were meticulously orchestrated by God. Matthew emphasizes that "all this" – the virgin conception,…
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Last reviewed October 2026