"All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."
Luke 24:44 · King James Bible
The whole Old Testament is about Christ
This is Jesus's own claim, made after his resurrection on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27, 44). The Old Testament is not simply the story of Israel; it is the long anticipation of the Messiah. Below are some of the clearest prophecies, in the order they appear in the Old Testament, with their New Testament fulfilments.From the Pentateuch
Genesis 3:15 — the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head. → The victory of Christ over Satan.Genesis 12:3 — in Abraham all families of the earth shall be blessed. → Fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16).
Genesis 49:10 — the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, until Shiloh come. → Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
Numbers 24:17 — a Star shall come out of Jacob, a Sceptre out of Israel. → The star of Bethlehem; Christ the king.
Deuteronomy 18:15 — a prophet like Moses. → Acts 3:22 identifies him as Christ.
From the Psalms
Psalm 2 — 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.' → Quoted at Jesus's baptism, in Acts 13, and in Hebrews 1.Psalm 16:10 — 'Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.' → The resurrection (Acts 2:25–31).
Psalm 22 — the prayer of the crucified one: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' 'They pierced my hands and my feet.' 'They part my garments among them, and cast lots.' → All fulfilled at Calvary.
Psalm 45 — the wedding song of the king.
Psalm 69 — 'they gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.'
Psalm 110 — 'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand.' → Quoted by Jesus (Matthew 22:44) and by Peter at Pentecost.
From the Prophets
Isaiah 7:14 — a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. → Matthew 1:23.Isaiah 9:6 — 'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.'
Isaiah 11:1 — a rod out of the stem of Jesse. → The Davidic king.
Isaiah 40:3 — 'The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.' → John the Baptist.
Isaiah 42; 49; 50; 52:13 – 53:12 — the Servant Songs. Especially Isaiah 53: he was wounded for our transgressions; he was oppressed, and he was afflicted; he made his grave with the wicked; with his stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah 23:5–6 — 'a righteous Branch… The Lord Our Righteousness.'
Ezekiel 34:23 — 'my servant David; he shall feed them.' → Christ, the good shepherd (John 10).
Daniel 7:13–14 — 'one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven.' → Jesus's favorite title for himself.
Daniel 9:24–27 — the seventy weeks; the Anointed cut off.
Micah 5:2 — 'Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.' → Fulfilled at the nativity (Matthew 2:6).
Zechariah 9:9 — 'thy King cometh unto thee… lowly, and riding upon an ass.' → Palm Sunday.
Zechariah 11:12–13 — thirty pieces of silver. → Judas.
Zechariah 12:10 — 'they shall look upon me whom they have pierced.'
Malachi 3:1 — 'my messenger.' → John the Baptist.
Malachi 4:2 — 'the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.'