Matthew 12:17
Monday, 4 August 2025
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: Matthew 12:17
“That it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet, saying,” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus was noted as admonishing the crowds not to make Him apparent. Next, Mathew says, “That it should be fulfilled.”
As has been seen several times already, Jesus is the Subject of prophecy. Things were declared concerning Him, His coming, His work, and the effects of His work toward those He was sent to deliver.
Matthew returns to Scripture to provide more insights into the proclamation of the prophets, saying, “the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet, saying.”
As seen above, the last verse from Matthew noted Jesus not wanting to be made openly manifest at the time. Thus, we can conclude that something Matthew will draw from Isaiah will point to that.
Life application: Radio personality Joe Rogan made the news concerning his new idea concerning God. The article said, “he feared God ‘is actually created by human beings creating this infinitely intelligent thing that can essentially harness all of the available energy and power of the universe and create anything it wants.’”
The article also cited him, saying, “This whole idea of Jesus coming back, well maybe it's real. Maybe we just completely misinterpreted these ancient scrolls and texts and what it really means is that we are going to give birth to this.”
Citing another author, the article said, “Yampolskiy, an author and researcher in AI safety, added to Rogan's theory, suggesting that reality is just an ongoing cycle of Big Bangs - the explosion that kickstarted the universe - starting and restarting life over and over again.”
It’s a problem when people don’t take the time to think logically. These men are discussing infinites as being created by finites. Further, where is the Creator if something created does the creating? These are problems of logic that should be contemplated from time to time.
What is known as the First Principles will help a person to think logically about God. In understanding these First Principles, we can weed out errors in our thinking. In doing so, we can more fully appreciate the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament as they point to Jesus.
Was there a Creator? Could He tell the future? If so, what does this say about the coming of the Messiah and what He would do? Think about such questions as you study the word. As for the First Principles, a quick review of them is in order –
1. Being Is (B is) = The Principle of Existence
To say “There is no being” is self-refuting. One must exist in order to make the claim.
- Being Is Being (B is B) = The Principle of Identity
To say “Being isn’t being” is self-refuting. One must be a being in order to make a claim about not being a being.
- Being Is Not Nonbeing (B is Not Non-B) = The Principle of Noncontradiction
If being exists (see Principle #1), then it cannot be non-being. The principle is self-evident and undeniable.
- Either Being or Nonbeing (Either B or Non-B) = The Principle of the Excluded Middle
If I exist (asking the question means I do), then I am being. If I am being, then I am not non-being. The principle is self-evident and undeniable; there is no wiggle room.
- Nonbeing Cannot Cause Being (Non-B>B) = The Principle of Causality
Something cannot come from nothing (and we cannot have an infinite regress in matter (or being) – see Einstein and Relativity). The principle is undeniable.
- Contingent Being Cannot Cause Contingent Being (Bc>Bc) = The Principle of Contingency (or Dependency)
This would lead to an infinite regress of causes, which is disproved by Relativity – Time, Space, and Matter came into existence simultaneously and are dependent upon each other. The principle is undeniable.
- Only Necessary Being Can Cause a Contingent Being (Bn --->Bc) = The Positive Principle of Modality
A being that cannot Not exist must, therefore, exist if contingent beings exist. The principle is reducible to the undeniable.
- Necessary Being Cannot Cause A Necessary Being (Bn>Bn) = The Negative Principle of Modality
The principle is undeniable. Only one Necessary Being can exist. Any being which exists apart from a Necessary Being is contingent and could Not exist. It is self-evident.
- Every Contingent Being Is Caused by a Necessary Being (Bn--->Bc) = The Principle of Existential Causality
The fact that there are contingent beings (I think, therefore I am, but I am not necessary) necessitates a Necessary Being. We exist. Therefore, a Being that cannot Not exist must exist. The principle is undeniable in and of itself.
- Necessary Being Exists (Bn Exists) = Principle of Existential Necessity
Contingent beings exist (see next principle); therefore, a Necessary Being must exist. The principle is reducible to the undeniable.
- Contingent Being Exists (Bc Exists) = Principle of Existential Contingency
The principle is undeniable. To say “I (a contingent being) don’t exist” is self-refuting. I do exist (Principle 1), which is self-evident.
- Necessary Being Is Similar to Contingent Being(s) It Causes (Bn ---similar --->Bc) = Principle of Analogy
Nothing can exist that doesn’t reflect the nature of the Necessary Being. To state something doesn’t is self-refuting. The principle is undeniable.
Understanding the nature of God, reality, logic, etc., is indispensable in understanding why one religion is false and another may be true. Weeding out what is false through logic leaves us with one possibility concerning God. It is the God presented in Scripture who matches what is logically necessary.
It is our duty to read Scripture and see if what is presented there is an acceptable revelation of God. As fulfilled prophecy shows that the Bible is reliable, we can trust that the message of the Bible is from God, who knows the beginning from the end.
Lord God, help us to think clearly and logically as we approach theology. May our understanding of who You are and what You have done from the Bible give us reassurance for all of our days that what You have promised will, in fact, come to pass. Thank You for Your word, this wonderful word that reveals You. Amen.
