“And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken.’ ” John 19:35-36

Throughout the Old Testament record, the LORD’s broad brush strokes of the plan conceived before the foundation of the earth to bring forth the Savior were laid out, though somewhat concealed, through the fathers and the prophets.

“And David says,  ‘LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER. ‘ ” Romans 11:9-10 (NAS)

This quote from the Septuagint by the apostle Paul dictated to his faithful scribe Tertius in his letter to the Roman church is found in Psalm chapter sixty-nine. One could say this is a “perfect” Messianic psalm since portions of it are quoted seven times in the New Testament. 

“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ ” Romans 9:10-12 (NAS)

The apostle Paul, while being moved by the Holy Spirit, explains to the Roman brethren the sovereignty of God. 

“And as for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘ I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ ” Acts 13:34 (NAS)

In making his defense for Jesus as the Christ before the assembled Jews and God fearing Gentiles at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, the apostle Paul followed the pattern of proving who Jesus was by quoting Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by or through Him. 

“If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:32 (NAS)

The Holy Spirit here in this section of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, moves the apostle to reference a passage from the book of Isaiah. 

“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ” John 13:18 (NAS)

Jesus, while partaking of His last Passover meal and instituting the Lord’s supper for the congregants of the New Covenant, quotes from a Psalm of David regarding the treachery of a trusted, close friend. 

‘In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 (NAS)

The Holy Spirit moves the apostle Paul to quote from the scroll of Isaiah as part of his discourse on speaking in tongues in the assemblies. 

“But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him; that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ ” John 12:37-38 (NAS)

Twice this quote from the book of Isaiah is cited by apostles of Jesus Christ. 

“And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’  But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:3-4) NAS

When tempted by the Devil (C. f. Luke 4:3) to whip up a little miracle food for Himself while in the wilderness undergoing Satan’s testing and taunting, Jesus answered and overcame the temptation with memorized Scripture from the Pentateuch.