Jesus Christ came to fulfill all of God’s promises to mankind, beginning with Adam and Eve. God promised them to send a savior who would be the “seed of the woman” [Genesis 3:15]. This promise was fulfilled when Mary believed to become the mother of God’s only-begotten Son, and when Jesus was born nine months later.
As a young man, Jesus studied the scriptures and knew what he was to accomplish as Messiah. From the heart-rending suffering foretold in Isaiah 53, to his glorious resurrection from death in Psalm 16—Jesus knew and lived “It is written.”
We especially see this in Matthew’s gospel. Here Jesus promised to fulfill all the law.
Matthew 5:17,18:
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.
Here are the places in Matthew’s gospel that speak of “it is written.” After reading these great truths, please read the following poem that describes each of these uses. There is also a video that portrays these scriptures.
Matthew 2:5:
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet.
It is written: the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
Matthew 4:4:
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
It is written: man does not live by bread alone, but by God’s Word
Matthew 4:7:
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
It is written: do not tempt the Lord your God
Matthew 4:10:
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
It is written: worship and serve God only
Matthew 11:10:
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
It is written: of the messenger [John the baptizer] sent to proclaim the Messiah
Matthew 21:13:
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
It is written: we are to keep God’s house clean
Matthew 26:24:
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
It is written: the Son of Man must suffer and die
Matthew 26:31:
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
It is written: smite the shepherd [Messiah] and the sheep will scatter
Romans 1:17:
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
It is written: the just shall live by faith
2 Corinthians 4:13:
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
It is written: we believe and therefore speak
Hebrews 10:7:
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
It is written: of him [Jesus the Christ] in the scrolls, to do God’s will
It Is Written [poem and song]
Theodore Tilton, an American poet and newspaper editor, lived from 1835 –1907. Tilton is famous for a poem he wrote at the age of 23, called “The King’s Ring.” It includes the line, “Even this shall pass away” at the end of each of its seven stanzas. The following poem follows his rhyme scheme and focuses on some uses of the phrase “It is written” in the New Testament.
Once in Judah, reigned a king,
Heard a most unpleasant thing.
That a promised savior came,
With a kingdom sure to reign.
“Where could such a child be found,
Tell me, sages, what the town?”
“Bethlehem is where he’s sittin’,
Micah spoke and ‘It is written.’”
Grew to manhood and he knew,
Called to be Messiah true,
In the desert, tempted sore,
Hungry—Devil did implore:
“Command that food come from a stone!”
But he spake, “Not bread alone,
But by God’s Words, life is fittin’,
Moses spoke and ‘It is written.’”
Seeing that his plan had failed,
Using scripture, still assailed:
“Angels will your feet uplift,
Throw yourself forth from this cliff.”
Knew the psalm his foe did quote,
And the words that Moses wrote.
“Tempt not God, as we are bidden.
Again, I say that ‘It is written.’”
Then upon a mountain high,
Wealth and glory filled his eye.
“All these will I give to thee,
Only fall and worship me.”
“Get thee hence, deceiver fiend,
Only God is Lord indeed.
Him I serve, my praise He’s gettin’,
For I live by ‘It is written.’”
His cousin, John, prepared the way,
Jesus told the role he played:
“More than prophet, great and high,
Fulfills the words of Malachi:
‘Like Elijah filled with grace,
My messenger before your face.’
God’s kingdom is what we’re settin’,
I must preach for ‘It is written.’”
In the Temple, Father’s house,
Money changers all about,
Greedy salesmen with their doves,
These he scattered, filled with love.
“’My house should be a place of prayer,’
Isaiah truly did declare.
Jeremiah, his heart smitten,
Called you thieves, as ‘It is written.’”
Heavyhearted, his last meal,
With the twelve he did reveal:
“I must suffer, die, and rise,
As the scriptures prophesy.
One of you will soon betray.”
(Judas later slipped away.)
For the Lord knew what was hidden,
Staked his life on “It is written.”
Breaking bread and drinking wine,
Sang a hymn to end their time.
Walked with them unto the mount,
Filled with olives round about.
Spoke the Shepherd, solemn matter:
“I’ll be killed; my sheep will scatter.
But I’ll rise, our hearts then knittin’,
Trust my words, for ‘It is written.’”
Raised indeed, declared God’s Son,
Saul soon learned all he had done.
Hearing on Damascus Road,
Saw the light of Christ foretold.
To the Romans penned such words,
Habakkuk’s old truth they heard.
“Live by faith, for Christ has risen,
And we’re saved, for ‘It is written.’”
Now we in earthen vessels meek,
Of God’s power boldly speak.
Troubled by distress and care,
Though perplexed, not in despair.
Knowing that as Christ was raised,
We will join him on that day.
His return we’re not forgettin’,
Safe in hope, for “It is written.”
God’s not pleased by burnt, slain things.
Obedience is the offering,
Jesus made, for he said “Lo,
I’m the heart of every scroll.
To do your will, is why I came.”
Now we too can do the same.
Across the world from Guam to Britain,
We can live by “It is written.”
Click here to see a video of this poem. God bless you! May we live “it is written” for our lives today.