Parallels Between Moses and Jesus

The new Ten Commandments T.V. movie will be broadcast in April. I sincerely hope that re-make of this timeless classic is good (and more importantly, biblically accurate). We shall see.

In preparation for viewing this movie, I thought I'd include a post on the Ten Commandments including a chart of the Scriptures where Jesus reiterated them. Finally, I will include an excerpt from a book I am currently reading, Jerusalem Countdown by John Hagee, that shares fascinating parallels between Moses and Jesus.

Exodus 20:1-17

The Ten Commandments
(see also Deut. 5:1-22)

20 And God spoke all these words, saying:

2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

The following is a chart that shows the Bible verses and references (from the NIV) comparing what the Ten Commandments said (TC said) in the Old Testament and what Jesus said (J said) in the New Testament Scriptures.

TC said: Exodus 20:3 - "You shall have no other gods before me"
J said: Matthew 4:10 - "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only"

TC said: Exodus 20:4 - "You shall not make for yourself an idol"
J said: Luke 16:13 - "No servant can serve two masters"

TC said: Exodus 20:7 - "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God"
J said: Matthew 5:34 - "Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne"

TC said: Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy"
J said: Mark 2:27, 28 - "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath"

TC said: Exodus 20:12 - "Honor your father and your mother"
Jesus said: Matthew 10:37 - "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me"

(Note & thought from Christine: Simply, God first, family second - in that order everything works; out of that order not much works.)

TC said: Exodus 20:13 - "You shall not murder"
J said: Matthew 5:22 - "Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment"

TC said: Exodus 20:14 - "You shall not commit adultery"
J said: "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"

TC said: Exodus 20:15 - " You shall not steal"
J said: Matthew 5:40 - "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well"

TC said: Exodus 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony"
J said: Matthew 12:36 - "Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken"

TC said: Exodus 20:17 - "You shall not covet"
J said: Luke 12;15 - "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed"

There are weeks worth of study that we could do with this comparison! Perhaps I could do a post once a week and discuss each commandment and what Jesus had to say in reference to the Laws stated.

For now, I want to share an excerpt from John Hagee's book that I'm sure you will find enlightening and fascinating!

*******
The Old Testament is filled with promises of many kinds, but "the promises" in Romans 9:4 refer to the promises of redemption to be fulfilled by Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. Saint Paul makes this very clear in Galatians 3.

It was Moses who gave us the first extensive prophetic portrait of the coming Messiah.

In Deuteronomy 18:18-19, Moses brings to Israel the following promise from God:

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of Him.

In Acts 3:22-26, the apostle Peter explains how this prophecy of Moses applies to Jesus Christ of Nazareth as Israel's Messiah.

For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

Moses' words established three facts:

1. God promised to send to Israel a particular Prophet as a later time. the language Moses uses is singular throughout: "a Prophet"..."Him you shall hear"..."whatever He says." These words cannot describe the later prophets in Israel as a whole. They referred to one special prophet.

2. This prophet would have unique authority! If anyone in Israel refused to harken to his prophet, God would bring judgment upon that person.

3. This Prophet would be like Moses in ways that would distinguish Him from all other prophets. A careful comparison of the lives of the two men reveals many distinct parallels between the lives of Moses and Jesus.

PARALLELS BETWEEN MOSES AND JESUS
(The following verses are the NKJV)

1. Both Moses and Jesus were born in a period when Israel was under foreign rule.

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. - Exodus 1:8, 11

Christ Born of Mary
(see also Matt. 1:18-25)
2And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. - Luke 2:1-5

2. Cruel kings decided that both Moses and Jesus should be killed as infants.

15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. - Exodus 1:15-17

Massacre of the Innocents
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. - Matthew 2:16

3. The faith of both Moses' and Jesus' parents saved their lives.
2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. - Exodus 2:2-4


The Flight into Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." - Matthew 2:13-14

4. Both Moses and Jesus found protection for a time with the people of Egypt.

10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water." - Exodus 2:10

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." - Matthew 2:14-15

5. Both Moses and Jesus displayed unusual wisdom and understanding.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. - Acts 7:22

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. - Luke 2:46,47

6. Both Moses' and Jesus' characters were marked by meekness and humility.

3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. - Numbers 12:3

[Jesus said] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light. - Matthew 11:28-30

7. Both Moses and Jesus were completely faithful to God.

7 My servant Moses...is faithful in all My hous. - Numbers 12:7

The Son Was Faithful
3 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. - Hebrews 3:1-6

8. Both Moses and Jesus were rejected by Israel for a time.

The Gold Calf
(see also Deut. 9:6-29)
32 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." - Exodus 32:1

21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"
They said, "Barabbas!"
22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"
They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" - Matthew 27:21-22

9. Both Moses and Jesus were criticized by their brothers and sisters.

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. - Numbers 12:1

5 For even His [Jesus] brothers did not believe in Him. - John 7:5

10. Bother Moses and Jesus were received by Gentiles after being rejected by Israel.

Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh [Egypt] and dwelt in the land of Midian...Then Moses was content to live with the man [Reuel], and he[Reuel] gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses - Exodus 2:15, 21

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'"*
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. - Acts 13:44-48

11. Both Moses and Jesus prayed asking forgiveness for God's people.

Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." - Exodus 32:31-32

Then Jesus said [concerning those who were crucifying him], "Father, forgive them, for they do not know hwat they do." - Luke 23:34

12. Both Moses and Jesus were willing to bear the punishment of God's people.

Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." - Exodus 32:31-32

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. - 1 Peter 3:18

13. Both Moses and Jesus spoke with God face to face.

Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark saying; and he sees the form of the LORD. - Numbers 12:7-8

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son [Jesus], who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. - John 1:18

14. Both Moses and Jesus went up into a high mountain to have communion with God, taking some of their closest followers with them.

Then Moses went up [to Mount Sinai], also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. - Exodus 24:9-10

Now after six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves...While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" - Matthew 17:1, 5

15. After their mountaintop experiences, both Moses' and Jesus' faces shone with supernatural glory.

34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. 35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. - Exodus 34:34-35

And He [Jesus] was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. - Matthew 17:2

16. God spoke audibly from heaven to both Moses and Jesus.

Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. - Exodus 19:19-20

17. Both Moses' and Jesus' places of burial were attended by angels.

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" - Jude 9

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. - Matthew 2:2, 5-6

18. Both Moses and Jesus appeared alive after their deaths.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them [Jesus, Peter, James, and John], talking with Him. - Matthew 17:3

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were *assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. - John 20:19-20

These are a few of the scriptural comparisons of Moses and Jesus as God's appointed vessels to the nation of Israel. It is evident that God gave promises to the children of Israel and that those promises were kept.