Is the prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18-18 Jesus or Mohammad?

Answer 1

Jewish opinion:

Neither Jesus or Mohammad is mentioned in any Hebrew scriptures, including Deuteronomy. Any links to these two men are interpretation. Jewish interpretation would never link any verse to these two men.

Christian opinion:

I cannot refute your answer by myself but will show you what God's Word says... Apply each of these scriptures to your response.

1- Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

2- 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. "

3- 2 Timothy 2:23 "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife."

4- Matthew 12:34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."

5- Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

Muslim Opinion:

Deut18:18 is talking about Muhammad, there are so many facts...

[1] Jesus (pbuh) is God according to Christian but Moses (pbuh) is not God so Jesus (pbuh) is not like Moses (pbuh) but Muhammad (sawaw) is like Moses(pbuh)..

[2] Jesus (pbuh) was born without a father through a miraculas birth but both Muhammad (sawaw) and Moses(pbuh) had father and mother. So Jesus(pbuh) is not like Moses(pbuh) but Muhammad(sawaw) is like Moses (pbuh)...

[3] According to the Christians Jesus(pbuh) died for the sins of the world but Moses(pbuh) and Muhammad (sawaw) did not..

[4] According to Christianity Jesus is in heaven but both and Moses(pbuh) the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sawaw) are buried normally.

[5] Muhammad (sawaw) and Moses(pbuh) married and had children but Jesus(pbuh) did not get married. Here again Jesus(pbuh) is not like Moses(pbuh) but Muhammad (sawaw) is like Moses (pbuh)...

[6] Abrahim(pbuh) had two sons Ismeal and Isaac. Isrealites are descended from Isaac. The Arabs descended from Ismeal (pbuh).

[7]Jesus was rejected by his people (John1:11) but Moses(pbuh) and Muhammad (sawaw) was accepted by his people so Jesus(pbuh) is not like Moses(pbuh)..

Holy Prophet Muhammad (sawaw) is Arab descendant of Ismeal . This verse can not be for Jesus (pbuh) because he is God in Christian religion and came to this world without a father so therefore he have no connection with Moses (pbuh). And again, if you go to Matthew5:17-18. Jesus(pbuh) himself talking about "think not that i am come to destroy the law or the Prophecy I have not come to destroy but to fulfill the Law. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall. For verily wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.

If you look at Deut 18:18 tells us (like unto thee) like Moses(pbuh).. This tells me is Jesus (pbuh) like Moses (pbuh)?

Here again Jesus(pbuh) did not have a new law but to fullfil the law of Moses(pbuh)..so he is not like Moses(pbuh) but Muhammad(sawaw) had law new and religion and new Holy Book containing the Law, here again Muhammad (sawaw) is like Moses(pbuh) but not like Jesus(pbuh) who did not come with new Laws or new religion... Now let see what Bible says and deny further.. (Isaiah 29:12)and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned. Can somebody explain Jesus was not learned? if he was not learned why Christian claims that he was a teacher (a rabi) and God...

Now open the Holy Quran. What does the Holy Quran say about it?

Please read chapter [96:1-5]. "Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful He Who taught (the use of) the pen, Taught Man that which he knew not". Here, the Man is the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sawaw) Now, tell me what is the meaning of this? And please explain what you think, thanks...

Christian Opinion:

The New Testament confirms beyond doubt that the prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:18 was Jesus.

Acts 3:19-24 - Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 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." [NKJV]

MUSLIM RESPONSE

I think we must take a deep look in to the verse itself. As we read! 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. Who are these people saying "Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not" as we go even father back we see moses is telling his people not to be like a group of people 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. Let's look at the characteristics of the people they should not be like? 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. To me I have to say they sounds like pagans. To me it's like saying don't be like the pagans of where every they are. Then it say 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. Now look at the words "said unto me." So we go into what according to the bible god is saying to Moses about these paganistic people They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him (D 18 17-18) Like unto thee /like moses 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Let's not move from the question. You have no answers. Because you do not want the answer that is right in front of you. I believe the answer is the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) Christian Response

A great question to consider. What we see throughout scripture such as Matt. 21:11 & Luke 24:13-20 & Acts 3:22 all give reference to Moses statement of a prophet. The understanding of the Messiah in Israel was that He the Messiah would be threefold: Prophet, Priest and King.

Being of the seed of David Acts 2:22-36 is the also symbolically a priest for he is the first King to wear the golden ephod which was a priestly garment. So Jesus is the seed of David and the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant which contains the prophetic, priestly and king tradition. Jesus said, Mt. 13:57 A prophet is not without honor in his own home town and it was in direct reference to himself. This is the closes reference that we see in reference to himself as a prophet.

The book of Hebrews highlights Jesus as a priest: Heb. 3:1, 4:14, 5:6-10.

So essentially, Jesus fulfills all three including the Lamb of God the redeemer fulfilling the atonement of our sins which no one else could do.

Hopefully this helped!

Answer 2

Jesus.

For the sake of reference, here is the text of the pertinent verses.

Deuteronomy 18:18 - '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.'

Acts 3:19-23 - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 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.'"

[NKJV]

Answer 3

Christians, beginning with the author of Acts 3:22, claim the reference to a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18 to mean Jesus, and Muslims claim the reference means Muhammad. Obviously both can not be correct; in fact Jews would insist that neither is correct. When we look at the meaning of the text, in context, the reference could not possibly be to either Jesus or Muhammad:

• Christians regard Jesus as divine in his own right, so he can not properly be called a prophet. The reference is therefore not to Jesus.
  
• Deuteronomy 18:1 makes it clear that this chapter is addressed to the Israelites alone, then verse 15 says "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee ..." Whoever the prophet would be, this verse says he would necessarily be an Israelite. Muhammad was not an Israelite and therefore could not be the prophet of Deuteronomy.
  
  In addition, Stephen J. Vicchio (Biblical Figures in the Islamic Faith) cites other modern scholars who say this would contradict the Qur'an 29:27, because this says that prophethood and revelation are to come through the progeny of Isaac and Jacob, not Ishmael.
  

The Pulpit Commentary says "as a succession of priests, of judges, and of kings was contemplated in this part of the Mosaic legislation, the presumption is that a succession also of prophets was contemplated." Nevertheless, a prophet "like me [Moses]" was expected.