How was Jesus portrayed in the Book of Micah?

Answer 1

A:

Jesus is not mentioned, directly or even indirectly, in the Book of Micah. However, the author of Matthew's Gospel made good use of passages from Micah, taken out of context to foreshadow the life of Jesus.

Another View:

Many Christians believe that the writings of the Old Testament had many things in them that spoke of the coming Christ (see Luke 24:44). This is particularly true of the 'Prophets' section in this section of The Bible (see Luke 24:24-27).

This then relates to Micah who had written 'echoing' Isaiah in many cases. Micah gives some important details about the coming Messiah, just as Isaiah did. Specifically, Micah 4:1-5 is nearly identical to Isaiah 2:1-4 where each portray the 2nd Coming of Jesus as our righteous King of kings and Lord of lords during the 1000 year Millennial Rule on Earth. Now no one knows for sure whether or not Micah borrowed this passage from Isaiah or vice versa, or both of them wrote it independently of the other, one thing is certain - God inspired both of them in any case.

In a broader sense then portraying Jesus as the sacrifice for all mankind, Micah 6:8 could be read as a summation of the message of all the Prophets as well as the whole Bible:

Micah 6:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

8 He has shown you, O man, what isgood;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Throughout the Scripture, God often contrasts sacrifices and offerings with these godly characteristics He is looking for in mankind. God's purpose has always been to help us think and act as He does which He knows is most beneficial for us. Sacrifices were meant to be a reminder of sin and a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ- no animal sacrice could wipe away our past sins and the guilt we experience from them. However, the children of Israel had come to focus on these sacrifices as they believed them to be primarily what God wanted. But God makes clear that what He really wants much more than sacrifices is righteous, merciful and humble behavior. The portrayal of the perfect example of this behavior was the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Lastly, Micah would also prophesied that Bethlehem would be the place of the Messiah's birth (Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-12).