Every important aspect of the life and mission of Jesus—His nature, His birth, the events of His life, and most particularly His sufferings and death— were all foretold by the prophets of old (see DA 242, 820). Not only so, but every act of His life was performed in fulfillment of a plan that existed from eternity. Ere He came to earth that plan lay before Him in all its details, and each event had its appointed hour (DA 147, 451; see on Deut. 18:15; Luke 2:49).

 Expressions of this nature are characteristic of Matthew (see chs. 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:54, 56; 27:9, 35). The Greek construction here employed may indicate either purpose or simply result. Accordingly this clause may be translated either, “in order that it might be fulfilled,” or, “as a result it was fulfilled.” Matthew uses this construction in both ways, and the context must determine in each case which is intended. The predictions concerning Christ had been made supernaturally; their fulfillment came about largely in a natural way, so far as men could see, yet with events ordained by Him who “ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Dan. 4:17; DA 147; see on Luke 2:49). Certain things happened, not to fulfill prophecy, but rather in fulfillment of prophecy. The sense of Matthew’s statement, “that it might be fulfilled,” would therefore be rendered more appropriately, “in fulfillment of” (see on Deut. 18:15).