'Please tell me, of whom does the
prophet say this?
Of himself
or of someone else?'"
(Acts 8:34)
Some believers are content to say that the Old Testament is about Jesus because the New Testament tells us so (or because the pastor said so). But coming to faith in Yeshua, particularly in Israel, involves asking good questions about the literal meaning of the Hebrew Bible, and sharing our faith involves providing thoughtful and persuasive answers for our faith without appealing to the New Testament's authority (which would be a case of circular reasoning). That Philip was ready to provide an answer to the eunuch's question means he not only knew this passage well, but was even able to explain why Isaiah 53 could not be about the prophet. If you happened to approach a Jewish person reading Isaiah 53 today and he asked,
"Is Isaiah 53 about the
nation of Israel
or is it about someone else?"
Without jumping to the New Testament, are you able to make a persuasive case for the Messianic interpretation of Isaiah 53 from the immediate and larger context of the passage?
If not, let me encourage you to heed Paul's words to Timothy by
spending more time learning how to rightly divide the Scriptures.
"Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God
as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately
handling the word of truth"
(2 Tim 2:15)