Preparation of the Way for the Messiah in the Bible

The concept of preparing the way for the Messiah is deeply rooted in biblical prophecy and is a recurring theme throughout the Old and New Testaments. The idea is first introduced in Isaiah 40:3, where it is written, "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God'" ^[8]. This passage is later quoted in the New Testament in reference to John the Baptist's ministry, preparing the way for Jesus Christ ^{[3, 7]}.

The Hebrew word for "prepare" is significant in understanding this concept. The word "Chun" means "making ready" ^[2]. In the context of Isaiah 40:3, it implies making a path ready for the Lord by removing obstacles. This theme is echoed in other biblical passages, such as Psalm 85:13, which states, "Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps" ^[6].

The preparation of the way is not just a physical act but also a spiritual one. It involves the removal of spiritual obstacles and the preparation of the hearts of God's people for the coming of the Messiah. According to Matthew Henry, the voice crying in the wilderness calls people to "prepare for it, and assured them that all the difficulties which stood in the way of their deliverance should be got over" ^[10].

In the New Testament, John the Baptist is identified as the one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord ^{[3, 7]}. His ministry was to call people to repentance and to prepare them for the coming of Jesus Christ. As Calvin notes, John's ministry was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 40:3, where the voice crying in the wilderness is a call to prepare the way for the Lord ^[9].

The concept of preparing the way is closely tied to the idea of the Messiah. The term "Messiah" means "anointed one," and refers to the expected Prince of the chosen people who was to complete God's purposes for them and redeem them ^[4]. The Messiah is described as being anointed "above his fellows" (Psalm 45:7), embracing in himself all three offices of prophet, priest, and king ^[5].

The preparation of the way for the Messiah involves the removal of obstacles and the creation of a highway for the Lord. This is reflected in Isaiah 62:10, which says, "Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples" ^[1]. This passage is seen as a reference to the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon and, under that type and figure, to the great redemption wrought out by Jesus Christ ^[11].

The biblical concept of preparing the way for the Messiah is thus a rich and complex theme that involves both physical and spiritual preparation. It is a call to repentance, to the removal of obstacles, and to the preparation of the hearts of God's people for the coming of the Lord.

The New Testament writers saw the ministry of John the Baptist as a fulfillment of this prophecy, and Jesus Christ as the one for whom the way was being prepared. As the Tyndale House commentary notes, "John's ministry prepared the way for Jesus' arrival" ^[12]. The preparation of the way is thus an essential part of the biblical narrative, highlighting the importance of spiritual preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Sources

Isaiah “Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples. -- Isaiah 62:10”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Chun — making ready”
Luke “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. -- Luke 3:4”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Messiah — (anointed). This word (Mashiach) answers to the word Christ (Christos) in the New Testament, and is applicable in its first sense to any one anointed with the holy oil. The kings of Israel were called anointed, from the mode of their consecration. (1 Samuel 2:10,35; 12:3,5) etc. This word also refers to the expected Prince of the chosen people who was to complete God's purposes for them and to redeem them, and of whose coming the prophets of the old covenant in all time spoke. He was the Messiah, the Anointed, i.e. consecrated as the king and prophet by God'”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Messiah — (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Ex. 28:41; 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Ps. 45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in John 1:41 and 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old ”
Psalms “Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps. -- Psalms 85:13”
Matthew “Matthew 3:3 (BSB) — This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’””
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 52:13: 52:13–53:12 This is the fourth of four passages that speak about the promised servant (see study note on 42:1-4). The Hebrew poem is carefully constructed in five three-line stanzas. It begins with the servant’s exaltation (52:13), proceeds to his humiliation (52:14–53:9), and ends with his exaltation (53:10-12). The faithful servant’s suffering would bring reconciliation between God and humans. The Lord Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy (see ch 40; Matt 8:17; Acts 8:30-35; Rom 10:15-17; 15:21; 1 Pet 2:24-25). 52:13 prosper . . . be highly exalted: The serv”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.2: 64:7 66:24 Jeremiah 4:31 5:8 5:28 7:4 7:4 9:1 10:23 10:24 10:24 11:21 17:1 17:5 18:16 19:6 19:8 22:24 22:28 25:9 25:13 25:18 28:10 28:11 30:11 31:15 43:2 48:2 50:11 Lamentations 1:7 2:5 2:8 3:29 Ezekiel 15:3 16:26 20:11 20:24 20:25 26:2 26:14 37:1 43:15 43:15 47:11 Daniel 5:28 5:30 5:31 7:10 7:17 8:20 Hosea 1:7 6:4 8:14 9:6 13:3 Joel 1:13 2:13 2:23 2:28 Amos 1:3 3:6 4:1 4:1 5:10 5:19 8:11 Micah 1:3 1:11 2:11 7:9 7:16 Nahum 3:8 Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:2 3:2 3:2 3:13 Zechariah 9:14 13:4 14:3 Malachi 1:4 1:11 4:2 Matthew 2:14 3:12 3:12 3:12 3:12 ”
Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 40:3: The time to favour Zion, yea, the set time, having come, the people of God must be prepared, by repentance and faith, for the favours designed them; and, in order to call them to both these, we have here the voice of one crying in the wilderness, which may be applied to those prophets who were with the captives in their wilderness-state, and who, when they saw the day of their deliverance dawn, called earnestly upon them to prepare for it, and assured them that all the difficulties which stood in the way of their deliverance should be got over. It is a good sign t”
Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 62:10: This, as many like passages before, refers to the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon, and, under the type and figure of that, to the great redemption wrought out by Jesus Christ, and the proclaiming of gospel grace and liberty through him. 1. Way shall be made for this salvation; all difficulties shall be removed, and whatever might obstruct it shall be taken out of the way, Isa 62:10. The gates of Babylon shall be thrown open, that they may with freedom go through them; the way from Babylon to the land of Israel shall be prepared; causeways shall be made and”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 3:3: 3:3 Isaiah had spoken of a messenger preparing a highway in the wilderness for Israel’s God to return to the land (Isa 40:1-11). John’s ministry prepared the way for Jesus’ arrival (see Matt 11:10; cp. John 12:41).”

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