Two views of what it means that the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John:
John’s ministry introduced a new era. The word
for
that opens Matthew 11:13 shows that this verse further explains Matthew 11:12, which speaks of the timesince the days of John.
The prophetic dispensation—in which Moses and the prophets gave voice to the word of God—ended when John began to preach that the kingdom of heaven, the fulfillment, had drawn near.All the prophets, including Moses, and even John, who appeared later, looked ahead to the One who was coming. When John, the herald, arrives, the people look forward in expectation.
Interpretation 1:
The ministry of John has introduced a new era. The word for
with which Matthew 11:13 is introduced indicates that this verse continues to explain Matthew 11:12, which speaks of the time since the days of John.
The period of the prophetic dispensation—in which Moses and the prophets gave voice to the word of God—came to an end when John began to preach that the kingdom of heaven, the fulfillment, had drawn near.1
Interpretation 2:
All the prophets, and Moses himself, looked ahead and spoke of the One who was still to come. This applies not only to Moses and the prophets who spoke in the Scriptures, but also to John, who appeared later. He too prophesies and looks forward. When the herald arrives, the people look forward in expectation.2
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,