*Download article in PDF Format	*Watch YouTube video

Throughout Scripture history, there have lived righteous saints whose lives reflect the character, life, and nature of Yeshua (Jesus). This typology compilation compares some of the parallel events of the lives of saints who were forerunners of Yeshua (Jesus), pointing to Him as the Messiah (Christ). The life of Yeshua (Jesus) is in red, in the typology comparisons, for clarity.

HEBREWS 6:20 (NKJV):
Yeshua (Jesus) has entered as a forerunner for us, having become High Priest forever.

Messiah (Christ) is our forerunner who showed us how to live righteously and He has preceded us into the kingdom of heaven.

ABRAHAM
Abraham offered his only begotten son of promise to be sacrificed (Genesis 21:12, 22:16, Hebrews 11:17-19).
Yeshua (Jesus) was God’s only begotten Son who God offered as a sacrifice with a promise of eternal life to all who believed upon Him (Joel 2:32; John 3:16; Acts 2:21; Romans 5:9-10, 10:13).
Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice on a mountain in Moriah, Jerusalem (Genesis 22:2-10).
Yeshua (Jesus) was offered as a sacrifice by His Father on Mt. Calvary, Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-23, 27:35; Luke 23:33; John 3:16-17, 12:27, 19:17-18).
Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his only son by binding him, laying him upon wood, piercing him with a knife, and shedding his blood without breaking a bone of his body (Genesis 22:9-10).
Yeshua, the only begotten Son of God, was prepared by His Father to be a sacrifice by being bound, laying Him crucified upon the wood of the cross, piercing His side with a spear, and shedding His blood without having any bone of His body broken (Matthew 27:2,35; Mark 15:24- 25; Luke 23:33; 24:20; John 18:12, 19:18-37 Acts 2:23).
Abraham, although he was prepared to go and sacrifice his son, had faith that his son would return with him after God resurrected him (Genesis 22:5).
Yeshua (Jesus), although He was prepared to lay down and sacrifice His life, had faith that He would be resurrected (Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; John 2:19-21).
Through Abraham, God multiplied his descendants as the stars of heaven and the sand of the seashore, and blessed all the nations of the Earth (Genesis 22:17-18; Galatians 3:7-8).
Through Yeshua, God saved many and blessed all the nations of the Earth and of His kingdom there will be no end (Matthew 20:28, 25:32, 26:28; Mark 10:45; Mark 14:24; Luke 1:33; Galatians 3:14).

ADAM
Adam, who was in the garden (Genesis 3:6), was tempted by Satan, the serpent (Genesis 3:1-5).
Yeshua (Jesus) who was in the wilderness, was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-10; Mark 1:12- 13; Luke 4:1-13).
Adam was among the beasts when Satan tempted him (Genesis 3:1).
Yeshua (Jesus) was among the beasts when Satan tempted Him (Mark 1:13).
Adam was tempted by Satan with food (Genesis 3:5).
Yeshua (Jesus) was tempted by Satan with food (Matthew 4:3; Luke 4:3).
Adam was visually tempted by a tree, which was pleasant to the eyes (Genesis 3:6).
Yeshua (Jesus) was visually tempted with all the kingdoms of the world, which He was shown (Matthew 4:8-9; Luke 4:5-7).
Through Adam, all have sinned and died (Romans 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Through Yeshua (Jesus), all who have sinned can be made righteous and receive salvation (1 Corinthians 15:21-22,45).

DAVID
David was anointed to be king over the Jews of Israel (1 Samuel 2:1-12; 2 Samuel 23:1; Psalm 84:9, 89:20).
Yeshua (Jesus) was born and anointed to be King of the Jews and King of kings (Matthew 2:2, 27:11,29; Mark 15:2-18; Luke 4:18, 23:3,37; John 18:33-39, 19:3,21; Acts 10:38; 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Revelation 17:14).
David was with the Spirit of God (1 Samuel 18:28; 2 Samuel 23:2).
Yeshua (Jesus) was with the Spirit of God (Luke 4:18).
David was a man after God’s own heart and did His will (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
Yeshua (Jesus) was a Man after God’s own heart and did His Father’s will (Luke 22:42; John 5:30, 6:38, 10:30, 12:49-50, 14:9).

ELIJAH
Elijah rebuked the people and the religious leaders of Israel for their idolatry (1 Kings 18:21).
Yeshua (Jesus) rebuked the scribes, Pharisees, and religious leaders of Israel for misleading the people (Matthew 23).
Elijah was given power from God to control the rain (1 Kings 17:1).
Yeshua (Jesus) was given power from God and controlled a windstorm (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25).
Elijah spoke the word of YHWH (the Lord) and multiplied the food supply of flour and oil, so that it would not run out for a starving widow and her son (1 Kings 17:12-16).
Yeshua (Jesus) multiplied the five barley loaves and two small fishes that He and the disciples had and fed the multitude of about five thousand people with it (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:37- 44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14).
Elijah called on God and resurrected a child from death (1 Kings 17:17-24).
Yeshua (Jesus) resurrected children and others from death (Mark 5:35-42; Luke 7:11-15; John 11:1-44).

ELISHA
Elisha resurrected a child from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35).
Yeshua (Jesus) resurrected a child from the dead (Mark 5:35-42).
Elisha multiplied oil into much oil (2 Kings 4:2-7) and served a group of a hundred men with a small amount of food, and they ate and there was food left over (2 Kings 4:41-44).
Yeshua (Jesus) multiplied bread and fish into much bread and fish and fed 4,000 and 5,000 people and there was food left over (Matthew 14:15-21; 16:8; Mark 6:36-44, 8:17-20; Luke 9:12- 17; John 6:5-14).
Elisha cured Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).
Yeshua (Jesus) cured ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19).
Elisha made an iron axe float on water (2 Kings 6:5-7).
Yeshua (Jesus) walked on water and made Peter walk on water (Matthew 14:25-29; John 6:19- 20).

ISAAC
Isaac was the only begotten son of his father Abraham and mother Sarah (Genesis 22:2; Hebrews 11:17).
Yeshua (Jesus) was the only begotten Son of His Father God (Psalm 2:7; John 1:14,18, 3:16,18; 1 John 4:9, 5:1).
Isaac was the son (born of genealogy line) of Abraham (Genesis 21:3, 22:2).
Yeshua (Jesus) was the Son (born into the genealogy line) of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).
Isaac was offered as a sacrifice by his father on a mountain in Moriah, Jerusalem (Genesis 22:2- 10).
Yeshua (Jesus) was offered as a sacrifice by His Father on Mt. Calvary, Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-23, 27:35; Luke 23:33; John 3:16-17, 12:27, 19:17-18).
Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, was bound, and was placed atop the wood (Genesis 22:6,9).
Yeshua (Jesus) carried the wood cross for His own sacrifice, was bound, and was placed atop the wood cross (Matthew 27:2; Luke 23:26; John 18:12, 19:17-18).
Isaac was prepared for sacrifice and three days later he was relieved from the grave as a ram caught in a thicket (thorn bush) took his place (Genesis 22:4,13).
Yeshua (Jesus) was sacrificed wearing a crown of thorns and three days later He was resurrected from the grave, which could not hold Him (Matthew 12:40, 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:19, 27:29; Mark 9:31, 10:34, 15:17; Luke 9:22, 24:7, 24:46; John 19:2,5; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

JACOB
Jacob had twelve sons, who were the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 35:22; Acts 7:8).
Yeshua (Jesus) had twelve apostles, who will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30).
Jacob had one beloved son, Joseph, who pleased him (Genesis 37:3).
Yeshua is the beloved Son of God, in whom His Father is well pleased (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22).
Jacob received His father’s blessing (Genesis 27:26-29).
Yeshua (Jesus) received His Father’s blessing (Matthew 28:18).

JEPHTHAH’S DAUGHTER
Jephthah’s unnamed daughter honored her father who, as a commander of Israel, made a rash vow requiring him to sacrifice his only begotten daughter or break his vow made to Almighty God.
Yeshua (Jesus) honored His Father who, as God the Father Almighty, sent His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16; Colossians 1:19-20).
Jephthah’s daughter honored her father and agreed to lay down her life as a burnt offering, so that her father would not break his word and would be reconciled to God.
Yeshua (Jesus) honored His Father and agreed to be sent into the world to lay down His life as an offering, so that man could be reconciled to God (John 10:18, 12:27).
Jephthah’s daughter wandered the mountains for two months, to mourn, then returned and voluntarily laid down her life for her father, though she was a virgin and had done no wrong (Judges 11:30-39).
Yeshua (Jesus) wandered in the wilderness for forty days, before returning and then voluntarily laid down His life for His Father, though He was without sin and had done no wrong (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

JOHN (THE BAPTIST)
An angel appeared to John’s father Zacharias to tell him not to be afraid, that his wife would bear a son, and was told to call his name John, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and will turn many people to the Lord their God (Luke 1:13-16).
An angel appeared to Yeshua’s (Jesus’) father Joseph to tell him not to be afraid to take Miriam (Mary) as his wife, that his wife would bear a Son conceived of the Holy Spirit, and they was to call His name Yeshua (Jesus), and He will save their people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21).
Zacharias asked the angel who appeared to him how he could have a son being that his wife was well advanced in years (Luke 1:18).
Mary asked the angel who appeared to her how she could have a Son being that she was a virgin and did not know a man (Luke 1:34).
John was miraculously conceived and was born as the first-born son to Elizabeth, a barren mother (Luke 1:7,36-37,57).
Yeshua (Jesus) was miraculously conceived and was born the first-born Son to Miriam (Mary), a virgin mother (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38, 2:6-7).
John was circumcised on his eighth day and was then named John (Luke 1:59-63).
Yeshua (Jesus) was circumcised on His eighth day and then was named Yeshua (Jesus) (Luke 2:21).
John baptized his followers with water (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5, 19:4).
Yeshua (Jesus) baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 20:22; Acts 1:5-8).
John was sent from God to bear witness of the Light (John 1:6-8).
Yeshua (Jesus), the Light, was sent from God to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37).
John was the most righteous man born of a woman who ever lived (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28).
Yeshua (Jesus) was the only Man born of a woman who ever lived without ever sinning (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

JONAH
Jonah was called on by God to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2, 3:1-2).
Yeshua (Jesus) was called on by God (the Father) to preach repentance to the world (Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 28:18-20; Luke 13:3-5).
Jonah was willing to sacrifice his life to save his shipmates (Jonah 1:12).
Yeshua (Jesus) was willing to sacrifice His life to save the people of the world (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 1:29, 10:17-18; 1 Timothy 2:6).
Jonah was entombed in the belly of a great fish for three days and afterward the fish vomited him out (Jonah 2).
Yeshua (Jesus) was entombed in the heart of the Earth for three days and three nights He walked out from it (Matthew 12:40, 27:60; Mark 6:29; Luke 23:53).
After coming out from the ‘grave’ of the great fish (Jonah 2:2), Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh and warned them that God would destroy Nineveh in forty days if the people did not repent (Jonah 3:4).
After His resurrection Yeshua (Jesus) preached to His disciples for forty days before His Ascension (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:12-20; Luke 24; John 20-21; Acts 1). Yeshua (Jesus) preached that people would perish if they did not repent (Luke 13:3-5).

JOSEPH (OF EGYPT)
Joseph was one of twelve brothers of whom his father Jacob (Israel) loved above all the others (Genesis 37:3).
Yeshua (Jesus) loved John, one of the twelve disciples, above all the others (John 19:26, 20:2, 21:7,20).
Joseph’s brothers conspired together to kill him (Genesis 37:18).
Yeshua’s (Jesus’) countrymen, the high priests and Pharisees, conspired together to kill Him (Matthew 12:14, 27:1; Mark 3:6, 9:31, 10:33-34; Luke 18:32-33, 22:2-6; John 5:16-18, 7:1, 11:53).
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28).
Yeshua (Jesus) was betrayed by one of His disciples and sold for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).
Joseph was stripped of his multicolored tunic that was dipped in the innocent blood of a goat and his tunic was torn (Genesis 37:31).
Yeshua (Jesus) was stripped of His garments, which had absorbed His innocent blood and His garments were torn and divided (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24).
Joseph overcame temptation (Genesis 39:7-12).
Yeshua (Jesus) overcame temptation (Matthew 4:1-10).
Joseph was falsely accused (Genesis 39:17-18).
Yeshua (Jesus) was falsely accused (Matthew 26:59-61).
Joseph was punished with two other men; one was saved and the other perished (Genesis 40).
Yeshua (Jesus) was punished with two other men; one was saved and the other perished (Luke 23:32-43).
Joseph was believed to be dead (Genesis 42:13,21-22,32,36,38, 44:20,28).
Yeshua (Jesus) was believed to be dead (Luke 24:3-7; John 20:1-9,13,25).
Joseph was later discovered to be alive, but he wasn’t recognized and some did not believe at first (Genesis 42:6-8, 45:3-4,26-28).
Yeshua (Jesus) was later discovered to be alive, but He wasn’t recognized and some did not believe (Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:11-14; Luke 24:9-11,13-39; John 20:14-15,24-29).
Joseph was thirty years old when Egypt’s Pharaoh made him governor of Egypt, ruler over all.
Yeshua (Jesus) was thirty years old when He began his ministry (Luke 3:23) and He was made governor of all creation, ruler over all, upon His resurrection (Matthew 28:18).
Only in regards to the throne of Egypt was Pharaoh greater than Joseph (Genesis 41:40-46).
Only in regards to the throne of the kingdom of heaven is God the Father greater than Yeshua (Jesus) (John 14:28).
Joseph was sent by God as a deliverer to Egypt to save the world from famine and made Joseph ruler over Egypt (Genesis 45:7-8).
Yeshua (Jesus) was sent by God as a deliverer into the world to save the world from sin and made Yeshua (Jesus) Ruler of kings (John 3:16-17; Revelation 17:14).

LAZARUS
The chief priests plotted together to kill Lazarus (John 12:10).
The high priests and Pharisees plotted together to kill Yeshua (Jesus) (Matthew 12:14, 27:1; Mark 3:6, 9:31, 10:33-34; Luke 18:32-33, 22:2-6; John 5:16-18, 7:1, 11:53).
Lazarus was resurrected from a tomb after being dead for four days (John 11:38-44).
Yeshua was resurrected from a tomb after having been dead for three days (Luke 24:1-7).

MOSES
The Pharaoh of Egypt ordered all newborn Hebrew males to be slaughtered, but Moses survived by fleeing to Egypt (Exodus 1:22-2:10).
King Herod of Israel ordered all Hebrew males two years old and under to be slaughtered, but Yeshua (Jesus) survived by fleeing to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-16).
Moses delivered his people from the bondage of slavery and lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole so that people would look upon the serpent and live (Numbers 21:8-9).
Yeshua (Jesus) delivered His people from the bondage of sin and was lifted up on the cross, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

SAMSON
An angel of God appeared to Samson’s mother, who was barren, and prophesied that she would conceive and bear a son (Judges 13:3).
An angel of God appeared to Yeshua’s mother Mary, who was a virgin, and prophesied that she would conceive and bear a Son (Luke 1:26-31).
Samson was a Nazirite who began to deliver his people from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:5).
Yeshua (Jesus) was a Nazarene who delivered His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Sampson was arrested and bound by the Philistine authorities and was mocked by them (Judges 16:21-25).
Yeshua (Jesus) was arrested and bound by the Jewish and Roman authorities and was mocked by Jewish elders, high priests, and the Roman soldiers (Luke 23:36; John 18:12, 19:1-3).
Samson outstretched his arms against the temple pillars, and brought down the temple. Samson killed more people in his death than he had killed in his life (Judges 16:26-30).
Yeshua (Jesus) outstretched His arms on the cross where He was crucified and upon His death, the veil of the Jewish temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). Yeshua (Jesus) saved more people through His death and resurrection than He had saved in His life (Romans 10:9).

YESHUA (JESUS) AT 12-YEARS OLD AND 33-YEARS-OLD
Yeshua (Jesus), when he was twelve years old, stayed behind in Jerusalem during Passover and was found by Joseph and Mary three days later (Luke 2:41-46).
Yeshua (Jesus), when He was thirty three years old, was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem during Passover and was found by Mary Magdalene three days later (John 20:1-2,11-18).
Joseph and Mary sought 12-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) in Jerusalem anxiously (Luke 2:47-48).
Peter and another disciple, upon hearing the news that Yeshua’s (Jesus’) tomb was empty, sought 33-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) anxiously (John 20:3-8).
When they found 12-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) in the temple they were amazed (Luke 2:47-48).
When 33-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) appeared to His disciples in a closed room they were glad (John 20:19-20).
12-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) said that He was doing His Father’s business (Luke 2:49).
33-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) said that He would do His Father’s will, which was to suffer and be killed (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31, 9:31; Luke 9:21-22,43-44, 22:41-42; John 12:7-8).
They did not understand what 12-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of to them, regarding His Father’s business (Luke 2:50).
They did not understand what 33-year-old Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of to them, regarding His Father’s will for Him to suffer and be killed (Mark 9:32; Luke 9:45; John 12:16).

CLEAN ANIMALS
Sacrifices and offerings of unblemished clean animals were a forerunner of the Perfect Sacrificial Offering. Mammals and birds distinguished as being ‘clean’ symbolized that they were holy; being ‘without blemish’ signified that they were physically perfect without injury. Lambs, the blood of clean animals, were sacrificed to temporarily atone for man’s sins.
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) was the Perfect Sacrificial Offering, taking away the first; a foreshadowing of sanctification through animal sacrifices, to establish the second, everlasting sanctification through the sacrificed body of Messiah (Christ) (Hebrews 10:9-10). Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), whose life was holy and without sin, met the qualifications to permanently take away the sins of the world. Yeshua (Jesus) permanently paid for the remission of sin, therefore there are to be no more animal sacrifices or offerings for sin, as Messiah’s sacrifice was offered once and forever to atone for man’s sins (Hebrews 10:1-18). Yeshua (Jesus) was distinguished as the only man who ever lived a clean, holy life without blemish, illness, injury, or sin. Yeshua, the Lamb of God, gave His life as the once-and-forever substitute sacrificial offering for man’s sins (1 Peter 1:19). Yeshua’s (Jesus’) blood was shed to permanently atone for man’s sins.

CONCLUSION
Throughout Scripture we are provided with examples of forerunners of Yeshua (Jesus), saints who lived righteous lives. Although the righteous saints of Scripture were not without sin, nor lived perfect lives, nonetheless they provide an example for all believers as to how we should live.

1 JOHN 2:3-6 (NKJV):
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 JOHN 3:10 (NKJV):
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.

Forerunner saints of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) serve as examples for believers to emulate. Believers are commanded to live righteously, to practice righteousness, as forerunners of Messiah (Christ), who came before us, lived. Believers are to live like Messiah (Christ), to be like Him, to walk as He walked.