Scripture has a rather unique definition of fulfillment. While it does follow the usual definition of looking forward to something, it can also refer to looking backward to something as well. The passage of Hosea, fulfilled in Matthew says “[w]hen Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals, and burning incense to idols” (Hos 11:1-2). However, this passage looks backward, to the time of Exodus and not forward to the time of Jesus, so it seems as if Matthew is incorrect in thinking that the words of Hosea were fulfilled in the Jesus. However, the definition of fulfillment in Scripture also includes fulfilling what has already happened. The Exodus, a moment in the past, awaits fulfillment in a new and more perfect Exodus when Israel is freed from the slavery of sin and death. It is precisely this fulfillment of a past event that Jesus is bringing about. Using this passage from Hosea, it becomes clear how fulfillment in Scripture can refer to both past and future events.
There are many places in which the Gospels of Matthew and Luke address the elements of the Old Testament narrative we discussed in class. The entire first part of Matthew’s Gospel reconciles the question of how it was possible to have both a descendent of David and God Himself as king over the Israelites. By tracing Jesus’ lineage to David (and even further), Matthew lays out the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and how there might be both a Davidic king and God as king over Israel. Luke’s Gospel also refers to the Davidic covenant when the angel Gabriel tells Mary that Jesus will be given the throne of David and will rule forever.
Answers to Daily Questions (Catherine) 
I think it’s interesting how in scripture fulfillment is related to historical themes repeating themselves, showing the connectedness of the old and new testaments. This theme is important to the meaningfulness of the Bible as a whole.
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The particular definition of fulfillment in the context of Scripture can be a tricky concept to grasp. It doesn’t aim to look backward, but also doesn’t necessarily await future events. it’s a combination of both the past and the future that is unique to Scripture. You noted that the New Testament freeing of Israel from sin and death is a more perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament Exodus. I think this sums up the concept well, because Scripture does not mean to say that the original Exodus was subpar or incomplete necessarily, but the one to come merely amplifies and furthers the long-awaited freedom of Israel.
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I also agree that defining fulfillment from the New and Old Testaments can be quite challenging at times because the way in which God’s promises and prophecies are fulfilled vary within each story of the Bible. We must await until the end of time when a king as great as God promised comes to fulfill his word.
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I really like your example of Jesus being part of the lineage of David and the son of God as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. However, I do not completely understand why you seem to think that fulfillment was not completed by Jesus coming.
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