Note 2 at Lk. 7:26: An Old Testament prophet was the infallible voice of God to his generation; what he said about the future always came to pass (Dt. 18:20-22) and what he said about the present was often confirmed with supernatural manifestations.

Much of the Old Testament deals with future events and the coming Messiah and His kingdom. Not only was John the Baptist the voice of God to his generation, he was also the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Isa. 40:3; Hos. 10:12; Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 1:17,76; 7:27; Jn. 3:28). He did not merely prophesy about the coming Messiah and the New Covenant, as the Old Testament prophets did, but he actually prepared the way (Isa. 40:3) for the hearts of the people (Lk. 1:17) to receive Jesus by bearing witness to the light (Jn. 1:6-9).