Interesting verse from the book of John

So I was watching a number of videos about Islam on YouTube yesterday, and came across one that pointed out these verses from the New Testament:

"This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" He came right out and said "I am not the Messiah."

"Well, then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?"

"No," he replied.

"Are you the Prophet we are expecting?"

"No."

"Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us! What do you have to say about yourself?"

John replied in the words of the propeht Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the Lord's coming!' "

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"

John 1: 19-25, NIV

So, who is the Prophet? It isn't Jesus in this instance, because His name was already taken off of the list of possibilities. Who else could this be?

Here is another one that I found:

Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing then from city to city."
Matthew 23:34 NIV

So, there are two questions that arise from this verse:
1- Who are these prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law?
2- If Jesus completely abolished the laws of the Jews, and thereby freed us from all future religious laws and put us strictly under grace, then why would we need to receive teachers of religious law?