Jesus and the Old Testament

Jesus caught a lot of flack in His day.

One of the main controversies around Him had to do with Scripture.

And that was the criticism that He had little to no regard for the Tanakh.

But nothing could’ve been further from the truth.

The Law and the Prophets

Jesus knew what people thought of Him, so, during His Sermon the Mount, He set the record straight:

The “Law and Prophets” was just another way of saying the Old Testament/Tanakh. So what Jesus is effectively saying here is that instead of doing away with the OT, He’s finishing what it started.

In other words, He is the central figure the entire Old Testament has been pointing to. He’s the one Israel and the rest of the world has been waiting for.

Fulfillment

So what’s the point of the Old Testament?

Where do I begin?

The Old Testament reveals the origin and purpose of our species.

It explains the human condition and God’s response to it. 

It tells the story of God working through human affairs to heal us from sin and save the world.

But, most importantly, it provides the foundation for Jesus.

Time and time again, Jesus references and demonstrates how the OT points to Him.

If you were to remove the OT from the equation, much of Jesus’ ministry would be devoid of meaning.

Look, I know it can be tempting to do away with the OT. It’s long, dense, and confusing. There are times when it even seems like Jesus outright contradicts it. 

But it’s an integral part of understanding and coming to Jesus.

After all, if the OT was important to Jesus, shouldn’t it be important to us, too?

I’ll end with a recommendation.

The BibleProject has this great “Read Scripture” app. It’s one of thousands out there but what I like about it is how it emphasizes the Bible as a story.

Beginning in the OT, they provided resources to help frame its importance and place in the grand narrative.

I’ve been using it for over a year now and it's been fantastic. The app has helped me gain a deeper appreciation for the OT and connect the dots between it and the Gospel.

Can’t recommend it enough. 

No matter what path you take, one thing is clear: The Old Testament is a vital part of the path to understanding and appreciating the beautiful depths of Jesus Christ.

Which is as good a point as any, isn’t it? ;)

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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