Day 18 – Lenten Devotional
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL – DAY 18 – TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019
Jesus teaching often referred to the Old Testament
John 6:45 “Jesus answered and said to them, “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
Jesus made reference directly and indirectly to the Old Testament over 60 times in the gospels. Keep in mind that in Jesus time there was no New Testament yet written. The living Word of God quoted the written Word of God which was the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) Genesis through Malachi.Luke 24:44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Jesus directly quoted Scripture at least 45 times.
- He makes it clear very early in His ministry at the Sermon on the Mount that the people “…not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matt 5:17-18).
- Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven in eight parables in Matthew 13 and quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
- He teaches of the stone that the builders rejected in Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17 by quoting Psalm 118:22-23, that He would become “the Chief Cornerstone…marvelous in our eyes.”
- Jesus reminded them of the greatest commandment…”Love God” quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and the other which is like it, “love your neighbor” from Leviticus 19:18.
- Jesus also recognized the historicity of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Job, Jonah, among others.
While I only picked a few of Jesus teaching from the Old Testament you will be blessed by taking a closer look in your own study. Check out this chart to give you a start: http://www.biblepgs.com/index.htm?doc=JesusQuotes
Jesus revealed the historical, progressive and redemptive writings of the Old Covenant in Himself and His ministry. He was the Messiah, the chosen one, the Christ of whom the Old Testament was pointing to. So it is no surprise that many times when He taught He used the words of Scripture to explain more clearly what it spoke of.
REFLECT: Our Old Testament was revealed in Jesus Christ. Consider John 1:1-3, that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” Who better to explain the written Word? Jesus considered it important to clarify His purpose through Scripture.
REPENT: Change your ways. Are you a “Red Letter” Bible reader, thinking that only the New Testament words Jesus spoke are the most important ones in all of Scripture? Confess to God your reluctance to study the whole Bible as the Words of the Son of God. If Jesus thought the Old Testament was important, shouldn’t you?
RESTORE: You get to know someone better the more time you spend with them and the more you know about their past. Jesus Old Testament history lessons provide the march through time of the unfolding plan of God. Get to know Him better.
Ephesians 6:17 “And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Blessings,
Pastor Tom Bellhy