In a similar way, our understanding of the New Testament cannot be complete without understanding the Old Testament.
Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)
Jesus spoke the words of the Old Testament often. And in the account above, He couldn’t be more clear. What the OT authors wrote, He came to fulfill.
- Abraham
- Isaac
- Joseph
- Moses
- Joshua
- David
- Elijah
It goes on and on throughout the Old Testament. The people and events are all pointing in the same direction - to the Son of God. But we only fully get this if we read the original accounts.
The New Testament tells us all about Jesus, the church, and how to live in this post-resurrection world. But the Old Testament is where it all started, and without understanding them we are left with enormous holes in our understanding.
#LoveMatters