Evidence That Jesus Knew, Believed and Accepted Old Testament Scriptures
Posted: Saturday, November 27, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The contents of he Holy Bible have been rejected, scorned and ridiculed by those who wish it to be false, since it was originally written. Some are willfully ignorant of the contents, others know much of what it says but refuse to submit to it. The Old Testament was written to preserve the doctrines and history of mankind, given by God, for the benefit of those who came after it was fulfilled and terminated.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 KJV) (Referring to the Law of Moses in both scriptures-jhh)
Jesus himself, referred to and quoted from the Old Testament and showed that he believed and accepted it all. He did not accept all of the views and teachings of the Jewish people who had allowed their own traditions to usurp the true meanings of the divinely inspired writings in many cases, in which Jesus rebuked them.
Here is an example of Jesus' knowledge of scriptural meanings shown to be far better than that of the Pharisees:
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:7-8 KJV)
And He acquiesced to the teaching of Moses:
And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (Luke 5:4 KJV)
It is well, at this point to explain (since many are not aware of the facts) that Jesus was born, lived and died under the Old Testament Law, given to the Jews through Moses and the prophets. He taught others to obey it strictly, not regarding the Jewish traditions which had been added to the law and in some cases, superceded it. It was His purpose for coming to live on the earth, to fulfill the law through perfect obedience. He did so and never sinned. Notice this excerpt from His "sermon on the mount":
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18 KJV)
This passage not only shows that he lived under the law but that his purpose was that of fulfilling the law (through obedience). And he says that one jot or one tittle would not pass from the law UNTIL ALL be fulfilled. Some still try and bind portions of the Old Law on Christians today. But, Jesus just said that it would not pass until ALL of it was fulfilled. He either did what he was sent to do, or he did not. If he fulfilled the law as was his purpose, then his statement, conversely implies that the law would indeed pass away WHEN all was fulfilled.
Many other statements confirm that the law did pass and that the perfect law of liberty through Jesus Christ became the law for all men, not just the Jews as was the Mosaical law. God Himself spoke to the apostles who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. Read this:
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. (Mark 9:2-8 underlined emphasis mine jhh KJV)
The early English terminology here does not place emphasis or explain precisely what the full intent of God was in this case. The appearance of Moses and Elias (Elijah) the prophet was purposely intended to show that Moses, the lawgiver of the old law as Jesus was for the new, and the prophet Elijah whose importance was known widely by the Jewish nation (since God took him directly into heaven) were no longer the law givers. That now the apostles and all other men must leave the law as taught by Moses and the prophets and listen to what Jesus presented. To make the event more clearly understood, if we ad-lib a bit and put it this way: "You can now forget Moses and Elias, and from now on, you listen to Jesus, my son whom I love dearly."
Paul emphasizes the thought in his letter to the Colossians:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15 KJV)
Paul offers the term "handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us" in describing the Old Testament Law (in it's entirety) which had then been replaced by the Law of Christ) to show that the old law was inferior to Christ's law since it could not totally obliterate sins. The sins were remembered against them anew each year and sacrifices had to be made to gain another year of forgiveness.
But under Jesus law, once one is obedient to his commands and is added to his body, his spiritual church, his sins are forgiven to be remembered against him no more. It is suggested that one read the following passage slowly and intently. The writer of the Hebrew letter is discussing the difference between the two laws:
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:9-18 KJV)
Through obedience to the gospel of Christ, we can have all of our past sins totally removed. We can, however sin anew and be charged with the new ones, should we leave our safety in his fold. The Apostle John offers this explanation:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1John 1:7 KJV)
In order to clarify that statement a little, John means that, as long as we are struggling as hard as we can to remain obedient to Christ, his blood constantly cleanses us and our unintentional sins are not imputed to us. But beware, it is entirely possible for us to willfully sin afresh, these are imputed to us. Our lives should be devoted to the glorification of God and of his son, Jesus Christ.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I can accept that for many the Bible is a very important book, but I do feel it is one of many, and that different people need different things. Surely we can all respect each other's differences?
Hi Jennifer, thanks for reading and commenting. The Bible has proven over and over that it is a factual and inspired book...inspired of God. No others have these internal and external proofs. I am extremely thankful that we still live in freedom where people can choose their own beliefs, so long as they do not harm others. But, respect is another matter. I have little respect for those religions which teach that one should kill those who do not believe as they do. Or even the ones which have no basis for their existence.
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