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Is the Old Testament Still Relevant for Today?
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the
Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
- Matthew 5:17, New International Version
In the Bible when Jesus or Paul are quoting and referring to scripture, they are speaking of the Old Testament because New Testament scripture was still being lived out (written) in their time. Jesus, like all Jews of the first century, divided the scripture (Old Testament) into three parts - the law, the prophets and the writings.
Jesus quoted from 24 different books in the Old Testament. The New Testament as a whole quotes from 34 of the Old Testament books. God reveals a lot about Himself and about mankind in the Old Testament.
People may be surprised to know that the New Testament confirms even the 10 Commandments (1 John 2:3-6). God is consistent, He does not change but brought a new covenant to man through His Son, Jesus.
In the New Testament, Paul tells us that the Law was never meant to justify people but rather bring people to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:23-25) We cannot base our stand on only the New Testament and ignore the Old Testament; God is consistent in both. To study anything other than the whole bible is to go against God’s Word. Get to know all of God’s word!
“Whosoever has my commands and obeys them, he
is the one who loves me.”
- John 14:21 New International Version
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