When we explore the question of what Jesus thought of the Old Testament, we must understand that the divine aspect of Jesus, God in the flesh, inspired, knew, personified and trusted every jot and tittle of the Old Testament. This fact must always be in the back of our minds when we seek the answer to this question. What we really mean when we ask this question is what did the human expression of Jesus think of the Old Testament and portray to those within His sphere of influence? Our answer to this question can only be found in the New Testament.
What did Jesus think of the Old Testament?
The first encounter we see of Jesus and the Old Testament writings in the Gospels is found in Luke 2:41-52. As a young boy (12 years old, the year of bar mitzvah for boys) He had traveled with his family to Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Passover. After it was over his parents assumed He was in the caravan on their way back home. However, we observe that He was found in the Temple sitting among the teachers of the Law both listening and questioning them. From this simple interaction, we are told that the people were amazed at His understanding of the Old Testament. Can you imagine the types of questions He posed to those teachers of the Law?
The next encounter we see Jesus has with the Old Testament was at the beginning of His ministry, immediately after His baptism in the Jordan River. The Bible says in Matthew 4:1-11 that He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Notice Jesus’ rebuke of all three false accusations of Satan,
But He answered and said, “It is written …” – Matthew 4:4
Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, …” – Matthew 4:7
Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written …” – Matthew 4:10
Jesus knew the power of the Old Testament and used it, and only it, to refute Satan’s temptations. I find it fascinating that Jesus, being God, could easily have banished Satan to eternity at this time, but chose rather to exhibit the supremacy of the words recorded in Deuteronomy by the prophet Moses. This pericope of New Testament demonstrates that Jesus not only believed what was written in the Law, but knew of its power to defeat the adversary.
The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day believed the Old Testament was inspired by God. Jesus, too, believed this and often expressed it in his numerous interactions with Pharisees. Take for example Matthew 19:4-5 where the Pharisees were testing Him,
And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” – Matthew 19:4-5
Jesus is quoting the words of Moses recorded in Genesis 2:24. But what is often missed in this passage is that Jesus attributes the words to God Himself even though God is not speaking in that passage. He’s only the narrator. Jesus is claiming that these words are from God.
Critics of the Old Testament often point to what they call fictional “fairy tale” aspects and thus question its authoritative nature. They claim that Noah’s flood, the cataclysmic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, miracle bread (manna) raining down from heaven, Jonah being swallowed by a large fish and a boy defeating a seasoned warrior with just a sling are stretches of the imagination at best. I find it interesting that Jesus acknowledged each of these instances in the New Testament, thus validating His belief that the Old Testament is not only valid, but accurate.
Not only did Jesus believe in the authority, power and historicity of the Scriptures, He did His best to reveal Himself in them. Starting early in His ministry, right after being tempted in the desert, He enters a synagogue in Nazareth and is handed the scroll of Isaiah to read. After reading it to the religious leaders and teachers He says to them,
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:21
They were outraged that He would claim to be the one of whom Isaiah, the great prophet, was pertaining to in his writings.
Throughout His ministry Jesus tried to teach His followers that it was Him who the Scriptures pointed to as the saving Messiah.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” – John 5:39
At the end of His earthly ministry, before His false trial and crucifixion, Jesus pulls out the last stop and boldly proclaims to the High Priest, Caiaphas,
“You have said it yourself; nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” – Matthew 26:64
Without any explanation we see Caiaphas tearing his robe, an action showing that he believed what Jesus said was blasphemy. Simply put, Jesus was claiming that it was He that the prophet Daniel was referring to as the Cloud Rider in Daniel 7:13.
Finally, after Jesus was resurrected, we see that He appears to two men who are traveling on the road to Emmaus. After explaining to Him the events of the day Jesus begins to explain to them why these things had to happen. He gently reveals to them that it was Him whom the Scriptures referred to as the chosen One, the Messiah who came to redeem mankind from their sins.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. – Luke 24:27
One interesting fact about this story, Luke decides to reveal to his readers the name of one of the men Jesus is talking to. His name is Cleopas and in Greek it means “to make known to all mankind.”
What did Jesus think of the Old Testament?
What did Jesus believe about the Old Testament? He believed that it was very important because it made known to all that He was, is, and always will be the Savior of mankind.
If you haven’t read it yet, be sure and check out Part 1 of this series, What did the Pharisees think of the Old Testament?
Next week we will look at What did Early Christians think of the Old Testament?
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