How Jesus Read the Old Testament

In reading the Old Testament, Jesus seems to be selecting the most important verses – the verses which apply most fully to himself and his mission at that time, and the verses which he wants his hearers to understand both about him and about their own discipleship. Jesus does not simply applying Old Testament examples indiscriminately. Instead, we see him applying the Scriptures with wisdom; filling out their full meaning; reading towards mercy; and Jesus is the one who now embodies God’s Word fully. He is the one through whom God has now fully spoken.

perspective

God’s message

relationship with Christ

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How Jesus Read the Old Testament

James Andrews

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Community Discussion

I found this talk so helpful - a lovely model to take forward and apply in my life and hopefully share with my church family. Thank you so much!

- Lucy Parsons

Thanks James for that thoughtful article. These days, I like to think of the Bible, not so much as a book, or even a library of books but another world. The problem for anyone finding themselves in that foreign land is how to navigate it: we need a native guide to help us. But we've relied on British Victorians to chart this undiscovered country, and create a map about empire, rather than allow Jesus to guide us. The experience of Cleopas and his companion on the Road to Emmaus demonstrates how different those readings are; and how profoundly different the real world consequences of those readings are.

- Karam Ram