John 5:36-40
The Old Testament Scriptures Testify About Jesus
36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
Luke 4:16-21
Jesus Read in the Synagogue
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 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, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV)
Jesus Came to Fulfill the Old Testament Scripture
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 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.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 1:1-14
God's Final Word is His Son
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire.”
8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
10 He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Acts 10:34-43
The Words of St. Peter About God, Jesus and the Prophets
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways...God inspired the prophets and the Old Testament authors...Moses and others wrote about a Messiah, an Anointed One that was to come someday...The authors give us Great Information on God and His contact with the Hebrew people, a history of the nation of Israel, how we fell from His Grace, how we sin, and our need for a Messiah, a Savior because of our sins...The Savior God sent us was His Son...After Jesus was born, and after His death on the cross and His resurrection God has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe...Jesus, the Son of God, is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being, sustaining all things by His powerful word...After Jesus died on the cross and provided purification for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven...So Jesus became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs...He is the Son of Man, and the Son of God...And so Jesus' Word no reigns in heaven and on earth...
Mosaic Law of the old Testament was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ...Jesus said He did not come to earth to abolish the Old Testament Laws or to change the Scripture...When Jesus came He said He came to fulfill these Old Testament Laws...He is the Messiah that would accomplish this fulfillment of the Old Testament...Not any of the Old Testament would disappear from the Law until everything is and was accomplished by Him...Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands of the Old Testament and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven...For Jesus told us that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, we will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven...And thus Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected by God, to help and be with us...Our Savior who is Christ the LORD...
Mosaic Law was given to the Israelites to help people see the need for rules through the LOVE of God...By the time Jesus came to earth, the laws were a strict and sometimes misapplied set of rules by the Pharisees and the teachers of these laws...The principle of these laws were what is important and Jesus over and over showed and gave teachings on them...Jesus showed by His teachings, His Parables, His actions, and His deeds that we need a different kind of righteous than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law...The laws showed these things as He taught us...Righteousness and morality comes from God...Our lives are to be centered on God...The laws show us a respect and love for God and neighbor...How we act and follow these principles of these laws, in respect to God and neighbor, is very important, than just following the law verbatim as the Pharisees and the other teachers of the law were doing...
When Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up and raised, to teach of about the Old Testament, and specifically about Isaiah...And on that famous Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom...Then He stood up to read Old Testament Scripture...The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him...Unrolling it, Jesus found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the LORD is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor...He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."...After reading this Scripture Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down...The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."...
St. Peter tells us that God of the Old Testament is the God of now and His Son...St. Peter tells us how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him...The Disciples were the witnesses of everything Jesus did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem...The leading Jewish officials with the Romans killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen after His death...Jesus was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead...He commanded the Disciples to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as Judge of the living and the dead...All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name...
So the Old Testament writings are the foundation of this fulfillment of Jesus, being the Messiah, and resurrecting to life again...The Disciples were His Key witnesses...The Old Testament had been fulfilled with His life and His death on the cross, and His resurrection ...God has anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit...
So the Old Testament has not faded away with us learning about God, His Son, and the Ways of His people...The Old Testament lives on in Jesus as He fulfilled it and its prophecies about what was written about Him...Jesus is the Bible, He is the Old Testament...He fulfilled the Bible...Every cell of His represents the Bible and its ways...Years have past and the Bible is still with us...The Bible is still relevant, because Jesus is the Bible...God who had spoken to the prophets, now has sent His Son to earth to speak to us and to continue to speak to us through the Holy Spirit...