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Do I need to read the Old Testament?
The short and simple answer is YES. If want to know and understand the Father the Jesus refers to the Old Testament is where you find Him.
If you want to understand what Jesus understood then you need to read what he read. What we call the Old Testament today was the only scripture available in Jesus time. From these He learned about His heavenly Father. By reading the books of Moses He learned how He should live according to the Laws and Statutes God gave to the people of Israel. The Prophets taught Him about man's waywardness and God's faithfulness. So everything He needed to know about having a right relationship with God he learned from the Old Testament.
I'm sure there'll be people who disagree with me, they will cite the New Testament as the way to knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus is the way to heaven, they will say, and they are right however Jesus teachings all came from the Old Testament.
When Jesus was tested by the Pharisees He didn't refer to Paul, Peter or even James. He referred His adversaries to the Prophets and the books of Moses precisely because the questions were often concerning the Law. In one incident He was asked "Is it lawful.....".
But more importantly the New Testament is written after Jesus death and resurrection.
Perhaps it would help if we viewed scripture difflerently. Rather than being split into old and new books as we have come to see the Bible what we have is Book 1 and the Sequel. Like any serial book or film you have to read / view the first part to really understand why the characters behave and conform as they do in the second. The same is true of the Bible
Like most new believers I started reading the Bible at the book of Genesis. Also like most new believers I found the genealogies boring and gave up half way through. Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Numbers and Chronicles didn't appeal to me either. So I tended to view the Old Testament as a mixed collection of stories with plenty of boring bits. But I knew one day I'd probably need to know what was in those books I ignored.
After 16 years of baksliding I came back to the Lord and found myself reading Genesis but quickly lost interest when I came to the genealogies, again. I prayed for guidance and started reading the New Testament. I didn't get to John's gospel until after I read Hebrews, James, Jude etc but I stopped reading at John 10. That was where I discovered Jesus willingly chose the cross for my sake. It was too much to take in so my Bible reading came to an immediate halt whilst I let that bombshell sink in - it took several weeks. Then Daniel began to come into my mind so I read the book and shortly after I had an overwhelming desire to read Esther, Ruth and Nehemiah. I had reached overload so again I took time out to let things sink in.
When I returned to the Bible I continued reading the New Testatment not in John's gospel where I'd stopped but in the letters of Paul to the various churches. From there I read whatever the Holy Spirit led me to read because I had prayed for His guidance and I trusted Him to know what I needed to learn.
It didn't take long before I was reading Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah and the Psalms, in fact I probably read a Psalm a day. I was growing and I was seeing things I didn't even know the Lord had done or said. Sometimes the words jumped off the page and really hit me. But despite this I was not studying just reading.
It occurred to me a few years later I was spending a lot of time reading the prophets. Yet though I read the Old Testament I rarely read an entire book until I came to Ruth and Esther. I didn't finish Genesis, hadn't read all the Psalms, in fact my Bible reading was piecemeal and often repetitive. It didn't worry me, I was still growing and I knew I the Holy Spirit was guiding me and if that was so the Lord was leading Him so it was all good. I also knew there were a lot of very committed believers who were getting caught up in false doctrine and I couldn't understand why so I started asking the Lord what was going on.
I've come to realise that unless we balance our scripture reading we are likely to misunderstand the God we hope to meet in the pages of the book. Let me explain that statement - more than half of the Books in the Bible are in the part we refer to the as the Old Testament. If we want to really understand why Jesus came to redeem, not save us then we need to read, understand and gain discernment from what he read. Since there was no New Testament we have no choice but to get to know the Old Testament otherwise we end up in a parallel universe as far as understanding our God and the purpose of Redemption.
Not only that but we find ourselves subject to the theory, doctrine and theology of any person who has a point to make no matter whether they have come into error or not. Readers of the New Testament must heed the warnings of the Saviour they profess to follow who, when pressed by his disciples about the end of the age warned......
"And many false prophet's will arise and lead many astray" Matt 24:11
"For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" . Matt 24:24
One day, during the time I lived in Glasgow, I met a person who confessed they only read the New Testament. When I asked why I was told there was no need to read anything else because that's where we learn how to be a Christian since it's all about Jesus. I wasn't convinced about that though it was a simple explanation. Something in me felt this could be the problem with falling into false doctrine so easily.
On another occasion I talked with a Pastor who thought I needed correction regarding my understanding of the continuation of the Spiritual Gifts and especially the role of Prophets and Prophecy in the Church today. As he talked he revealed that he had once believed as I did but he had since learned better. I was astounded. A man can pastor a fellowship, bring weekly teaching and hope to guide believers into a deeper understanding of the Lord yet deny the validity of the Spiritual gifts and the miraculous intervention of the the Holy Spirit. I contacted an internet friend who pointed me in the direction of cessationism. Having learned this was predicated on the theory of Mr Jack Deere who asserted that since the passing of the first century church leaders there is no direct intervention of the Holy Spirit. I decided prayer was the best approach since the Pastor in question was not open to debate.
When I think of these things I realise I was fortunate to be led by the Holy Spirit into scripture that built and strengthened me. As a new believer, allbeit in my 30's with an experience of Church which included Sunday School and Youth Fellowship, the latter being the most exciting thing in my life from 8 to 13 years old, I was now able to grasp things as an adult with the capacity to reason and discern thanks to the Gifts of the Spirit being poured into me. There were things being taught in my fellowship I did not agree with but rather than challenging man I took these things to the Lord. The Holy Spirit would after a time help me to see where I stood and where the error was. Today I know the reason for these delays in receiving an answer is so that when the answer comes I will recognise it as revelation and not my own explanation because I trusted the Holy Spirit would reveal when he knew I was mature in my faith to comprehend.
Reading the New Testatment alone should bring us to a place where we recognise the work of the Spirit of God, where we see miraculous signs and walk in the fullness of Spiritual Gifts. Or that is the thinking of those who adopt this posture. Yet if this is true then the outcome would be clear to see......... What is the outcome in my opinion?
If we are reading the New Testament we will evenutally have to read the Old Testament too because John the Baptist and Jesus made reference to these scripture to explain and point to prophetic fulfilment. In fact when we study the Gospels we realise that nothing Jesus says is new, it is not new doctrine or new theology or even new theory. The simple answer to the obvious question - why - is that there is only one Testament for Jesus to read, learn and memorise - what we today call the Old.
So to the question of should we read the Old Testament? There is only one answer and one explanation and that is a resounding YES.
To know Jesus better, to understand why He does what He does, and to really know God's purpose we have no choice but to read, study, digest and meditate on those scriptures Jesus read.
Paul says in his letter to the Phillipian Church he considers everything in his life of no consequence ...
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Phil 3:7-11
This is Paul, the great accuser, the one who stood by holding the coats as Stephen was stoned for his faith in Christ. He was forever changed by Jesus intervention in not only his life but in the lives of others who would hear the new message Paul would bring. This man knew the scriptures well. Just as Jesus knew the scriptures well. In fact Luke explains like this:.........
"And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him". Luke 2:40.
These words could describe either John the Baptist, Samson or Jesus, all of whom performed the same kind of role - turn the people back to God. In Samson's case he was to live as a Nazirite, abstaining from alcohol and never cutting his hair so that God could use him against the Phillistines. He grew strong and in stature before the Lord. He was much maligned and misunderstood so that we focus on his misdeeds and subsequently we forget he was God's answer to breaking the tyranny and oppression suffered by Israel under the Philistines. He was given not born because of the desire of man. He was set apart before birth and he died for the benefit of many, dying in the enemy's stronghold and killing far more of them than at any other time in his life. So Samson signals defeat of oppression and points to the power and majesty of God in all circumstances so that we may overcome.
In this way Samson is Christ type, clearly demonstrating something of the purpose of God and the single minded determination of the the Christ when he comes. But he's not a one-off. He is one of a number of pre-incarnate Christ types.
Throughout the Old Testament we see various images of the Christ to come. Let me explain what I mean. Christ is a multi faceted personality and He alone is the embodiement of the Father so that He is able to do all that the Father can and does do. In the Old days before He came God raised up men and women who displayed something, i.e. one element of His nature.
- Moses - Statesman and Judge led his people from captivity to freedom
- Samuel - Righteous judge and spiritual barometer as are all of the prophets
- Joseph & Esther - Leaders and delivers of an entire nation
- Joshua - Bold commander and leads his people into a new land filled with promise
- Elijah - Power and spiritual might against the false gods and false worship in the land
There is a danger in thinking that because the New Testament concerns itself with the days of Jesus and the early church we will be able to move into the things of God without any difficulties and that we cannot go wrong. When I see things in these terms I realise that is the thinking of our spiritual enemy who hopes we will not question but adopt these attitudes and behaviours so that he can lead us where he wants us - away from God.
Knowing God which is why Jesus came, yes he also died for our sins, but that is not the end and sole purpose of his coming, otherwise Calvary was not worth His sacrifice. No. The purpose of Jesus coming was to turn a people back to their God and away from false worship and false gods. He came to bring righteousness and to restore the people of God to the God they talked about but knew so little of because they had strayed and were content with following tradition. How they got there was by believing they didn't need to keep up dilligence in the Word as long as they followed the feasts and statutes.
Sadly that is where we come to today from blindly following statutes and doctrines without giving the Word of God, i.e. the Old Testament, it proper place and in doing and learning of the God of the Word. You see I believe Jesus was pointing the way to the Father, didn't he say....
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no-one comes to the father except by me......."
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:27-30
It's not about coming to Jesus to ignore God but coming to Jesus to KNOW God. The people of Israel didn't know God, they knew of His name but not of Him in any depth or from personal understanding. Worship had become a corporate affair with personal responsbility for observance of the traditions and the way your household lived according to the Word of God or the Law. But there was no personal knowledge of God on a deeper level.
So with Jesus pointing out that His Father, God, had handed over everything to him and that His Father knew Him as Son, but that knowing God comes through Jesus. The point is to come to the Father not by speaking Jesus name constantly while indavertently forgetting to go through Jesus to God, but by recognising Jesus as the entry point. Just as a door provides the point of entry to the home and therefore the home owner so Jesus performs the same function.
I know this not easy to take in. I know there are many strands but I also know that ignoring more than half of what is said about the God of Jesus because we consider it to be obsolete, whether that is a conscious thought or not, leads only to false teaching and the tendency to slip into interpretation for own our ends and in order to make our own point.
We need to learn as Jesus did, from the scriptures He read, about the works of the Father He came to glorify and the purposes His Father still works out today.
Let me make a reference to Paul, who I spoke about breifly above. Paul, like Jesus, knew scripture well. Until his meeting with Jesus he used scripture as a weapon against beltievers of the Risen Christ and he was so good at it almost everyone he accused died because he invoked blasphemy. After his miraculous intervention and meeting with the Risen Jesus who informed him that his persecution was of Christ not the followers of Christ, a mistake we make today, then Paul used his weapon of Biblical knowledge and scripture to bring people to Christ especially those who were not of the house of Israel.
Paul learned to do what Jesus and Peter did - He made sure when he spoke he tied everything to the scriptures, explaining from the Prophets and rewording so that it was in context for the times in which he lived, not taking out of context but speaking what was written sometimes just by updating the language.
You see there is no wrong in reading the New Testament but in concentrating on it to the exclusion of what came before is it to deny the heritage and the purpose of Jesus. We cannot profess knowledge and faith in Jesus and deny the scriptures he placed His faith in or the Law upon which we will be judged and which he did not come to abolish. So as long as we do as He did we cannot go wrong, nor will we be condemned by our actions and in that we have no choice but to read the Old Testament so that we can truly bring understanding to those who don't yet know Jesus and see no relevance in His coming or His taking our sin upon His shoulders as the ultimate redemption act.
Just one last word - don't pick and choose and decide there are bits you don't to have read in the Old Testament. Jesus knew what had been written and was recognised as a Rabbi. He was able to refute the religious piety of the Pharisees and bring correction. He was able to teach the teachers and synagogue leaders. It is true we often see him healing and performing miracles but also taught the scriptures.
If this is the case then we need to come to these scriptures seeking enlightenment, understanding and revelation in the knowledge that the same Holy Spirit who witnessed and is mentioned in these ancient texts will surely be able to bring you into a place where you too will know what Jesus knew and you too will be able to inform as He did. You too will be misunderstood, misrepresented and you too will become a threat because the Word of God is powerful - sharper than any two edged sword. It is for making a way through and destroying - not of man but of the strongholds of the enemy over man the most powerful of which is deception.
Yes, Read the First Book of the Chronicles of our God commonly referred to as the Old Testament, search for your God in the pages, situations, circumstances, people and events and be assured this same God is still at work in exactly the same power today as then. As He chose men and women to glorify in those days so He still does today, the more we know Him, the more we can be used for his glory.
Paul said,...."That I may know Him....referring to Jesus.
God says.....
- Ask me and I will tell you great mysteries, things you did not know.....Jer 33:3
- Seek the Lord while He may be found......Isa 61
- I did not send these prophets yet they run with their dreams. Let the one who has my word speak it faithfully......Isa 29 / Jer 23
Jesus says,
- I am the way, the truth and the life, no-one comes to the Father except by me.
- Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you, for to him who asks it shall be given Matt
I hope this makes sense to those who seek wisdom and understanding, who seek to know a deeper relationship exists for them with their God and who desire to walk into the Plans He has laid before them. Be blessed as you read of the one who gave the ultimate blessing -
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Gen 1:28
Originally posted April 2014
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