Why Study The Old Testament?

As I wrote on Thursday, we are no longer bound by the types and shadows of the Old Testament. But this leads to the error in some folks minds that we don't need that part of the Bible anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Old Testament has much to teach us. Referring to strengthening weak believers, Paul wrote this explanation in Romans 15:4 (BBE). "Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope."

We also need to study The Old Testament for wisdom. Proverbs 9:9 (BBE) explains why. "Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased."

Certainly Jesus valued the scriptures and quoted them often. After his resurrection, he appeared to two disheartened disciples. Feigning ignorance, he asked them why they were so downcast. Luke 24:25-27 (BBE) tells how Christ showed why he had to die from prophesies in the Old Testament scriptures. "And he said, 'O foolish men! how slow you are to give belief to what the prophets have said. Was it not necessary for the Christ to go through these things, and to come into his glory?' And he made clear to them all the things in the Writings, from Moses and from all the prophets, which had to do with himself."

We also read where Luke commended those folks who studied the scriptures, what we call The Old Testament, and called them more noble. Acts 17:10 and 11 recall, "And the brothers straight away sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea: and they, when they came there, went to the Synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica, for they gave serious attention to the word, searching in the holy Writings every day, to see if these things were so."

I could point out many more verses which show the importance of the holy scriptures. It's one reason which wise believers resist cunningly-devised fables and lies from Satan while others become snared.

In the event that Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about spiritual maturity.

What Do We Learn From the Emmaus Discourse?

Continuing on with the theme of discipleship, we often miss key points of Christ's teaching because we're too familiar with the gospel. It's like when a person hears a piece of familiar music and suddenly a lyric or instrument surprises the listener.

I've had that experience with songs like "Are You Experienced" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. On it, Jimi pressed the A key on a piano repeatedly. Until recently, I hadn't noticed that a few of his notes weren't on time.

In the same way, we all hear seemingly-new things when we study Scripture. One point I missed for years is what Christ did on the Emmaus road.

In Luke 24:25-27 (KJV), we read how Christ chastised two disciples for not understanding that the scriptures, what we call the Old Testament,  spoke of him. "Then he said unto them, 'O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

But this isn't a fault peculiar to those men. It's too easy for us to miss key points in the midst of the gospel story. John 5:39 (KJV) clearly states, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." We become so engrossed in the squabble Christ had with the Pharisees that we miss the truth that the Old Testament foretold what would happen to him.

Another point which is lost to the minds of most people is that God commands us all to be under the rule of his Son. That's partly why I'm writing my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven. Being a Christian isn't just keeping rules or not committing serious crimes, as some folks think. We must all have a relationship with Jesus who died in our place and rose to give us new life. If only people could grasp the ramifications of that.