A rising number of Christians are beginning to believe the New Testament, somehow, corrects the teachings of the Old Testament. While the Old Testament is incomplete without the New Testament, the Old Testament is not, therefore, incorrect. It is not as if God thought one way for a period of time, and then realized He was wrong.
The Old Testament must be understood Christologically, or through the lens of Christ, in order for us to fully understand God’s Words. Jesus explained when he said, “I did not come to abolish the Old Testament, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). There is a difference.
Matthew 22:35-40 is a great example of the connection between the Old and New Testament.
In response to the question, “What is the greatest commandment (of the Old Testament)?” Jesus answered, “…to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Afterwards, He added, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Consider the example above. The Ten Commandments were the Law from the Old Testament described in the New Testament verses above:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall make no idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
Jesus said we should love God with everything we are and have, and love our neighbor as ourselves. If we fully love God and others, then we will not have other gods, make idols, take God’s name in vain, neglect the sabbath, dishonor our parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet. This command does not dismiss or diminish the Ten Commandments, but is, instead, the foundation of the Ten Commandments.
Sadly, many believe that following the dictates of love in the New Testament prevents them from living according to the Laws from the Old Testament. However, if we truly love God and love others, we will live obediently to the standards of righteousness and love that is expressed in the whole Bible, not just in one section. This was expressed in Jesus, who always embodied perfect righteousness and love. He is both, the payment for our sin as well as the eternal Judge of our sin. All 66 books of the Bible are faithful and true, and testify of Jesus Christ, the perfect revelation of the One Eternal God.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.