For some believers today, the Old Testament is often viewed as outdated or irrelevant. A few assume that when Jesus came, the Hebrew Scriptures were set aside. But such thinking misses the foundation of the New Testament itself. Without the Law and the Prophets, the words and ministry of Jesus lose their depth and meaning. The Old Testament provides the framework through which the New Testament is fully understood.
The Word’s of Jesus
Rabbi Kirt Schneider, speaking from the land of Israel, reminded believers of what Jesus Himself declared. Quoting Matthew 5:17, he said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fill full or to fulfill.” Schneider explained that Jesus was “combating a mindset in which people thought He came to start a different religion.”
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Schneider warned that many in the church today fall into the same error by treating the Old Testament as if it has passed away. “Jewish people don’t call the Hebrew Bible the Old Testament,” he said. “Because if you think about the word ‘old,’ old generally connotates something that has been discarded.”
Nothing Passes Away
Emphasizing the seriousness of Jesus’ words, Schneider quoted further from Matthew 5:18: “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the law until all is accomplished.” He explained that this proves the Law was not set aside at the cross. “Notice what Jesus said in the very next verse,” Schneider said. “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same shall be called least in the kingdom of God.”
In contrast, Schneider highlighted that Jesus called great those who uphold the Hebrew Scriptures. “Whoever keeps and teaches them, He shall be called great in the kingdom of God,” he said.
Treasures Old and New
Schneider pointed to Matthew 13:52, where Jesus described scribes who became His disciples as those able to bring out “treasures old and new.” He compared it to reading a novel from the final chapters without understanding the beginning. “If you don’t understand the foundation of our Scriptures, if you don’t understand the first three quarters of it, what we call the Old Testament, you’re going to misunderstand the last quarter of it, the New Testament,” Schneider said.
Beyond the Letter of the Law
Yeshua also called His followers to a higher standard than the Pharisees. Schneider reminded his audience that Jesus went to the heart of the commandments. “You have heard it said the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder,’ but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court,” he quoted. In the same way, Jesus expanded the command against adultery to include lust in the heart.
“Yeshua is saying unless your walk with the spirit goes beyond that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you need to exceed that type of righteousness,” Schneider said.
Walking in Forgiveness
A major part of this righteousness, Schneider stressed, is forgiveness. Quoting Jesus, he reminded listeners that reconciliation must come before worship. “This is so serious that you can’t have a relationship with God, that He can’t accept your offering until our hearts are first cleared with our brothers and sisters,” he said.
Schneider warned that unforgiveness is more dangerous than many realize. “Unforgiveness is so serious. It’s more serious than many of us recognize,” he said, urging believers to release offenses and walk in peace with others.
A Whole Bible Faith
The teaching of Jesus and the testimony of the apostles both affirm the continuing role of the Old Testament. Paul, Schneider noted, was referring to the Hebrew Scriptures when he wrote that “all Scripture is inspired by God.” For Christians today, this means that the fullness of God’s revelation cannot be grasped without both testaments.
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To understand the New Covenant fully, one must also honor and study the Hebrew Bible. Believers are called to know God through His entire Word, to see both the treasures old and new, and to walk in the spirit of truth revealed from Genesis to Revelation.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
