How did Jesus view his Scriptures?
I have been thinking about this question recently.
In this age of the Internet when I am distracted more than ever (after all, you are reading this on the Internet), how did Jesus view the Scriptures? Having a high of Scriptures might help me make them a priority. If I want to have the mind of Christ, then it will be helpful to know how he thought about his Scriptures – our OT.
Below you will find Scriptures that I found useful. His high view challenges my own heart. What would you add?
1. He was taught it.
Luke 2:46-47, “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
He took the initiative to sit under the teachers, listening, asking good question. He was teachable.
2. He believed it was necessary for life.
Matthew 4:4 says, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word of God.”
This echoes the teaching of Deuteronomy 32:45-47 where Moses says these word are not trivial but your life. He said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
3. He did not come to abolish it but fulfill it.
Matt 5:17 says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
4. He said every stroke was established by God and eternal.
Matt 5:18 says, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
5. He said those who practice it and teach it correctly are great.
Matt 5:19 says, “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
This verse implies that we need teachers. There are true teachers and false teacher. It also shows that the lives of the teachers matter.
6. He taught the Scriptures are written by God and man.
Mark 7:9-12 says, And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
In this amazing passage, Jesus goes back and forth between God and Moses as the author. All the commands are commands of God. And Moses is the author of one of the Ten Commandments! In other words, they are interchangeable.
7. He believed the Scriptures are historically accurate.
Jesus referred to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abel, Zechariah, Lot’s wife, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jonah, David, Solomon, the Queen of Sheba. He taught as if they were real individuals and the stories were real. He told us that Moses wrote the Pentatuch (Matt 19:7).
8. He taught that there are teachers who don’t know the Scriptures and therefore are in error.
Matthew 22:29 says, But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
9. He taught that false teachers were going to come after him.
Matthew 5:15-20 says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
His followers should be aware and look for them.
10. He taught that the Scriptures were about him.
Luke 24:27 and 44 say, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” . . . “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
11. He taught the Scriptures can be mishandled by neglecting the weightier matters and majoring on minutia. Matthew 23:23-24 says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”
12. He taught the Scriptures were truth and they were to make us holy.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
13. He taught the Word is like seed that is spread. It will lead to different reactions.
Matt 13:3-9 says, “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
14. He taught that some parts of were fulfilled.
Mark 7:18-19 says, “Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”
There is progress in revelation. Now that he had come, there were parts of the OT law that were no longer in effect.
15. He taught that more Scripture was to come.
John 16:12-13 says, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Jesus’ view of his own words.
How did Jesus view his own words?
1. His words would not ever pass away. They would last forever.
Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
This is an amazing claim. His words are further revelation that will be joined with the OT.
2. His words were spirit and life.
John 6:63 says, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
3. His words prove who is a disciple.
John 8:31 says, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”
4. His words give freedom.
John 8:32 says, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
5. His words enable answered prayer.
John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
6. His words are how we remain in his love.
John 15:10 says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
Jesus had a high view of Scripture. Do we?
