Can I Benefit From the Old Testament?

Some people find it difficult to benefit from the books in the Old Testament. But anyone who thinks that the Old Testament was written only for the Jews is not only wrong, but is also missing a lot of illustrative material for the truths of the New Testament.

I would like to make it clear that the Old Testament was also written for us by pointing to a few passages in the New Testament:

1. The commandment not to bind the mouth of the threshing ox (Deut. 25:4) was given by God to illustrate the principle that the worker is worthy of his wages. "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel" (1Cor. 9:7-14). The almost ironic question: "Is God concerned about oxen?" encourages us to look for the figurative meaning of what the Old Testament commands for us today.

• Beginning with Moses and the Prophets, the Lord Jesus explained to the downcast disciples at Emmaus what was on His mind in all the ScripturesIn the NT, the various parts of the OT are referred to as “the Scriptures”; these are the “sacred letters/writings” (2 Tim. 3:15). “Every Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable... (Luke 24:27). The ScripturesIn the NT, the various parts of the OT are referred to as “the Scriptures”; these are the “sacred letters/writings” (2 Tim. 3:15). “Every Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable... bear witness to Him (John 5:39). This encourages us to search the entire Old Testament for references to the Lord Jesus.

• All Scripture (whether Old or New Testament) is literally inspired by God and written for our learning, for conviction, for reproof, and for instruction (2 Tim 3:16). God's mind does not change. So we can find many useful admonitions for godly living in the Old Testament. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4), such as many Old Testament stories of Samson, Gideon or Moses.

• 1 Corinthians 10 refers to some examples from the history of the people of Israel and gives them spiritual significance for us today. Here we learn that the history of the people was not only written for our instruction, but that God directed the destiny of the people in such a way that they can serve as an example for us today (1 Cor 10:6, 11).

This list could easily be expanded. The entire book of Hebrews is based on a spiritual translation of the Old Testament.

Have you been neglecting the Old Testament? Then be encouraged to study it again and above all to seek the Lord Jesus in it. You will find Him on every page.