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Is the New Testament really new?

By Michael Didier

 

The story of the rich man and Lazarus was taught to us by Jesus. In it Lazarus and the rich man both die. Lazarus wakes in the bosom of Abraham and the rich man finds himself both in torment and in Hell. The rich man pleads with Abraham to let Lazarus go back to warn his brothers. The answer Abraham gave the rich man was not what he wanted to hear but it is illuminating to us. He said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”1

In the past 35 years I have listened to hundreds of sermons. Have you ever noticed that the majority of the teaching today does not even consider Moses and the prophets? Is it possible that the people who belong to our Father in heaven are living as though the new testament scriptures are the only scriptures for His people today? Could it be that because there is a distinction made between the “old” and the “new” testament that we, in this “modern” day and age, believe that new is better? Does the old have any claim on our lives? Did Jesus, His life or His teaching, replaced the law of Moses and the Prophets somehow?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law (of Moses), or the prophets (the “old” testament): I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass (we are still here), one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Let's hear some of what the “word ... made flesh,”2 Jesus, had to say and if, it agreed with Moses and the prophets.

A scribe came to Jesus asking Him “which is the first commandment of all.”3 Jesus replied, by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 almost verbatim. “Hear (the word “hear” used in this instance is “shama” which means hear and obey), O Israel ; The Lord (Yahweh) our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”4 And the second, He Continues, “is like [it], namely this, ‘Thou shall love your neighbor as yourself’. There is no other commandment greater than these.”5 The latter of the two greatest commandments came from the second part of Leviticus 19:18, again quoted verbatim. It is interesting to note that neither of these foundational “commandments” were one of the 10 commandments but rather came from YHWH's “testimonies, the statutes and the judgments.” Both of His answers were not “new”, they came straight from Moses and the prophets (the old testament).

The devil “tempted” Jesus in the wilderness,6 three times. He even tried to use Yahweh’s words against Jesus, but our Lord each time wielded the scriptures (the old testament) with great skill and effectiveness.  The first temptation came after Jesus had gone 40 days without food. The devil asked Jesus to turn the stones into bread. “Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God,”7 which was, right out of the old testament. Moses said in Deuteronomy 8:3 "... that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

Next the devil “shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” He said, “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that (all the kingdoms) is delivered unto me (the devil); and to whomsoever I will I give it.” The devil said, “If thou therefore wilt worship me (serve me), all shall be thine.”6 Jesus, again answered using the word, and quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord (YHWH) thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.’‘”

Lastly, the devil “set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, ‘He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee.’”7 Please note the devil not only knew Jesus was Yahweh’s Son but he also knew Yahweh’s word. He (the devil) quoted from Psalms 91.8 In response Jesus again used the authority of YHWH’s word saying, “Ye shall not tempt the LORD (YHWH) your God,” which again is from Deuteronomy.9

The “sermon” Jesus taught on the “mount” in Matthew five was not written by Him. He compiled His sermon from the law of Moses and the prophets. Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This phrase is given much greater understanding when we read Psalms 51:17. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” The next verse says “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”10 Here Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2, which says, “The spirit of the LORD is upon me ... to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” The last of my examples from Yahshua famous sermon is, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”11 Psalms 37:11 says, “But the meek shall inherit the earth.” Without a doubt, the law of Moses and the prophets was the authority in which Jesus always spoke.  

The apostle Paul had Moses' writings (the Torah), the first five books of the old testament memorized, and could write it without error, before he was 20 years old. When he said “the wages of sin is death,”12 he could support what he said from scriptures like this verse in Ezekiel. “The soul that sins shall die.”13 Even his great statement in Romans 1:17, “the just shall live by faith” is not original to Paul. Those very word were penned by Habakkuk who wrote, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”14 Ezekiel also said, “But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right... if he has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgments, to deal truly (faithfully); he is just, he shall surely live, says YHWH God.”15 The just shall live by faith! Paul’s authority was always Moses and the prophets.

In the second chapter of Romans Paul writes, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit ...; whose praise is not of men, but of God."16 Look at Ezekiel 11. "Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries ... And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."17 Paul continues this same thought when he wrote the following. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."18 We know we have an accurate interpretation of the new testament when it is in agreement with the law and the prophets.

The writer of Hebrews penned,"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins..."19 Compare this with what Moses wrote about "willful sins". "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously (willfully), whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him."20

Peter said, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."21 This word "oracles" is the Greek word "logion" which is the "utterances or communications" of God. Acts clarifies what these "oracles" are. "This is that Moses, ... who received the lively oracles to give unto us: To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him (Moses) from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt."22

Paul writes to Timothy. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."23 Which scripture is he referring to that Timothy had known "from a child"? The law (the torah) and the prophets!

The "law" is really a terrible way to translate this word "torah" for it is the owners manual on how YHWH’s creation, man, is to conduct His life. Psalms 19 says, "The law of the LORD (Yahweh) is perfect, converting the soul."24 David spoke these words. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth (thy oracles). I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."25 What word, what oracle, what communication, was David referring to? The Torah, the law, the owner’s manual! "Moreover by them (His law, the testimonies, the statutes, the commandments and the judgments) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."26 We are "warned" and "greatly reward[ed]" if we keep His Torah.

In order to interpret the “new” testament we must understand the “old” testament, the law of Moses and the prophets. That is what Paul’s, Peter’s, James', John’s and Jude’s epistles and letters were all about. We must become good Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”27 Which scriptures did the good Bereans search? The law of Moses and the Prophets! Which scriptures should we search? The law of Moses and the prophets are the only scriptures we have that will allow us to interpret the new testament accurately. If we do not use this same approach we will remain “conformed to this world” and never be able to “renew our minds”, and “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”28 By not viewing the new testament in the light of the “narrow way,”29 the “old Paths,”30 “the highway of our God”31 and learning to “walk in His paths”32  we will miss “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”33

Our only alternative to interpreting the new testament in the light of the old, is to interpret it in the false light of the commandments, doctrines and traditions of men. This is the broad road "that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”34

“There is nothing new under the sun”35 God does not change. He said, “For I am the LORD (YHWH), I change not.”36 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”37 If we read anything in the new testament that is contrary to old testament (the law of Moses and the prophets), we must re-evaluate our position and re-align our thinking to the YHWH’s oracles.

            1 Luke 16:19-31

            2 John1:14

            3 Mark 12:28

            4 Mark 12:29, 30

            5 Mark 12:31

            6 Luke 4:1-13

            7 Luke 4:9-10

            8 Psalms 91:11, 12

            9 Deuteronomy 6:16

            10 Matthew 5:4

            11 Matthew 5:5

            12 Romans 6:23

            13 Ezekiel 18:4

            14 Habakkuk 2:4

            15 Ezekiel 18:5, 9

            16 Romans 2:28-29

            17 Ezekiel 11:17-20

            18 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18

            19 Hebrews 10:26-29

            20 Numbers 15:30-31

            21 1 Peter 4:11

            22 Act 7:37-39

            23 2 Timothy 3:14-17

            24 Psalms 19:7

            25 Psalms 119:11-16

            26 Psalms 19:11

            27 Acts 17:11

            28 Roman 12:2

            29 Matthew 7:13-14

            30 Jeremiah 6:16

            31 Isaiah 40:3

            32 Isaiah 2:3

            33 Philippians 3:14

            34 Matthew 7:13

            35 Ecclesiastes 1:9

            36 Malachi 3:6

            37 Mark 13:31