God makes it clear that we are not to omit or twist His words, whether they are found in either the Old Testament or the New Testament. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Old Testament – Proverbs 30:5-6)

Having trouble understanding the relevance of the Old Testament? If so, you are not alone.

Comprehending scripture aside from the New Testament is difficult enough to compel some pastors, whose theology is most likely off-kilter, to place less importance on the Old Testament. Those people attending their churches are being grossly shortchanged.

The problem with this unhitched doctrine, which was given some steam by a prominent pastor several years ago, is that the Old Testament and New Testament are inseparable. They are superglued together. One cannot be canceled from the other.

Too many churches and pastors from the pulpit neglect the “hard parts” of the Bible as they preach His Word.

However, the NT is the fulfillment of the OT.

A revealing exercise of just how saturated the Old Testament is within the New Testament is to grab a Bible and mark out (highlight) all the references to the OT in the NT. You’re thinking that’s just a 1 to 2-hour exercise, right? Wrong! You can spend a lifetime discovering all the cross references between the two Testaments.

Some Examples: Old in the New

In Matthew (the first book of the New Testament), 23 of 25 verses (92 percent) in the first chapter originate in the Old Testament. First, comes a genealogy that begins with Abraham – yes, that’s the Old Testament Abraham. Then, a list of descendants, and this summary:

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17)

Matthew Chapter 1 ends with what was first prophesied in the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

New Testament:

“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ (Matthew 1:22-25)

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