JESUS THE CHRIST READ AND TAUGHT FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Proclamation:

“He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom.  He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.  Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of The Lord is on Me because He has anointed Me …’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down … He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”  Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Luke begins this chapter with the temptation of Jesus, The Christ, by the devil. (Luke 4:1-12)  After being tempted He returned to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, before going to Nazareth. (Luke 4:14-15)  There Jesus read from The Old Testament Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) and then told them that Isaiah’s prophesy would be fulfilled in front of them that day.  They wanted Him to repeat the miracles which He had performed in Capernaum, and when He would not do so they became furious with Him, turned on Him and wanted to kill Him. (Luke 4:23-29)  Jesus left there and went back to Capernaum, taught in their synagogues, cast out demons, and healed all of people that were brought to Him. (Luke 4:31-41)

Application:

There are many believers who feel that because today we under grace and not the law that The Old Testament is not relevant.  Jesus, The Christ, read from The Old Testament and taught from it.  He also said that He did not come to destroy the law or what the prophets had taught but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)  We no longer have to perform the various sacrifices mentioned in The Old Testament because Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb who paid it all once and for all of us.  However, there is much to be learned from The Old Testament and the prophesies contained therein.  The whole Bible is the inspired Word of God and it would be good for us to read it, study it, (2 Timothy 2:15) and apply it to our lives. (James 1:22)