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Jesus and the Old Testament

1. CONNECT

   10min
   Previously, we looked at the distance between us and the Old Testament. This distance sometimes makes us treat the Old Testament like it’s not relevant for us today. Often, when we find things in the Old Testament that don’t fit easily with what we believe, we say, “Well, that’s just the Old Testament. I follow the New Testament.” But we can’t dismiss these things so easily. In this session, we’ll see how Jesus himself affirmed the relevance of the Old Testament for Christians today.

2. Reflection

   Faithful Christians follow the teachings of Jesus above all others. Yet, many of us wrongly believe that Jesus discounted the Old Testament in his Sermon on the Mount. When we look carefully at what Jesus taught, we find that, rather than disagreeing with or correcting the Old Testament, Jesus affirmed its relevance and authority for his followers. In fact, he forcefully affirmed that his followers should learn and apply the Old Testament to their lives.

3. Guiding Question

   Does being a Christian mean that we have to affirm the relevance of the Old Testament for our lives, or can we just focus on the New Testament? Explain your answer.

4. WATCH

   15min

5. DISCUSS

   15min
   1. Read Matt 5:17-19. How did Jesus strongly affirm the relevance of the Old Testament for his followers in this passage?
   2. When Jesus taught on six subjects in the Sermon on the Mount, he contradicted the teachings of the rabbis in Israel but affirmed the true meaning of the Old Testament itself. In the following chart, distinguish the errors that the rabbis taught from what Jesus and the Old Testament taught.

   Passage	Rabbis' Error	Jesus' Teaching
   Matt 5:21-22 Murder
   Matt 5:27-28 Adultery
   Matt 5:31-32 Divorce
   Matt 5:33-34 Oaths
   Matt 5:38-39 Revenge
   Matt 5:43-44 Love for Enemies

6. APPLY

   15min
   1. How would you explain to another Christian that Jesus wasn’t contradicting the Old Testament in his Sermon on the Mount?
   2. Why should Jesus’ teachings about the Old Testament encourage us to study the Old Testament today.

7. CHALLENGE

   Take some time to write down four practical steps you can take toward making the Old Testament a more important part of your study of the Scriptures. Finish with a time of prayer.