Does Jesus discredit the Old Testament? Answer: No.

Well, there’s the question and answer…suppose we can end there. Well, that just wouldn’t be my way, now would it?

This is a question that no doubt has plagued the Christian community since it’s inception. It was one of the reasons for the Pharisees to persecute Jesus. Jesus came delivering a new word, a new way of life for finding glory in the eyes of God. Prior to the coming of Jesus, the Israelites felt the only way to God was through strict adherence to the laws of the Torah (a word commonly associated with the first five books of the Old Testament). The Torah was the word of God, used to teach people of a way of life fitting for glorification.

What the Torah also brought though, was what Jesus considered a hindrance in bringing man closer to God. Literal and strict adherence to the Torah meant that no man would ever be able to find salvation…no man would ever be worthy of God’s love. It was 2000 years ago, as it is today…impossible to live a perfect life. What Jesus brought then was an opportunity for man to be forgiven of the sins he committed, a chance to be redeemed despite not being able to adhere strictly to the laws. Jesus was the ultimate sign of God’s love…He brought news of a new life, in which all men of earth could be brought close to God. Because this is what God wants of His people, closeness, love, faith.

In His teaching about this new life, however, Jesus by no means rejected the Torah as a source of knowledge. Jesus knew the sacred words well and drew from them quite frequently. He undoubtedly believed that they contained the revelation of God’s will for His people. In the sermon on the mount for example, Jesus states “For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18). From the book of Mark a couple more examples: 10:17-19, when a rich young man asks what is required for him to gain entrance to Heaven, Jesus instructs the man to keep the ten commandments. He adds to the ten commandments (not takes away from them) in verse 21 when he tells the man to sell all he has and follow Him. Again from Mark, chapter 1:42-44. In this instance Jesus has healed a leper, when the cleansing is done He instructs the man to go to the priest and offer the things required by Moses.

On other occasions (quite frequently in fact), Jesus is accused of violating the laws of the Torah. Beginning with an example near and dear to my heart, violating the Sabbath. We are told of a couple situations when Jesus violates this law, in the book of Mark 2:23-28 and 3:1-5. In the first of these passages, Jesus is accused because of plucking grain with His disciples to eat on the Sabbath, the second is a healing done on the Sabbath. These are the only two instances (I believe) in which Jesus is questioned and therefore answers regarding this law. It seems that Jesus only disregards the law in light of human suffering. In another of the gospels, I believe Jesus uses the example of an oxen falling in a ditch on the Sabbath…would not someone work to raise the animal up? Are we as humans not worth more than the oxen?

Regarding the Torah, Jesus may have differed in understanding from the Pharisees, but He agreed as well. Both, it seems, agreed that Torah was the revelation of God’s will, both agreed it must be interpreted. Both their teachings began with the demand of the Torah, for the Pharisees: Lev 19:18 “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself…”, for Jesus: Matt 5:48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” At first glance these phrases are not the same, but knowing that Jesus felt the perfection of the Father was the love he had for mankind, the two work well together.

It could be said that the biggest difference between Jesus and the Pharisees was in definition of perfection. To the Pharisees, perfection was defined by complete and total fulfillment of the law. To Jesus, perfection was an inward condition of the heart that only God could give. Again, Jesus agreed that Torah was given to guide men to a love of God. He found fault with it being used as a measurement of love of God…for in this way it could only be used to separate men from God. He also had issue with people claiming righteousness through the law…therefore blinding them to the need for repentance.

In conclusion, Jesus did not purpose to substitute a new code of law in place of the old one. Nor do I feel he intended to do away with the old moral standards taught in the Torah, and He did not issue injunctions to cover every issue of morality-perhaps because these were already covered in the Torah. His purpose was to make perfectly clear that the new life was one to be lived in loving relationship to God, and to fellow man…not to the law.

In John 14:23 Jesus states “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him”. I believe this is not another commandment…If you love me you will keep my word…but a statement, if you love me, you will keep my word. In other words, the more time we spend knowing our love for God and Jesus…the less time we will spend in contrast to the law. The words “we” and “our” above let us know that Jesus and God were in a way one in the same…love for one meant love for the other. If we believe that Jesus did not disregard the Torah as being the word of God…then this is the word that we will keep.