How Jesus Interpreted the Old Testament

Song: Give Me The Bible

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

In the temptation of Jesus we receive some insight into how Jesus interpeted the Old Testament Scriptures.

Example. For the first temptation Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. From the example of the Israelites in the wilderness, He learned that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

Inference. For the second temptation Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16. Though no direct statement was to be found in Deuteronomy 6:16 regarding jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple, Jesus correctly inferred from what was said that He should not “tempt the LORD” by testing His promise to protect Him (Matthew 4:7).

Command. For the third temptation Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13. By direct statement, He identified the evil in bowing down and worshipping Satan (Matthew 4:10).

To be this Man's disciple is to interpret God's Word as He did. To follow God approved examples, to draw necessary conclusions based on what God has spoken, to obey God's commands. Read God's Word and interpret it as the Master did.

Jason Cicero