Let us embark on a spiritual journey to comprehend why the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments and the significance of these divisions in our walk with God. Our quest for understanding commences with grasping what a testament, or covenant, truly is. It’s an agreement, a sacred contract between two parties, much like a last will and testament in today’s world, signifying intentions and wishes after one’s passing.
Our sacred scripture, the Bible, is distinctly partitioned into the Old and New Testaments. These divisions are not arbitrary but are deeply rooted in God’s unfolding plan for humanity. The Old Testament represents God’s initial covenant with His people, a series of promises and laws that guided them through different epochs. The New Testament, however, is the fulfillment and continuation of this divine plan, brought to fruition through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
To delve deeper into this transformative shift from the Old to the New Covenant, let’s turn to the enlightening epistle to the Hebrews. This book of the New Testament eloquently illustrates the transition from God’s communication through prophets in the Old Testament to His ultimate revelation through His Son, Jesus Christ, in the New Testament. This change wasn’t an afterthought but a predestined part of God’s magnificent design, foreordained before the foundation of the world.
The pivotal moment in this divine transition was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the Old Testament, the law served as a stern tutor, defining sin but offering no permanent solution for it. The sacrificial system, with its blood of bulls and goats, could not truly cleanse humanity from sin. It awaited the perfect sacrifice – the blood of Jesus Christ. His death, a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and promises ushered in the New Covenant, a testament to God’s unfathomable grace and love.
Why, you might ponder, do we still study the Old Testament? Romans 15:4 answers this with profound clarity: the Old Testament was written for our learning, offering us patience, comfort, and hope through its scriptures. These ancient texts aren’t just historical accounts or archaic laws but foundational to our understanding of God’s nature, His expectations, and His plan for salvation. They set the stage for the New Testament, where the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ offer us a path to redemption and a personal relationship with God.
As followers of Christ, we are no longer under the tutelage of the Old Law but are guided by the teachings and grace of the New Testament. This does not diminish the Old Testament’s value but enriches our comprehension of God’s eternal plan and our place within it. The New Testament, therefore, isn’t a replacement but a glorious fulfillment of the Old, a testament to God’s unchanging love and His desire for us to live in harmony with His divine will.
The division of the Bible into the Old and New Testaments is not merely a structural convenience but a reflection of God’s evolving relationship with humanity. From the law-giving and prophecy of the Old Testament to the grace and truth manifested in Jesus Christ of the New, God’s unceasing dialogue with His creation reaches its zenith. May this understanding deepen our appreciation of the Bible and strengthen our commitment to live according to its teachings.
Let us pray, expressing our heartfelt gratitude to God for His word, which guides, comforts, and enlightens us. May we continually seek His wisdom as revealed in the scriptures and strive to live in a manner worthy of His great love and sacrifice. Amen.
Discussion Questions and Answers
1. How does Jesus illustrate the difference between Moses’s law and his in Matthew 19:7-9?
• Moses taught an allowance for divorce on any grounds; Jesus allows divorce only for cases of adultery.
2. Why were the things of the Old Testament written and preserved for us, who are not Hebrews?
• They were written for our instruction, that we might find comfort and patience.
3. What can we learn from the serpent’s deception of Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:1-7)?
• We learn that the devil is a liar and that we should value innocence and obedience over experimentation with sin.
4. Why was God not pleased with the exodus of pilgrims (1 Cor. 10:1-12)? Why should we care?
• They lusted, were idolaters, sexually immoral, tempters of Christ, and complainers. We should care because the same sense of complacency can overtake us and allow us to take salvation for granted and forfeit it in exchange for the passing pleasures of sin.
5. Consider Psalm 23. What is the benefit of the psalms in general?
• The psalms are beautiful expressions of faith and emotion of men in trouble, need, and gratitude.
6. Since the law of Moses has been taken out of effect, does this mean that the wisdom of the proverbs no longer applies or is useful?
• Not at all; it is timeless.
7. What is the value of the prophecies (2 Peter 1:21)?
• They help prove the accuracy of the Bible’s claim to divine inspiration.
8. How could Christ be a priest under the law of Moses? Since he is recognized as a priest, what does this prove?
• He could not be a priest under Moses’s law. The law was changed to become Christ’s, which allowed for a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
9. What do the following passages have to say about the duration of the law of Moses?
Ephesians 2:14-15: Christ made peace between the races by breaking down the wall of separation which was the law of commandments, according to the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 2:14: Christ wiped out the handwriting of requirements by nailing it to the cross. This could be none other than the law of Moses.
2 Corinthians 3:7-8: The glory of the law engraved on stones—the law of Moses—was passing away.
Hebrews 8:7-13: The old covenant was growing old in that day and was obsolete now, ready to vanish altogether.
10. Why is it not permissible to appeal to the Old Testament for authority for instrumental music in worship, while rejecting its commands to sacrifice animals and keep the Sabbath?
• If one endeavors to keep a law, he must keep the whole law.
11. Which of the ten commandments was not reiterated in the New Testament?
• Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.