Sabbath: Deuteronomy in the New Testament
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 4:1-11, Deuteronomy 8:3, Acts 10:34, Galatians 3:1-14, Acts 7:37, Hebrews 10:28-31.
Memory Text: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).
The New Testament is saturated with the Old. That is, the inspired writers of the New Testament quoted the inspired writers of the Old as a source of authority. Jesus Himself said, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4), meaning, “It is written in the Old Testament;” and He said that “the Scriptures must be fulfilled” (Mark 14:49) — meaning the Scriptures of the Old Testament. And when Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus, instead of doing a miracle to show them who He was, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
Whether using direct Old Testament quotations, or allusions, or references to stories or prophecies, the New Testament writers constantly used the Old Testament to buttress, even justify, their claims.
And among the books often quoted or referred to was Deuteronomy (along with Psalms and Isaiah). Matthew, Mark, Luke-Acts, John, Romans, Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Hebrews, the pastoral epistles, and Revelation all go back to Deuteronomy.
This week we’ll look at a few of those instances and see what truth, present truth, we can draw from them.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 18.
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One of the activities that you do when you study for a research degree is a literature review. You read a lot of books, journals, conference proceedings, and so on, related to your research theme. In your thesis you discuss the ideas that you have read about, rejecting some, and developing others. You do not just quote other authors simply because they used the keywords that you googled.
It is easy to quote from sources. My students used to do it all the time and when I asked them what the quote meant, their only argument was that it has the right words in it. Citing and developing from the ideas of your sources takes initiative and, dare I say it, inspiration.
The New Testament is essentially a thesis, and its literature search is the Old Testament. And if you look closely you can see the analysis of not only the literature but the way that literature has been interpreted. There are over a dozen incidences in the Gospels, where Jesus takes a thought or an idea from the Torah and develops it, beginning with, "But I say unto you!"
Typically it wasn't that the source text was wrong, but over the years its interpretation had obscured the original intent. And it wasn't just Jesus. Paul took Old Testament ideas and redeveloped them in his epistles.
Jesus was an explainer. He made things that were said in the Old Testament much clearer and with applications to his time and for the future.
His explanations give a truthful historical view and lessons we can apply in our day.
Referring to examples in the New Testament where the Old Testament was not only quoted but essentially re-interpreted by Jesus, today's lesson states that "This week we’ll look at a few of those instances and see what truth, present truth, we can draw from them."
I commend this quarter's lessons for drawing attention to the issue of 'present truth' application of past truth. In looking for present truth application of 'past truth', it is critical to carefully explore and consider the contextual factors that were 'in play' at the point in time of past truth. Why is this so important?
Essentially, as a simplifying of things, there are 2 'layers' of truth. There is a core, foundational layer of truth that never changes. But then there is the next layer where that core, foundational truth is applied to a specific context. And sometimes - perhaps often - the factors relating to that specific context limited the application of core truth. Unless we are aware of such instances, we can mistakenly think that the limited application of the truth is the core truth.
An example of this having taken place is recorded in Matthew 19:3-9. The Pharisees, referring to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, proposed that it was 'core truth' that a man could rightfully give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away for any reason. However, Jesus pointed out that this was not in fact core truth, but rather a severely limited application of core truth due to context-limiting factors - hard and stubborn hearts (Matthew 19:8).
Could it be that there are truths about God and His Ways that even today we are still misperceiving because, like the Pharisees, we have not sufficiently considered contextual factors that, if recognised, would lead us to see deeper, more core truth/s about God and His Ways in a different light - just like Jesus pointed out in Matthew 19:8? And, importantly, might coming to see more core, deeper truth/s about God and His Ways actually result in greater change of our hearts and, in turn, greater love and compassion flowing out in how we actually treat others on a day-by-day level?
I agree with your point, Phil. I would point out that, in the instance you cite, Jesus was able to point out the core truth by going back to other Scriptures that the Pharisees had chosen to ignore while making all they could out of the one passage that seemed to support their position. If our "core truths" are not solidly grounded in Scripture, then we are certain to go astray.
I think that the issue of women in ministry is an excellent present-day instance of what you have pointed out. Being the "husband of one wife," and therefore male, is certainly not a core truth, once the entirety of the Scriptures is taken into account.
Hi Brother Phil, I also agree with your inspiration today, especially your own quote, "Could it be that there are truths about God and His Ways that even today we are still misperceiving because, like the Pharisees, we have not sufficiently considered contextual factors that, if recognized, would lead us to see deeper, more core truth/s about God and His Ways in a different light - just like Jesus pointed out in Matthew 19:8?"
I was just saying to my Sabbath School class this past Sabbath, "as we get closer and closer to the end of times, we too will see that some of our doctrines are not so much core truths, but man-made traditions". As I told my class, it's not my calling to speak against the SDA church (I love this church because it causes me to walk into "His marvelous light", and this church has more present truth than any other church I can found); and so, I will not speak on any man-made traditions of the SDA church. However, as a teacher of the Word of God, I am concerned; but I will have to let God, The Holy Spirit, work those things out.
But these "man-made traditons" come about because of both of these reasons: )hardening of our hearts, and 2)lack of studying God's Word for ourselves, as 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." We do not want to do the "deeper, more core truths [or study] of God"; we would rather have someone else tell us what it says or mean, as teacher Maurice (you are both teachers) said in his early blog. We have to get to the point that we want to study and know God for ourselves. Let's pray that God gives us, and our families and friends, the desire to get to know Him better.
Also, Jesus in His mercy, chose to use the "limited truths" that we already had in the Old Testament, and redevelop or expanded on that present truth; but He didn't have to do that. He could have taught them about His "true" kingdom truths, but He knew that they were not ready to receive it; so, He expanded on the truths that they already embraced. I often wonder what "new" truth He could have taught us if our stubborn hearts (minds) were open to receive it. Oh well, we'll just have to learn all of that in the ceaseless ages of Eternity with our Savior, Jesus Christ.
(Note to Brother White, if more Men (who are called) would step up and get into the Ministry, than Women may not have to be called to do so. However, in this present times, more Women are stepping up to do what God has called them to do; over 60% of the work of the church is conducted by Women, over 70% of our congregations are Women. Where are the Men of God? Also, this is only my opinion, Jesus had Men and Women disciples during His earthly ministry, and made them both "fishers of men and women". This is what's important, whether you are Male or Female: Will you accept Jesus call?)
God's blessings to you all! Happy holidays!!
Why did call not choose any women as disciples?
Women are called absolutely to ministry just not as elders and Pastors. Just because men aren't filling their responsibilities does not necessarily mean that God called them to take them on. And vice versa.
We must go deeper into our reliance upon God for HIS solutions. How many have spent much time in prayer for men in leadership?
I am looking forward to studying the topic that the same Truth we now find in the New Testament having been present in the Old Testament – i.e. Deuteronomy. In my opinion, though, the Old and New Testaments cannot be separated. The New Testament is the continuation of the work done on behalf of mankind starting in the Garden of Eden. The same spirit of Truth and Life which spoke the Word of Truth and Life in the olden days continues to speak it to us in our days – one God, one Truth, one Life.
The Words of the Father were revealed to His messengers to be passed on to man in days gone by. They were revealed to Abram, Moses, the prophets and many others, and now they are revealed to everyone who inclines their ear(heart) to hear Him - Gentiles included.
John 14:6KJV - ”I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 12:49KJV; John 16:13KJV.
I see the Scriptures as a cohesive unit, nothing can be separated out that would stand as a Truth on its own. The entire Scriptures are based on the Truth that God is saving mankind, describing/recording the process. Deuteronomy is a treasure trove of the work of God on behalf of mankind having taken place only a few millennia ago. The same spirit which we see clearly manifested in Deuteronomy runs like a big red thread through all the Scriptures; from the beginning all the way to the end.
The Spirit of the Son of God revealed the Father's Truth to man since the Beginning. He is now in us and we are in Him, and we are with Him in the Father - John14:19-20KJV; John 17:20-23 - ”I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast love me.”
“…. that they may be made perfect in one;…” is the goal to be achieved; to be one in spirit just like they are one.
There are about 60 references to the book of Deuteronomy in the New Testament, with 44 direct quotes. Jesus quoted and used the book of Deuteronomy more than any other book in the Old Testament. In Matt 4:1–11 he used Deut 8:3; 6:16; and 6:13 to counter Satan’s temptations. Acts 10:34 references Deut 10:17 that God doesn’t show favoritism. Paul speaks of the “Book of the Law” in Gal. 3:10 and references Deut 27:26. In Gal 3:13 he references Deut 21:23. Luke quotes Deut 18:18 and applies the prophecy to Jesus (Acts 7:37). Two verses from Deut 32 are referenced in Heb 10:28–31.
Would it be possible that there will be no New Testament if there is no Old Testament?