03.06 - The Testimony of the Lord Jesus to the Inspiration of the Old Testament

(6) The Testimony of the Lord Jesus to the Inspiration of the Old Testament The claim made by the Old Testament writers for the inspiration and authority of their writings is confirmed by the testimony of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus quoted and referred to these writings under the title of “Scripture,” the “Word of God,” the “ Law of God,” the “ Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms “; expressions which show the writings thus quoted and referred to were the Hebrew Scriptures, which then existed as rolls or books. The knowledge the Lord Jesus had of these writings was perfect and complete; it was more if not other than ordinary, it was spiritual and Divine; He said, “ these are they which bear witness of Me.” The perfect knowledge of the Lord Jesus is evidenced by the extensive use Me made of them, and the remarkable applications and explanations He gave of them. lie used them on all important occasions in conflict with the devil, in opening His synagogue ministry, in justification of His conduct towards publicans and sinners, in rebuking Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducecs, in condemning evils of various kinds He quoted the Scriptures, the authority of which His hearers generally acknowledged. In quoting them the Lord Jesus quotes them by the names of their reputed authors Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Daniel, Jonah, etc. He adopted the threefold division of the Hebrew Scriptures as known in His day, and placed His seal of approval on their inspired teaching and authority.

While He censures and rebukes the teachings of Pharisees and the traditions of men, He never depreciates, censures, or condemns the Scriptures, but fulfils and perfects their hidden meanings, their deep, spiritual significance and far-reaching applications. By this means He attests their divine inspiration, while He reveals Himself as Lord of the Scriptures as well as of the Sabbath and of the Temple. The Lord Jesus judged the Scriptures spiritually. He accepted and interpreted them according to their spiritual meaning and signification. Fie was not the slave of literalism, but quoted and interpreted them in a liberal manner, not always according to the letter but after the spirit. He saw in their teachings truths and doctrines which were exhibited in His own life and teaching, of which God was the Author and Revealer, and of which He was the highest and fullest embodiment. To Him the Personal and the written word were alike the Word of God. To Him the Old Testament Scriptures were not the isolated writings and mere literary compositions they are to modern Critics, nor did He concern Himself with questions of human authorship. He was concerned with their religious contents, their spiritual teachings, their relations to Himself and His mission, their bearing on the revelation of God and the redemption of the race. The Lord Jesus either had a more perfect theory of inspiration, or a more perfect know ledge of God and of His gracious purposes in revelation and redemption than we have; and thus lie was able to take the Scriptures and use them as the were, and to find in them “ the Word of God, the Scripture which cannot be broken.”