The Important Lessons of The Old Testament

Believe it or not many similarities can be seen between the modern church and the ancient Jews of the Old Testament. These similarities come in various ways and we today can learn so much from every single one of them. Sadly in our culture today these lessons are often overlooked. Because many see no need to reference the Old Testament now that we have received the New. But what so many fail to realize is that the Old is just as important the New.

We are told in the Bible that it is all scripture is meant to teach and instruct us. Not just a certain portion that we may like better. In fact, the Apostle Paul pointed out that the accounts we read in the Old Testament are an example for those living after it was written. Teaching us either how we should live or the ways in which we should not choose to live.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV)

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

We can’t look at the Old Testament as though it no longer applies to the church today. God’s word does not lose its importance over time and through generations. Every word recorded in the Bible is there because it matters and we still need it today.

In fact, if you study the Old Testament you find that much of what they thought and struggled with are the very same things we experience today. Take the prophet Isaiah who was speaking to a generation that did want to hear the truth. Really they would have preferred to talk about anything but God.

Isaiah 30:10–11 (ESV)

10  who say to the seers, “Do not see,” 

and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; 

  speak to us smooth things, 

prophesy illusions, 

 11  leave the way, turn aside from the path, 

let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 

This is the exact opposition we still face today. People would rather hear lies that make them feel good than the sometimes hurtful truth that will save their souls. Not to mention all the people we encounter who think our teaching is narrow-minded. Those who do not want to talk about the God of the Bible.

Hundreds of years before the New Testament was ever pinned the prophet Ezekiel brought a message of repentance to the Jewish people. A message that sounds similar to that we all know so well today. Those who turn to sin will perish but those who turn away from their sinful action will be saved.

Ezekiel 33:12–16 (ESV)

12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.

14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. 

These are just a couple of examples but read through the many rich books that make up the Old Testament yourself. Then you will quickly find teachings that still apply to us today. And that’s really the point God wrote His word to stand the test of time. To apply to all people for all generations.

We see this play out because of the fact that the Christian church was built on the Old Testament alone. All the teaching that Jesus and His Apostles did came from the Old Testament. Because the New Testament wasn’t written to preach from yet. The Bible records Jesus teaching from and elaborating on the Old Testament multiple times.

Mark 10:17–20 (ESV)

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Matthew 9:13 (ESV)

13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

Luke 20:37–38 (ESV)

37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Even when Phillip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch he did so out of the book of Isaiah. When the Apostle Paul brought the message of Christ to a certain group of Jews they searched the scriptures(Old Testament). Searching to see if his message was true.

Acts 8:35–38 (ESV)

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Acts 17:10–11 (ESV)

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing that the Old Testament no longer applies. Don’t falsely belive it was only meant for those under the law. There is so much that we can only know about God from spending time in the entire Bible. Without the Old Testament, we have nothing to confirm that Jesus truly was the son of the living God that created the universe and everything in it. 

So make the decision today to start spending more time reading and studying the Old Testament. So that you do not miss important life lessons that still greatly apply to us today. As well as the revelation that comes from watching God’s glorious plan for the salvation of the world come to be.

We truly hope that this article has made an impact on you and that you will not neglect the Old Testament as so many sadly do. Help us to draw the attention of more Christians to the importance of studying all scripture by sharing this article on your social media. Thank you and God Bless!

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