What connections exist between Deuteronomy 31:26 and Jesus' teachings on Scripture? Setting the Scene in Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may be a witness against you.” (Deuteronomy 31:26) Scripture as a Witness—Then and Now • Written revelation was put in the holiest location in Israel, beside the ark, underscoring divine authorship and unchanging authority. • The Law functioned as a perpetual “witness” against covenant breakers—an objective, tangible record of God’s standards. • By being written, the Word transcended human memory or oral tradition; its permanence secured both judgment and guidance. Jesus’ Echoes of Deuteronomy 31:26 • Matthew 5:18—“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” – Jesus treats every written mark of the Law as inviolable, mirroring the ark-side placement that guaranteed its preservation. • John 10:35—“Scripture cannot be broken.” – Like Moses’ declaration of the Law as an unalterable witness, Jesus asserts Scripture’s absolute reliability. • Matthew 4:4—“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – He lives by what is “written,” reinforcing the sufficiency and authority Moses highlighted. • John 5:39; 45-47—Jesus calls the Jews to the written testimony of Moses, showing He sees those documents as standing legal evidence, just as Deuteronomy says. • Luke 24:44—He points to “the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms” as containing everything that “must be fulfilled,” linking their preserved witness to His own mission. Continuity in Authority • Placement beside the ark → ultimate sacred space. • Jesus locates authority in the same writings, quoting or alluding to the Law nearly 40 times in the Gospels. • Moses: Scripture judges covenant infidelity. Jesus: Scripture exposes sin (John 15:25) and verifies His identity (Luke 4:21). • Both treat the written Word as fixed, not fluid; active, not passive. Practical Takeaways • Scripture’s permanence demands personal submission; if Israel could not escape its witness, neither can we. • Because Jesus taught from and fulfilled the very Law placed beside the ark, confidence in Old Testament reliability naturally extends to trust in His words. • Knowing Jesus upheld every “jot” emboldens us to study every verse with expectation, assurance, and obedience. |
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