What role do "Moses and the prophets" play in understanding God's message today? A Key Word from Jesus: Luke 16:29 “‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.’” Why “Moses and the Prophets” Still Matter • God placed the Torah and the prophetic books at the front of the canon to anchor every later revelation. • Their words are “breathed out by God and useful for teaching” (2 Timothy 3:15-16). • Jesus authenticated their ongoing authority: “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Unfolding God’s Character • Holiness—Leviticus reveals God’s absolute purity (Leviticus 19:2). • Justice—The prophets thunder against oppression (Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:24). • Mercy—The sacrificial system foreshadows atonement (Exodus 12; Isaiah 53). These attributes remain unchanged; therefore the books remain essential for knowing Him today. Pointing Forward to Christ • Jesus opened the Scriptures “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets” to show “the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). • Peter preached Jesus as the fulfillment of “all the prophets” (Acts 3:18-24). • Without these writings, the gospel loses its context—sin, covenant, sacrifice, Messiah, kingdom. Guardrails for Doctrine and Life • They define absolute moral standards (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 6). • They warn against false worship (Deuteronomy 13; Jeremiah 23). • They embed promises that stabilize hope (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 9:6-7). • They train believers to discern truth from error in a relativistic age. Practicing Their Counsel Today • Read the Old Testament alongside the New; look for Christ on every page. • Memorize key passages (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Micah 6:8) to shape values. • Let prophetic warnings spur repentance and renewed obedience. • Use Messianic prophecies (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) when sharing the gospel. In Short Moses and the prophets remain God’s foundational voice. They unveil His character, establish His standards, and direct every seeker to Christ. Ignoring them leaves the church without its roots; listening equips believers to grasp the full counsel of God and to live it out with confidence today. |
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