As Christians living in the 21st century, why do we need to study from the Old Testament? (THE LAW)
Jesus’s preaching and teaching were only from the Law (OT)
Hebrews 10:1 – “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.”
The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, it’s not reality.
What is reality? Christ and His Church!
In each and every chapter in the OT we see the SHADOW of Christ and His church.
But in each and every chapter in the NT we see the REALITY that is Christ and the nature of his church.
Colossians 2:17 -“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
We need to understand the reality of each shadow mentioned in the OT.
Example: Acts 8:30 - “Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
The Ethiopian eunuch was reading about a sheep being led to the slaughter, a lamb before its shearer – it was only a shadow written in the OT - what is the reality in the NT?
8:35 - “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”
God ordained seven festivals for the people of Israel to celebrate.
These seven feasts are only shadows of good things to come or the reality to come.
Seven Holy Festivals of God – Leviticus 23
The Festival (feast) of the Passover – Pessaha Perunnal
The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Pulipillatha Appathinte Perunnal
The Feast of First Fruit - Aadyabhala Perunnal
The Feast (festival) of Pentecost – Celebrating the giving of the Law from Mt. Sinai
The Feast of Trumpets – Kahala Perunnal
The Day of Atonement - Maham papaparihara perunnal
The Feast of Tabernacle – Koodara Perunnal
The Festival (feast) of the Passover – Pessaha Perunnal
Exodus 12:2 - “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.”
In God’s sight, our life starts with our salvation.
Exodus 12:3;5 – “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.”
In Exodus, we see the shadow that is the Passover lamb and in the NT, we see the real lamb that is Jesus.
1 Corinthians 5:7 - “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Exodus 12:5 – “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.”
“Year-old” means tender, not old and hard – Jesus said. “do not harden your heart, for the fire cannot consume you.”
Isaiah 53: 2 – “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.”
Exodus 12:6 - “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.”
Exodus 12:22 – “Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. “
By faith, we apply the blood of Jesus, and it is by the unblemished blood of Jesus that we have been saved.
Exodus 12:11-12 -“This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.”
When you eat of the Passover lamb, God will bring judgment on every evil that stands against you.