Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17 ).
What was Jesus’ favorite Old Testament book? It is impossible to say for sure. There is a way, however, that we can come up with a good guess. We can probably get an idea as to which book was Jesus’ favorite by looking at which Old Testament book he quoted most frequently.
More than any other book of the Old Testament, Jesus cited the book of Deuteronomy. I must admit, Deuteronomy, at first glance, is not the most exciting book of the Old Testament. It is essentially one long legal speech made by Moses in a single day. While a bit dry, it is absolutely essential for God’s people. This is an excellent point. Entertainment value does not always correspond with importance. This is something that our cultural has largely forgotten.
So why Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy was understood by Jesus and his contemporaries (as well as much of the jewish community today) as the sum total of the law of God. The law, also known as the Torah, is nation defining. The law and those who obey or disobey it determine who is, and who is not, God’s people. If you obey the law, you are God’s people. If you disobey the law, you are not God’s people. In turn, God’s redemptive, life-giving and life-transforming grace is available for his covenant people.
Things change with Jesus, but not everything.
Everything that we have said so far concerning the law, now applies to Jesus. Jesus is the sum total of the law of God. Jesus is nation defining. Jesus, and those who obey or disobey him, determine who is and who is not God’s people. If you obey Jesus, you are God’s people. If you disobey Jesus, you are not God’s people. In turn redemptive, life-giving and life-transforming grace is available for his covenant people—in and through Jesus.