Bible Study: "The Preservation of the Scripture"

Source

Matthew 5:17,18

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” What is referred to as “the law or the prophets” in verse 17 is called “the law” in verse 18. When “the law” is used in this way, it is referring to the entire Old Testament. Compare Matthew 23:23 with Proverbs 21:2,3; Hosea 6:6; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Isaiah 43:10-12; John 10:34,35 with Psalm 82:6; John 12:34 with Psalms 89:36; 110:4; John 15:25 with Psalm 35:19; 1 Corinthians 7:39 with Malachi 2:14-16; 1 Corinthians 14:21 with Isaiah 28:11,12. These passages of Scripture reveal that the entire Old Testament is referred to as “the law.” Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law” - the inspired Scripture, the Old Testament. 

Christ taught and preached with absolute and final authority. This authority had been conferred on Him by God, the Father. He taught with the authority of a Judge, with the authority of a King. As a “Teacher come from God” His authority is far above that of any teacher, prophet or apostle. Christ’s authority far exceeds the authority of all the true prophets of God, past, present and future. He is God’s final voice (Hebrews 1:1-4). Christ is greater than (1) the angels-Hebrews 1:4; (2) Moses-Hebrews 3:3-6; (3) the temple and the priests-Matthew 12:5-8; (4) Solomon-Matthew 12:42; (5) Jonah-Luke 11:32; (6) John the Baptist-Luke 3:16; (7) Abraham and the prophets-John 8:53-56. His authority is greater than that of angels and all men that ever lived. Yet, in His authority, He confirmed the infallibility and permanence of the Scripture. He saw nothing to correct, change, modify or amend. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

According to Christ, everything in the Old Testament is the Word of God. Not only that, it is all going to stand until it has all been fulfilled. Every jot and every title, everything has meaning. And the Lord gave the same authority to the New Testament. “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33). “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall TEACH YOU ALL THINGS and BRING ALL THINGS to your remembrance, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU ”  (John 14:26). “ Howbeit when He, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, is come, He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH ... and He will SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME ” (John 16:13).

The Old Testament and the New Testament, the entire Word of God has final authority. The moment you begin to question the authority of the Old Testament or the New Testament, you are of necessity questioning the authority of Christ, our Saviour and Lord. To Him “the Scripture cannot be broken.” It is God’s own Word that is going to be fulfilled to the minutest detail and which will last while heaven and earth are in existence."-from bible study outline

Wow! What a study of God's Word! I pray that we will find complete solace and assurance in the authority, surety, and power that the Word of God has living in this sinful and doubtful world in Jesus' name-amen.

                           "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
                                        What a glory He sheds on our way! 
                           While we do His good will, He abides with us still, 
                           What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

                                         To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Please tune in to the Bible Study this week. May the teaching enlighten you, and enable you to trust and obey God's Word in its totality Jesus' name-amen.

God bless,

-Charity