Harmony Of The Old And New Testaments

Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The LORD said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by honoring the relics of their kings who have died. They put their idol altars right next to mine with only a wall between them and me. They defiled my holy name by such detestable sin, so I consumed them in my anger. Now let them stop worshiping other gods and honoring the relics of their kings, and I will live among them forever. [Ezekiel 43.5-9] 

There is something stirring within me that makes sense of everything "Old Testament" as it correlates to the New Testament. As long as we look at the Bible making a distinction between the two, I think we have missed the point. Here's why:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

The quote above is a critical revelation spoken by Jesus Christ Himself.

There was never a time when the Old Testament was not about Jesus.

Many are familiar with the term, "harmony of the Gospels" speaking of the four New Testament Gospel accounts' "harmony" with each other. But I believe modern Christendom has failed greatly to see the Harmony of the Old and New Testaments (I think 18th century revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards used this term). There is no way to reconcile the Old and New Testaments without interpreting each as it relates to the other. Otherwise, there is a great divide between the two. That great divide is the source of misguided, unreliable theology today.

The church I attend is currently teaching on Wednesday nights from Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia (Galatians). That letter, as it corresponds with historical events detailed in the Book of Acts, makes very clear that Christianity struggled early on with the concept of Old and New Testaments (covenants) being in perfect harmony. And, as I listened to the teaching the night before the writing of this article, it is consistent with that teaching here to say the Church today remains in that same struggle.

The reason the Church today cannot see the Harmony of the Old and New Testaments is because the Church today is ignorant of the Old and New Testaments. Oh, people know their favorite verses, passages, or books, and build great and emotional attachments to them yielding schisms, divisions, and denominations, but few can even conceptualize that every word and teaching of the Bible is about Jesus (John 5.39). As previously stated:

There was never a time when the Old Testament was not about Jesus.

Although it is grossly overlooked, Ezekiel, in his revelation of the Temple (subject passage above), points out (consistent with all the Old Testament) the recurring problem of idolatry. If indeed there is a Harmony of Old and New Testaments, Christians today should understand that idolatry is every bit the same recurring problem today, separating man from his God.

Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

Jesus was no less exclusive in His demand for allegiance as was communicated long before His Advent:

“You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

To not follow Jesus is to follow idols. To not follow God is to follow idols. The Old and New Testaments are in perfect Harmony on this. 

There was never a time when the Old Testament was not about Jesus.

Father, as I have felt "stuck" this year on the topic of idolatry, I can see now that I am not "stuck" on the topic, but that Your Word is "stuck" on the topic because it is a greater problem today than at any time in all of history. All the while, Your people are less aware of idolatry today than at any time in all of history. As we come to this realization and repent of it, may our repentance be evident in our "turning away" from the popular and prevalent idols of our time so that nothing prevents us from following Jesus. So be it.