Old testament references in the New Testament oftentimes get glossed over. Some people think that a lot of those don’t carry any significance and that they are just “Old Testament verses.”. In reality, the old and new testaments are one continuous story involving Christ and his plan for redemption. I am going to explore these references and show you how they shape our understanding of christian theology
While the Old Testament has many references in the New Testament, did you know that there are a total of over 700 references throughout the New Testament?
There are a number of old testament references in the new testament. These references come from the books of the Tanakh, which Christians believe to be authoritative scripture. They are usually quoted to put a Jewish perspective on certain things and also to warn of parallels with the past.
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Old Testament References In The New Testament
The New Testament typically uses the Old Testament as its reference for prophecies whose fulfillment is about to occur. What many don’t realize, however, is that it is also used as a reference for history, practices, etc. How do you know when something in the New Testament refers to an Old Testament topic or passage?
The New Testament contains many references to the Old Testament. These references serve as a sort of continuity between the old and new testaments, with the New Testament writers making it clear that they believed their writings to be an extension of God’s plan for humanity.
The most obvious example is Jesus’ own use of the Old Testament in his teachings. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus quoted from Isaiah when he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” (Matthew 11:5–6) This passage is taken directly from Isaiah 61:1-2. In another instance, Jesus quotes from Psalm 41:9 when he says, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). The Psalm reads “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” (Psalm 41:9)
Other references are less direct in their connection between old and new testaments but still serve as evidence that Jesus and his followers believed that there was a continued relationship between them
The term “Old Testament” refers to the first five books of the Bible. These books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The New Testament is a collection of 27 different books in the Bible. These books include Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The Old Testament is referenced in the New Testament through quotes and paraphrases. For example, when Jesus says “it is written” he is quoting from Psalm 91:11-12 which says “For He will command His angels concerning you To guard you in all your ways.” Jesus also frequently uses the phrase “the law of the Lord” in this way (Luke 16:17). Along with these examples, Jesus made numerous other references in both testaments of the Bible.
Old Testament Books Quoted In The New Testament
1. Gen 22:18–“…and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…”
- Gen 22:18–“And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis chapter 22 is a very important chapter in understanding God’s plan to redeem all mankind through Christ Jesus. You can find excellent studies and summaries by typing “Genesis 22” into any major search engine.
2. Exod 12:46–“…not a bone of (the Passover lamb) shall be broken…”
Another OT reference appears in Jn 19:31-37 where, after Jesus’ death by crucifixion, the soldiers break the legs of the two criminals crucified with Jesus and then come to Jesus. They do not break any of his bones because he was already dead. This fulfills a prophecy found in Exod 12:46 which says that none of the Passover lamb’s bones can be broken. By being unbroken on the cross, Jesus fulfills this prophecy as an image of God’s perfect Passover sacrifice.
3. Exod 29:14–“…its blood shall be sprinkled round about upon the altar.”
- Heb 9:6-21. References to the temple (vv. 6-7, 11), the blood sacrifice (vv. 12, 18-20), the blood sprinkled on the altar (v. 13) and on the mercy seat of the ark (v. 21), and Aaron’s entering into and exiting from the holy place at least once a year with blood sacrifices for himself and for others (v. 7).
- Heb 10:1-4, 19-20. More references to the blood sacrifices in connection with Aaron’s entrance into God’s presence in heaven (cf., e.g., Exod 40:29).
4. Lev 16:15-16–“And he (Aaron) shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.”
The book of Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament, but it is also the third portion of a five-part series—the first two portions being Genesis and Exodus. The book of Leviticus contains many laws that deal with sacrifices and purifications for worship at the Tabernacle. Therefore, Leviticus 16:15–16 describes the Day of Atonement—the most solemn day of the Hebrew year.
On that day, Israel’s high priest would enter the Holy Place, then the Most Holy Place (also known as the Holy of Holies), to offer blood from an animal sacrifice on behalf of Israel’s sin.
Let’s look at it in greater detail:
5. Num 14:12–“I will strike them down with pestilence…”
This is an important verse in the record of the Exodus, for it records one of the most famous promises God made to His people. After taunting them for forty years in the wilderness and finally leading them to a land flowing with milk and honey, He threatened to destroy them all and make from Moses a nation greater. Still, Moses pleaded with God on their behalf.
Num 14:12
I will strike them down with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.
“Pestilence” is used as a collective noun, referring to all manner of plagues, sicknesses, or diseases (qalu˓alim) that God would bring upon His rebellious people. This included all manner of bodily afflictions, along with more general plagues such as famine. The term “disinherit” is used when someone has lost his/her place in a family because he or she has forfeited it through wickedness or rebellion against parental authority (yarash). Its basic meaning is “drive out” or “sink.” In this context, it means that the rebellious Israelites would forfeit their position as God’s chosen people through their sinfulness (cf. Num 11:34–35; Deut 29:22–27).
6. Josh 10:1-2–“Now when King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,”
- “Now when King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,” (Josh. 10:1-2)
This reference is in the opening of a story about how Joshua gathered all the kings in Canaan together and fought against them. The verse reminds us of how Joshua went on a victorious rampage throughout Canaan, and it was because God was fighting for him. This is an important reminder for Christians as we face our own battles. We need to remember that we don’t fight alone.
7. 1 Sam 2:4-5–“The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength…”
- It is a direct quote in Romans 1:16 (cf. Habakkuk 2:4)
- It is an indirect reference in 1 Corinthians 1:27 (cf. Psalm 33:16–17; Isaiah 29:14)
- It is an indirect reference in 2 Corinthians 10:17 (cf. Jeremiah 9:24; Job 5:13)
- It is a direct quote in Hebrews 11:34 (cf. Judges 5 and Judges 4).
8. 2 Sam 22:47–“The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock…It is God who avenges me…”
The New Testament contains many references, quotations, allusions, and/or interpretations of the Old Testament.
- 2 Sam 22:47–“The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation
- 1 Kings 12:8-11–“They said to him, ‘It is because they have forsaken the Lord, their God who brought their fathers out of Egypt.”
- Jer 6:15-16; 8:11-12–“Are they ashamed because they have perpetrated such a detestable act?”