“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)
Jesus’ incarnation was not the first time God revealed Himself to humanity. There was already a whole body of Old Testament Scriptures, containing records of God’s creation work, His dealings with humanity, (especially the people of Israel), lots of religious regulations, prophetic warnings and promises, poetic reflections on God’s character, and so on. All these Scriptures together were called “the Law and the Prophets”.
When Jesus came to this earth, a lot changed. But God Himself didn’t change, and His plans and promises didn’t change either. The Law and the Prophets remained valid. Jesus did not abolish them. He rather fulfilled them. His life and ministry, His teaching and His salvation work, are a fulfillment of God’s earlier revelation.
For example, Jesus fulfilled prophecies about the coming Savior. Regulations for sacrifices pointed towards His ultimate sacrifice at the cross. The law was perfectly obeyed by Him. His life reflected the ideal described in the wisdom literature. And so on.
Jesus’ ministry is like a new chapter in God’s salvation work. He is not a replacement, but a fulfillment of the Old Testament.
How do you value the Bible? Is the Old Testament as important to you as the stories about Jesus, or do you value them differently?