As the son of God, Christ shows his relationship to the Father through his respect for the validity and authority of the Old Testament. He does this in various ways, of which one is his acceptance of the history of the Old Testament. Jesus refers to various persons of the Old Testament, confirming that he believes in their existence, and in the literal truth of the history as described by the Old Testament. He for example refers to persons such as Abel, Noah, Abraham and Lot in both his conversations and teachings. Christ's literal acceptance of Old Testament authority however goes deeper than only an acceptance of its historical narrative.

It has been seen that many religious persons at the time of Jesus believed that he was refuting the Old Testament's laws and regulations, as well as attempting to diminish their meaning or even destroy some of them. These critics point out the various occasions, like those above, when Christ favored humanity and mercy above the law. This is especially true of those laws dealing with specific rituals such as the Sabbath or cleansing of foods. A very frequent phrase in Jesus' teaching was then also "you have heard . . . but I say to you...", especially during the Sermon on the Mount. These words were taken to mean that the laws from the Old Testament were no longer valid. Nonetheless, this is only a surface interpretation of what Christ meant. When each assertion is carefully examined, it becomes clear that Christ is not refuting the law, but rather exposing the deeper spiritual meaning behind the symbolic action of the law. What he is criticizing is not the law itself, but the deeper intentions and hearts of the persons adhering to the law. Loyalty to the symbol without sincerity makes the law devoid of meaning. So what Christ is saying is that it is not he who diminishes the law, but those who try so hard to keep it without recognizing the mercy, love and heart behind the law.

This fulfillment can further be seen in the Old Testament phrases and concepts, especially from the Psalms and prophets, that Jesus used in his teaching. Certain lines from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), for example, stem from the Psalms. Frustrated with the blindness of those who follow the letter of the law without considering the impact of this on human lives, Christ uses an expression from Jeremiah 5:21 in Mark 8:18: "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears do you not hear?"

All the prophesies and symbols of the Old Testament then find their embodiment in Christ. The sacrifice, atonement and forgiveness previously handled by the High Priest, has become the function of Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this way he brings fulfillment and salvation, as predicted by the Old Testament. Both Christ's life and death then serve as the fulfillment of promises made in the Old Testament, the transition between the Old and the New orders, and the embodiment of the ultimate salvation of the human soul. This is the ministry during Christ's life, death and beyond, and this is how he uses the Old Testament to further it and fulfill it.

Although the Psalm is therefore not interpreted in messianic terms in texts before the arrival of Christ, Jesus nonetheless relies upon the authority that he claims as the Son of God to validate his interpretation. This kind of interpretation then was well-known during the time when Jesus was on earth, and in the Jewish culture of the time.

In Matthew 9 and 12 for example, Jesus uses Hosea 6:6, where God says "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," to demonstrate this point. When the Pharisees condemn his affiliation with "sinners", Jesus quotes the verse from Hosea to show that he is doing exactly what God desires of him, and that they should indeed do the same if they were to obey the Father's laws as literally as they claim (Matthew 9:13). Jesus applies the words of the prophet to the commandments, showing that they should be obeyed from the viewpoint of mercy rather than sacrifice alone.

mes clear in the numerous controversies involving Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel during his time on earth. Jesus interprets the ethical and legal teachings of the Old Testament literally, like the Pharisees and Sadducees. However, conflict arises when Christ combines these teachings with a general loving humanity. In this way he demonstrates to the leaders of his community the intended meaning of the laws given by God, which is to obey and teach them with a loving spirit. Exposing the inherent love behind the laws of God is one of the functions of Christ's ministry.

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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2957
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)