Jesus claimed to be the subject of all three major sections of the Old Testament. During His post-resurrection appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the text informs us that Jesus taught them how all the scriptures spoke about him “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets…” (Luke 24:27). This phrase captures the customary Jewish division of two of the three major parts of the Old Testament; the law and the prophets. But then, in Luke 24:44, Jesus adds the third section of the Old Testament: the writings. The writings include the Book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and the Psalms. The Psalms, being the largest part of the writings, is often used to refer to the entire collection of writings. This is how Jesus used it when He said, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” The Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, speaks of the coming one who will deliver his people from their sins.
Now, to understand what Jesus meant in His New Testament teaching, we must be familiar with the Old Testament prophecies relating to the Messiah or we will make some serious mistakes. Many today have missed the point of Jesus’ words about being the subject of the whole Old Testament. He said some things in the New Testament that can only be understood with the Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament in mind. On our trips to Israel, we always stop at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. This structure quotes Matthew 16:18 as being the basis upon which Peter is the first Pope and the foundation upon which Jesus will build his church. This verse says, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” This interpretation leaves out the context of the conversation where Peter makes his great profession as Jesus being the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Peter’s recognition and acceptance of the fact that Jesus was the subject of the whole Old Testament is to receive Jesus as the Messiah. It’s Jesus’ complete fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophecies that will form the foundation upon which the New Testament Church is going to be built.
Isaiah, the great Messianic Prophet, spoke for God in Isaiah 28:16. He said, “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation.” Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah. Therefore, Peter recognized Jesus as the cornerstone upon which the church would be built. Peter never thought of himself as the rock upon which the church would be built. He said so himself in 1 Peter 2:6-7. He says, quoting the Isaiah passage, “For it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” Peter knew the Old Testament and the messianic prophecies and didn’t fail to understand Jesus’ words in connection with the Law, the Prophets, and the writings.” When Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded correctly, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” Jesus then said that Peter didn’t grasp this truth in and of himself, but the Father had revealed it to him. When Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24:45 tells us that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…” Jesus still opens minds today when His teachings are taken in light of the Scriptures of the Old Testament.