For those who might be struggling with the intellectual assaults of liberalism upon the reliability of the Bible, or from the audacious presumption of cults, like the Watchtower Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) or the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) regarding Scripture, and yet desire to have a fuller understanding of Jesus, it is important first to remember the Lord’s view of Scripture. Once we understand how Christ viewed the Hebrew canon (since there was no New Testament at the time of Jesus), we will be able to see just how biased against Scripture both are and realize how far their view is from that of Jesus.
Neither liberal scholars nor the cults have a sufficient view of God’s Word. Meaning, the former approach the Bible as if it is merely another ancient document to be examined using the same methodological approach as one would use when dealing with the works of Homer, Plato, or Plutarch. The presupposition liberal scholars bring to textual criticism is that the Bible—much like many other ancient documents—has been transmitted to us via an extensive redaction or editing process and is the compilation of various stories and myths acquired through the centuries. Likewise, the cultic view of the Bible, while perhaps not as radical, is just as skeptical. Each group touts their own "inspired writings," and in so doing, arbitrarily dismisses the Scripture in places that contradict the tenets of their faith. That said, the conservative Christian can find no greater comfort and security for faith than to remember our Lord’s view of the Word of God when attempts are made to impugn the inspiration of Scripture.
1. Jesus believed the Scriptures were historically accurate.
Item. Jesus believed in the story of creation which includes the life of Abel.
· Luke 11:51 From the blood of Abel [Genesis] unto the blood of Zacharias [2 Chronicles], which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Special note. In the Hebrew canon, Genesis is the first book of the Bible and 2 Chronicles is the last. Jesus is saying that He believed the Scriptures completely. It is also here worth mentioning that this verse is relevant to point out the extent of the Old Testament canon, which Jesus and His disciples used and believed was "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16)—a canon that did not include the books commonly referred to as the "Apocrypha".
Item. In matters of eternal judgment Jesus appealed to Scripture as a basis for His teaching. See also Matthew 11:23-24.
· Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Item. Jesus believed in the historical figures and used them to validate His divinity.
· John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Item. Jesus believed in the unusual story of Lot and mentions Lot’s wife who was turned into stone. Jesus did not merely accommodate erroneous beliefs in order to make a point. He believed the reality of the inspiration of Scripture.
· Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Item. Jesus mentions both the Elijah and Elisha who performed many miracles. He authenticated their lives and ministry.
· Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Item. Jesus believed in the story of Jonah and the whale and used that narrative to teach about His own resurrection.
· Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
2. Jesus believed the Scriptures were accurate in regards to authorship.
Item. When speaking about divorce, Jesus acknowledged what Moses wrote in the law.
· Matthew 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Item. Jesus declared that David wrote Psalm 110:1.
· Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
· Psalms 110:1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Item. Jesus believed in the harmony of the Scriptures for He embraced both accounts of Genesis 1 and 2 as the Word of God. Modern scholarship believes these chapters are contradictory. Jesus believed otherwise.
· Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read [in Genesis 1:27], that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said [in Genesis 2:24], For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Item. Jesus did not believe that the Scriptures became the Word of God and He experienced them. He believed the Scriptures were the literal Word of God.
· Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read [in Genesis 26:24] that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
3. Jesus believed the Scriptures must be fulfilled because they were the Word of God.
· Prior to His death. Mark 14:48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
· Following His resurrection. Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
