Theology -- Interpretation of Text the Bible

Theology -- Interpretation of Text

The Bible reveals the laws of the Old Testament and Jesus' belief in and fulfillment of those laws. David broke the Old Testament laws against Adultery and unlawful Killing. When Nathan told him the story of the rich man taking the poor man's lamb, David thought he was upholding the law against stealing; however, he was really speaking about David breaking the laws against Adultery and unlawful Killing. In the New Testament, Jesus upholds those Old Testament laws and fulfills them.

Reviewing the entire Bible, we can see there are many themes introduced in the Old Testament that Jesus also addresses in the New Testament because he was true to the law set forth in the Old Testament and was also the fulfillment of that law. One example is the Adultery and unlawful Killing committed by David in the Old Testament and Jesus' reference to Adultery and Killing in the New Testament. We all know the story in 2 Sam 11:1-27 of David, who got Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, pregnant. When David could not get Uriah to sleep with his wife, David had him sent to the worst part of the battle, then left without help so he would be killed. After Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba as his own wife and God was angry (2 Sam 11: 1-27). Then, in 2 Samuel 12, God sent Nathan to tell David the story of the rich man who took the poor man's only lamb killed it and fed it to the traveler (2 Sam 12: 1-4). "And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die." (2 Sam 12:5). David was following the law set forth in Exodus, Chapter 22, stating that a man who steals another's sheep, he must restore it with 2 sheep if the stolen sheep is still alive, 4 sheep if he has killed the stolen sheep, and if he is killed while stealing, his death will not be avenged (Exodus 22). However, Nathan was just using a story to speak of David's own sins, which were Adultery with Bathsheba and the unlawful Killing of Uriah.

Adultery was condemned in many books of the Old Testament, including Deuteronomy 22:22: "If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel." (Deut 22:22). Unlawful Killing is also condemned in many books of the Old Testament, for example, in Jeremiah 7:9: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not." (Jer 7:9). In the New Testament, Jesus continues these laws: against Adultery, for example, in Matthew 5:27: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Matt 5:27), and even goes beyond it in Matthew 5:28: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matt 5:28). Jesus also continues the law against Killing, for example in Mark 10:19 and Luke 18:20, where he refers to the commandments against adultery and killing. What is more, Jesus deliberately upholds the law and says he will fulfill it on the Sermon on the Mount: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matt 5:17). So, the same laws of the Old Testament applying to even someone as powerful as David are upheld and ultimately fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament.