21/03/2023
THE BASICS OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
The word “interpreted” in Luke 24:27 comes from the Greek word diermēneuō, which means either to unfold the meaning of what is said, explain, expound, or to translate into one's native language.
With the phrase “beginning with Moses and the Prophets” Jesus is highlightingthe entire Old Testament, summarized as all Scripture. Jesus explained to the men on the road to Emmaus not only the explicit prophecies about the Messiah, but also the historical patterns of God’s activity throughout the Old Testament, and how they find fulfillment in Himself. In the inscrutable wisdom of divine providence, the substance of Christ’s exposition of the Old Testament messianic prophecies was not recorded. But the gift of what He expounded would have undoubtedly included an explanation of the Old Testament sacrificial system which was full of types and symbols that spoke of His sufferings and death.
He also would have pointed them to the major prophetic passages which spoke of the crucifixion such as Psalm 16:9-11, 22; Isaiah 52:14-53:12; and Zechariah 12:10. He would have pointed out the true meaning of Genesis 3:15, Numbers 21:6-9, Psalm 16:10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Daniel 9:26, and a host of other key messianic prophecies, particularly those that spoke of His death and resurrection. The Lord interpreted all the Scriptures as pointing to Himself, showing how the Old Testament in various ways, pointed to Himself (Acts 10:43).
“The key to understanding the Bible is Jesus Christ.”
Jesus is the seed of the woman who was bruised on the cross before crushing Satan’s head.
He is the Lamb who offered His blood for our sins (John 1:36) and was lifted up for our salvation (John 3:14-15).
He is the covenant-maker who was cursed for our covenant breaking and who sprinkled His redeeming blood on the altar of the Cross (Galatians 3:13).
If we turn to Isaiah, the Scriptures say that the Savior will be wounded for our iniquities and pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5).
If we turn to Jeremiah, the Scriptures say that He will be mocked and abused (Jeremiah 20:7-10).
If we turn to Zechariah, the Scriptures say that He will make atonement for the whole land in a single day (Zechariah 3:9). These prophecies also find their fulfillment in the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, who was wounded, pierced, and abused in offering Himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. All of this was only the beginning. Jesus continued His Bible exposition by using all the principles of His Christcentered, gospel-driven interpretation to explain all that was said “in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus is not here or there in this prediction or prophecy: He is everywhere in the Old Testament. He is the Ark of the Covenant and the blood on the Mercy Seat. He is the Light on the Golden Lampstand and the Bread of Life. He is the Prophet who preaches like Moses, the Priest who prays like Aaron, and the King of David’s heart.
If we follow the model of Jesus on the road to Emmaus to His friends, our preaching will honor God, see the lost saved, the saints strengthened, and the Kingdom advanced. May God raise up such preachers who are unafraid and unashamed to preach the His Word and interpret all of Scripture in light of Jesus for His glory.
