WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT MATTERS TO ME

When I first came to faith, I was excited about the New Testament and its good news. But the Old Testament felt far away—often hard to understand and a little overwhelming. But as I’ve grown in my journey, I realized just how important the Old Testament really is. Without it, I don’t think I could fully understand or even believe in the New Testament.

The Old Testament makes up most of the Bible, and skipping it means missing the heart of who God is and how our story with Him unfolds. It’s also the Scripture Jesus read and quoted. When Jesus talked about the Scriptures, He was referring to the Old Testament, saying they “bear witness about me” (John 5:39). To really understand Jesus—who He is and why He came—we need to spend time with these ancient writings.

Both the Old and New Testaments show us the same God—one who is just, loving, merciful, and holy. The Old Testament helps explain big ideas like sin, promises God made (called covenants), and sacrifices. It also shows just how much humanity needs rescue, setting the stage for Jesus’ mission.

The New Testament often points back to the Old, showing how Jesus fulfills the hopes and prophecies from long ago. When I see those connections, the story of Jesus gets so much richer and more powerful for me.

The Old Testament’s stories, poems, and wisdom still speak to the struggles and hopes we face today. Reading both parts of the Bible together has helped me see God’s love and redemption as one beautiful, unified story. That’s why the Old Testament matters to me.