By

Shelby G. Floyd

CHRIST AND THE BOOK OF MALICHI

Jesus Christ endorsed the authority and inspiration of Malachi the prophet, by quoting Malachi 3:1, and applying it to John the Baptist:

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(Luke 7: 24-28 NKJV).

Notice that our Lord quoted Malachi 3:1, and applied it to John the Baptist. Obviously, Jesus accepted Malachi as an inspired writer or he would not have said, “It is written.” The phrase “it is written” is equivalent to saying, “The word of God says.” Therefore, our Lord received Malachi’s writing as the inspired word of God and Malachi as the author of the book which bears his name.

We have seen that Jesus accepted and received the Old Testament writings from Genesis to Malachi as the inspired word of God. This is the view that everyone who claims to follow Christ must hold toward the Old Testament writings. So far we have pointed out specific books and the Old Testament authors which our Lord received as the inspired word of God. Perhaps it would be good now in a summary or general way, to show that Jesus received the Old and New Testament from Genesis to Revelation.

JESUS ACCEPTED THE WRITINGS OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS

In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was lost, and Lazarus was saved. The rich man struck up a conversation with Abraham, desiring him to send Lazarus back to his five brethren, in order that he might testify unto them lest they also come to that terrible place of torment. But Abraham replied,

“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).

Obviously, Christ received the writings of Moses and the prophets as an inspired revelation from God, or he would not have told the story of Abraham, recommending these books as God’s authority for people under the Old Testament dispensation. We also have Moses and the prophets, and we must study their writings as the inspired word of God. “Moses and the prophets” are not authority for us today, but their words are written for our learning and admonition, and we must receive them as the inspired word of God (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).

CHRIST’S SERMON ON “THE BREAD OF LIFE”

In John 6, we have the record of Christ’s great sermon on the bread of life. In that sermon he said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6: 44-45). It is clear from this statement that Christ accepted the writings of the prophets as the inspired word of God, and recommended those writings to his audience. In this statement Jesus alludes to the teaching of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah (Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31: 34; Micah 4: 2).

From our investigation both in a general and a specific way, we have abundantly proved that Jesus received the writings of Moses and the prophets to be the inspired word of God. May we also hold this high view toward the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures?

Copyright © 2011 2017 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142