Old Testament Criticism and New Testament Christianity 145 true of the Old Testament as a whole, is surely true of these parts to which our Lord specifically referred. Let us be clear, however, as to what we mean in making this appeal. We do not for an instant intend thereby to close all possible criticism of the Old Testament. There are numbers of questions quite untouched by anything our Lord said, and there is consequently ample scope for sober, necessary, and valuable criticism. But what we do say is, that anything in the Old Testament stated by our Lord as a fact, or implied as a fact, is, or ought to be, thereby closed for those who hold Christ to be infallible. Criticism can do anything that is not incompatible with the statements of our Lord ; but where Christ has spoken, surely "the matter is closed." What, then, is our Lord's general view of the Old Testa ment? There is no doubt that His Old Testament was practically, if not actually, the same as ours, and that He regarded it as of Divine authority, as the final court of ap peal for all questions connected with it. The way in which He quotes it shows this. To the Lord Jesus the Old Testa ment was authoritative and final, because Divine. No one can go through the Gospels without being im pressed with the deep reverence of our Lord for the Old Testament, and with His constant use of it in all matters of religious thought and life. His question, "Have ye never read?" His assertion, "It is written," His testimony, "Ye search the Scriptures" (R. V), are plainly indicative of His view of the Divine authority of the Old Testament as we have it. He sets His seal to its historicity and its revela tion of God. He supplements, but never supplants it. He amplifies and modifies, but never nullifies it. He fulfills, i. e. fills full, but never makes void. This general view is confirmed by His detailed references to the Old Testament. Consider His testimonies to the per sons, and to the facts of the old covenant.
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