Does Jesus Say the Old Testament Is True?
Many people today wonder how the Old Testament fits into the Christian faith. Some see it as outdated or irrelevant. Others find it hard to understand or difficult to reconcile with the message of Jesus.

Many people today wonder how the Old Testament fits into the Christian faith. Some see it as outdated or irrelevant. Others find it hard to understand or difficult to reconcile with the message of Jesus. So the question arises—did Jesus Himself affirm the truth of the Old Testament?
To answer this question, we must look carefully at what Jesus said and did. He lived in a time when the Old Testament was the only Scripture recognized by the Jewish people. It shaped their worship, their laws, and their view of God. Jesus grew up reading it, hearing it, and quoting it. But did He treat it as divine truth? Did He confirm its authority? And how did He interpret it?
Understanding how Jesus viewed the Old Testament is not just a historical or theological matter. It is foundational to how Christians read their Bibles today. If Jesus accepted the Old Testament as true and authoritative, then so should those who follow Him. If He rejected it or corrected it, then the question becomes more complex.
Let us explore the evidence from the Gospels and see how Jesus interacted with the Old Testament. What we find is clear and consistent: Jesus not only quoted the Old Testament often, but He also trusted it, fulfilled it, and taught from it as the living Word of God.
Jesus Quoted the Old Testament as Truth
Throughout His ministry, Jesus quoted the Old Testament repeatedly. He did not treat it as myth, legend, or outdated tradition. He spoke from it as though it were true, authoritative, and inspired.
When tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus responded with direct quotations from the book of Deuteronomy. He did not argue with Satan using philosophy or human wisdom. Instead, He said, “It is written,” and then quoted God’s words from the Old Testament. This shows not only His knowledge of Scripture but also His confidence in its truth and power.
When the Pharisees questioned Him about divorce, Jesus referred back to the creation account in Genesis. He said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). In saying this, Jesus confirmed the creation story as real history and used it to explain God's design for marriage.
Jesus also affirmed the story of Jonah. He said, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Though some today dismiss Jonah as a fable, Jesus treated it as a historical event with prophetic meaning.
Jesus Said the Scriptures Cannot Be Broken
In John 10:35, Jesus made a powerful statement about the reliability of Scripture. He said, “Scripture cannot be broken.” This brief phrase carries deep meaning. Jesus believed that the Scriptures were consistent, unified, and enduring. He did not see them as flawed or corrupt. He trusted every word.
This statement came during a debate with the Jewish leaders. Jesus was defending His identity and authority. To do so, He quoted Psalm 82, a psalm that might seem obscure or difficult. Yet Jesus used it as solid ground for His argument. He showed that even the smallest details of the Old Testament carried weight.
His words, “Scripture cannot be broken,” suggest that He saw the Old Testament as the unchanging Word of God. Not a single part of it could be dismissed or denied.
Jesus Fulfilled the Old Testament
Jesus did not come to erase the Old Testament. He came to fulfill it. In Matthew 5:17, He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
The Law and the Prophets is a phrase that refers to the Old Testament. Jesus wanted to make it clear—He did not oppose the Old Testament. He completed it. He brought its promises, types, and symbols to their full meaning.
He fulfilled the sacrificial system by offering Himself as the final sacrifice. He fulfilled the moral law by living a perfect life. He fulfilled the prophecies by being the Messiah foretold by the prophets. In doing all this, He showed that the Old Testament was not only true—it was pointing directly to Him.
After His resurrection, Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were confused and discouraged. So He opened the Scriptures to them. The Bible says, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). He used the Old Testament to explain who He was and what He had done.
Jesus Taught from the Old Testament with Authority
When Jesus taught the crowds, He often began by quoting the Old Testament. He would say, “You have heard that it was said,” and then refer to a command from the Law. But He would then add, “But I say to you,” giving deeper understanding and application.
This does not mean He contradicted the Old Testament. Rather, He clarified its true meaning. He revealed its spiritual depth. He moved beyond the surface to the heart of God’s commandments.
For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, He explained that the commandment against murder also applied to anger. He showed that adultery included lust in the heart. He was not setting the Old Testament aside—He was showing its full intent.
Jesus Defended the Authority of Moses and the Prophets
In John 5:46, Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me.” Here Jesus confirmed that Moses wrote the first books of the Old Testament. He also said that Moses pointed forward to the Messiah.
Jesus rebuked people who failed to understand or believe the Old Testament. He expected them to see its testimony about Him. When they did not, He held them accountable. This shows that He believed the Old Testament was not only true but also clear in its main message.
In Luke 16, Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. In it, Abraham says that if people do not listen to “Moses and the Prophets,” they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. This illustrates Jesus’ view that the Old Testament was more than enough to lead people to faith and repentance.
Conclusion: Jesus Declared the Old Testament True
When we look at Jesus’ words and actions, the answer becomes clear. Yes, Jesus said the Old Testament is true. He quoted it as fact, taught from it with authority, and fulfilled its promises. He called it the Word of God and said it could not be broken.
To Jesus, the Old Testament was not merely a historical document. It was alive, sacred, and trustworthy. It pointed to Him. It revealed God’s will. It gave light to those who believed.
For anyone who claims to follow Jesus, His view of Scripture must matter. And His view was simple: the Old Testament is true.