Why Jesus Quoted David — And Why We Need the Whole Bible
Rediscovering the Story That Transforms Everything
How do you get the most out of the Bible?
It’s really the same as asking:
How do you have the deepest relationship possible with God?
Think about the deepest earthly relationship you’ve ever had.
Why was it so special?
Was it because of distance that made the heart grow fonder, or lengthy conversations that had to be stopped by the clock?
Probably not.
It was likely because you shared everything.
Not just your time, but your thoughts. Your worries. Your hopes. Your silly jokes. Your deepest secrets. Your random stories. You gave them access to you — all of you.
And over time, they began to know you.
Not just on the surface, but in the depths.
That’s a small picture of how we’re meant to approach the Bible.
This isn’t just a book.
It’s God’s self-revelation — His character, His heart, His promises, His warnings, His beauty, His justice. When you study both the Old and New Testaments, you’re not reading two stories… you’re seeing the full picture of who God is.
And the more you know His Word, the more your life begins to reflect His.
Why This Matters: Rediscovering the Whole Story of God
When Jesus quoted Psalm 69, He wasn’t just referencing an old song.
He was saying:
“This is your story. This is My story. And this is God’s story — unfolding just as He said it would.”
Jesus didn’t treat the Old Testament as outdated or optional.
He treated it as divine revelation, Spirit-breathed, and entirely necessary.
So should we.
The Old Testament Isn't Old — It's Essential
Too many believers today view the Old Testament like an expired history book — dusty, dense, maybe interesting, but not "relevant."
But the truth?
The Old Testament is the very backbone of the New.
It reveals:
The character of God
The patterns of redemption
The promises of the Messiah
The depth of God’s justice, mercy, and covenant love
The reason we even need a Savior
I have learned that you cannot fully understand the cross without first walking through the wilderness.
You cannot grasp grace until you’ve seen the weight of the Law.
You cannot love the Good Shepherd unless you’ve met the rejected King in the caves of 1 Samuel… or the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.
As one of my favorite kids Bibles, the Jesus Story Book Bible, alludes, Jesus is on every page, not just starting in Matthew.
Jesus Didn't Abolish the Old — He Fulfilled It
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
— Matthew 5:17
Jesus quoted the Psalms, Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and Exodus. He lived out the words written by Moses and the prophets, perfectly. He embodied the longings of the Hebrew Scriptures.
And when the early church preached Jesus, they did so using the Old Testament — because the New Testament hadn’t been written yet.
This means that if you neglect the Old Testament, you’re neglecting the very foundation on which Jesus stood.
Without the Old, the New Feels Incomplete
If you only read the New Testament, you’re reading the climax without the plot.
You’ll hear about the Lamb of God, but never understand the Passover.
You’ll read about Jesus as the Second Adam without knowing the tragedy of the first.
You’ll see Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, but miss how it fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy.
You’ll hear Him cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” — but miss that He’s quoting Psalm 22, a song of victory, not despair.
A Challenge: Read the Bible Like Jesus Did
Jesus never split the Bible into “Old” and “New.”
To Him, it was all the Word of the Father.
If the Son of God needed the Psalms...
If He used Deuteronomy to fight temptation...
If He quoted David in His darkest hour…
Then we should lean in, too.
So for you and me,
Don’t neglect the foundation.
Don’t rush to the cross without walking through the wilderness.
Don’t settle for a comfortable portion of the Word when God is offering you the fullness of His unfolding redemption.
Never Finished Challenge: Bring It All To the Table
This week, choose one Old Testament chapter and one New Testament chapter per day.
Start in Genesis and Matthew, or Psalms and John — whatever fits your season.
But don’t read them as separate books.
Read them as threads of the same fabric — because they are.
Jesus didn’t come to cancel the story.
He came to complete it.
What Does Today Say About God?
Best Friend.
Yes, He is King — holy, untouchable in glory, worthy of our reverence and fear.
But He is also the closest friend you could imagine, revealing His nature not to impress you, but to transform you.
And here’s the most staggering and beautiful part:
The revelation of God never ends.
His beauty is unsearchable.
His attributes are inexhaustible.
He will still be unveiling new aspects of Himself 10 billion years from now, and we’ll still be speechless.
Could you imagine your best friend on earth revealing something breathtaking about themselves every day… forever?
God is that. And more.
What a King.
What a Father.
What a Friend.
Thank you, Jesus.