Years ago I dabbled in carving Scripture verses into parcels of wood. I took a number of these plaques to family camp to sell at a modest price. Along with many references from Paul’s epistles, I had several key Old Testament verses that stated timeless principles. I was somewhat surprised that not one of the plaques with an Old Testament verse sold. Believers did not seem interested in verses that were not written specifically to believers in our present Dispensation of Grace. But, we would do well not to avoid or neglect non-Pauline passages of Scripture.

The Apostle Paul tells us something very noteworthy in I Corinthians 9:7-10. When he refers to the timeless principle of financially supporting one who ministers to you, he uses the logic of a soldier not going to war bearing his own expenses, and a farmer not being excluded from eating the fruit of his labors (vs. 7). He added, “For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God not take care of the oxen? Or saith He [the Lord] it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope and…should be a partaker of his hope” (vss. 9-10). In these verses, Paul emphasizes the Old Testament was not written only for the benefit of the Jews governed by the Law of Moses. It was also written and included in our Bible for the benefit of believers in the Dispensation of Grace. Other passages confirm this truth, II Timothy 3:16-17 explains, “All Scripture [including the Gospels, the Old Testament and Jewish epistles] is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…that the man of God [in any dispensation] may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” To neglect these sections in God’s Word is to neglect what is divinely intended for our benefit. First Corinthians 10:1-11 states twice that the Old Testament was recorded to provide us today with helpful examples of doing right and wrong. Romans 15:4 explains all these things “…written aforetime were written for our learning…” We certainly need to learn the key doctrines of grace from the Apostle Paul, but we also need to learn from the Scriptures written originally to Israel.

Did you know the Jewish books were written “for our sakes [or benefit]”? Purpose today to invest time reading and benefiting from Jewish sections in your Bible.