Deuteronomy for Disciples-Part 3-Covenant Faithfulness

Why would anyone in 2025 spend any time reading Deuteronomy, Israel's covenant renewal book?  Maybe the only answer is because Jesus did.  Yet did not Jesus in Matthew 19: 1-9 declare Deuteronomy 24: 1-4, a teaching on divorce, to be an accommodation to human hard heartedness?  It sounds like that for Jesus Deuteronomy is "out" and Genesis 2:4-6 is "in."  But, wait a minute!  Also in Matthew, chapter four, Jesus at one of the great crisis moments of his life, in answer to Satan's temptations in the wilderness quotes Deuteronomy authoritatively three times as the word of God for Jesus.  Jesus was immersed in the Old Testament scriptures and quotes Deuteronomy as a well taught child would quote Deuteronomy as the word of God for his life. So maybe Deuteronomy is not a waste of time! 2 Timothy 3:15-17, written to a Christian believer by an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, says of the Old Covenant Scriptures, "You have been taught the holy scriptures since childhood, and they have given you wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (New Living Translation) So we are called to read Deuteronomy and all Scripture, Old and New Covenant, through the lens of Jesus the Lord, and in the power of the Spirit. Come join us as we submit ourselves to Jesus who promises us that Deuteronomy will "prepare and equip us for every good work.