A Final Reflection and the Road to Matthew
Christ in the Old Testament • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Sermon Title: A Final Reflection and the Road to Matthew
Scripture: Luke 24:25–27; Matthew 5:17–18, 1 Peter 1:6-16
Occasion: The Lord’s Day
Date: August 10, 2025
Big Idea & Application:
All of Scripture points to Jesus—the Old Testament is the shadow, and Christ is the substance. When we read the Bible with our eyes on Him, our hearts ignite with worship, our faith comes alive, and His finished work shapes our daily obedience..
Introduction
Introduction
Church family, it is so good to be back with you after these two months of sabbatical.
Jessica, the kids, and I are deeply grateful for your prayers, your love, and the gift of rest you gave us.
This sabbatical was not just time away—it was a time of slowing down to see Jesus with fresh eyes.
Many mornings, Jessica and I sat with our Bibles open, reflecting on the kingdom of God—what it truly means to live as citizens of that kingdom now, with hearts set on eternity.
Out of those quiet mornings came our 21 Days of Prayer, because we were reminded afresh that the kingdom life cannot be lived apart from daily dependence on God.
Today marks a turning point for us as a church:
We are closing our series on Christ in the Old Testament, where we’ve seen that every shadow, every story, and every sacrifice points to Him.
In just two weeks, we will begin our journey through the Gospel of Matthew, where we meet the King face-to-face and hear Him say, “Follow Me.”
And next week, my dear brother Pastor Roy Kirkwood from Shiloh Church in Jacksonville will prepare our hearts in prayer for the teaching of Jesus in Matthew.
But before we begin that journey, I want to take you on one more walk through the Old Testament—this time, through the eyes of Jesus Himself.
And to frame our time together, I want to share a story from Tim Keller that captures the essence of why this matters.
Keller once shared that after preaching one Sunday, he got into the car with his wife, hoping for affirmation.
He said,
“You know how it goes… you’re just waiting for your spouse to say, ‘Great sermon, honey.’”
But she didn’t say anything.
Finally, he asked, “So, what did you think?”
Her reply was both honest and piercing.
She said,
“Your sermons are always clear. They're biblical. They show me what I should believe and how I should live. But honestly, most weeks they feel more like a lecture.”
Keller was stunned. “A lecture?” he asked.
She continued,
“Every once in a while, though… something happens. Jesus shows up. And when He shows up, the sermon comes alive. It stops being about what I must do and becomes about what He has done. That’s when I worship. That’s when I have hope. That’s when I want to change—because I’ve seen Him.”
Then she said something that changed how Keller preached forever:
“You often say, ‘This is what you ought to do, this is what you ought to do.’ And I agree. But then sometimes you say, ‘This is what you ought to do… but you can’t. Not perfectly. Not from the heart. But there is One who did it all for you—and because He did it, if you trust Him, He not only forgives you—He transforms you.’”
Keller later reflected,
“That’s when the sermon stops being a lecture. That’s when it becomes worship. Because the Bible is not basically about me and what I must do—it’s about Jesus and what He has done.”
Church—this is what we’ve been learning all along.
The Old Testament is not a disconnected series of moral tales.
It is a shadow cast by a substance.
The outline may be visible, but the details are dim—until Jesus steps onto the stage.
Then the whole picture comes into focus.
As Augustine once said,
“The New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed.”
So here’s where we are going today.
Three movements will guide our hearts and prepare us to step into Matthew alive to our King and dependent on Him in prayer:
How Jesus Sees the Old Testament – Luke 24:25–27
How Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament – Matthew 5:17–18
How We Respond as Kingdom Citizens – 1 Peter 1:6–16
If we can see these three things clearly, we will be ready to step into Matthew as a church alive to our King and dependent on the King in prayer.
Transition to Point 1:
As we close this series and prepare for Matthew, I want to take you to the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.
Two disciples are walking, hearts heavy, Scriptures in their minds but hope drained from their souls.
And Jesus shows up to give them the Bible study of a lifetime—showing that all of Scripture points to Him.
That’s where we begin- How Jesus sees the Old Testament.
Point 1: How Jesus Sees the Old Testament (Luke 24:25–27)
Luke records that the risen Christ confronted the two disciples on the road to Emmaus:
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
This is a strong rebuke. These were not pagans—they were Jewish disciples who knew the Scriptures.
Their problem wasn’t a lack of Bible reading. It wasn’t a lack of information.
It was a lack of spiritual sight.
Application:
Church family, you can read the Bible all your life and still miss Jesus.
Information without illumination leaves the heart cold.
This is why we pray with the psalmist:
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Exposition of Verse 27
Luke continues:
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
This is the greatest Bible studies in history.
Jesus is leading it!
Can you imagine! Wow!
The risen Lord Himself takes the entire Old Testament—from Genesis to Malachi—and lays down a Christ-centered roadmap.
Beginning with Moses – the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, the Torah).
He is the Promised Redeemer (Gen. 3:15).
The Ultimate Deliverer in Exodus.
The Perfect High Priest in Leviticus.
The Source of Salvation and Life in Numbers’ bronze serpent.
The Final Prophet to heed in Deuteronomy 18.
Through all the Prophets – the historical writings and major/minor prophets.
He is the Eternal King on David’s throne (2 Sam. 7).
The Suffering Servant and Coming King in Isaiah 53.
The Divine Son of Man in Daniel 7.
The Purifier of His People in Malachi 3.
In all the Scriptures – the entire Old Testament canon: Law, Prophets, and Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Chronicles).
Every page, every pattern, every promise points to Him.
Jesus in His own words says..
John 5:39 – “It is they that bear witness about me.”
The author of Hebrews confirms this by stating…
Hebrews 10:7 – “In the scroll of the book it is written of me.”
As Graeme Goldsworthy writes in According to Plan:
“The Old Testament is the story of God’s people and promises, but the climax of that story—the meaning of every promise—is Jesus Christ.
Apart from Him, the Old Testament is an unfinished symphony.”
Historic Illustration – The Unfinished Symphony
In 1822, the famous composer Franz Schubert began his Symphony No. 8 in B Minor—what we now call The Unfinished Symphony.
It was left with only two movements, a masterpiece that just… stops.
When audiences first heard it, they felt a deep longing for resolution—for the music to reach its glorious finale.
That’s the Old Testament without Christ.
Every story, every sacrifice, every psalm builds the melody—but it feels incomplete.
Then Jesus steps onto the stage, and suddenly the music swells, the themes resolve, and the whole score finds its final movement in Him.
Jesus’ Possible “Emmaus Road Sermon”
If we could sit on that Emmaus Road, perhaps His words would sound like this:
In Genesis – “I am the promised Redeemer, the Seed who will crush the serpent.”
In Exodus – “I am the ultimate Deliverer, bringing My people out of bondage.”
In Leviticus – “I am the perfect High Priest, who mediates and atones for sin.”
In Numbers – “I am the source of salvation and life, the bronze serpent lifted up for healing.”
In Deuteronomy – “I am the final Prophet to whom you must listen.”
In 2 Samuel – “I am the eternal King on David’s throne.”
In Isaiah – “I am the suffering servant and coming King, pierced for your transgressions.”
In Daniel – “I am the divine Son of Man, receiving an everlasting kingdom.”
In Malachi – “I am the purifier of My people, refining them for the day of the Lord.”
Every story, every psalm, every sacrifice, every shadow whispers and, some may say, SHOUTS His name.
Illustration:
It’s like watching a movie for the second time.
The first time, you see random scenes but miss the foreshadowing.
The second time, you suddenly notice every hint, every clue—and you realize:
It was pointing to this all along!
Beloved, when Jesus opens the Scriptures, that’s what happens.
The Law, the Prophets, the Psalms—they were all whispering His name.
Application:
Read your Old Testament with Christ at the center.
Don’t settle for moral lessons.
Ask: Where is Christ?
Pray for spiritual sight.
Like the blind men in Matthew 20:34, we must cry out:
“Son of David, open my eyes!”
Let your heart burn within you.
Verse 32: “Did not our hearts burn within us while He opened to us the Scriptures?”
That burning comes not from curiosity, but from communion with Christ in His Word.
Transition to Point 2:
If that’s how Jesus sees the Old Testament—as a living testimony to Himself—then the next question is:
What does He do with it?
Does He discard it?
Does He lower its standard?
No!
He comes to fulfill it—to bring the shadows into substance, the promises into reality, and the story to its glorious climax.
Point 2: How Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17–18)
Jesus says in Matthew 5:17–18:
“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.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Exposition and Exegesis
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets”
By “Law and Prophets,” Jesus refers to the entire Old Testament.
He anticipates a misunderstanding: some might think His coming renders the Old Testament obsolete.
“Abolish” (καταλύω) means to tear down, to dismantle, to nullify.
Jesus says: I did not come to throw it away. The Old Testament isn’t canceled; it’s completed in Me.
“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
“Fulfill” (πληρόω) means to fill it full, to bring it to its intended goal, to complete its storyline and purpose.
Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in three primary ways:
A. He fulfills the Law in His obedience.
Where Adam failed in the Garden (Gen. 3), where Israel failed in the wilderness (Exod. 32; Num. 14), Jesus succeeded perfectly.
He kept every command, satisfied every righteous requirement (Matt. 3:15; Rom. 5:19).
He is the only one who could say in John 8:29, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
B. He fulfills the Prophets in His life, death, and resurrection.
Isaiah foretold a virgin-born Savior (Isa. 7:14). Fulfilled in Matthew 1:23.
Micah spoke of a Ruler from Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). Fulfilled in Luke 2:4–7.
Zechariah said He would be pierced (Zech. 12:10). Fulfilled in John 19:34–37.
Psalm 16 and Hosea 6 whisper resurrection—and the empty tomb shouts it.
C. He fulfills the Psalms in His suffering and glory.
He is the Righteous Sufferer of Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (v. 1)
He is the Victorious King of Psalm 2: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage.” (v. 8)
He is the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 and the Chief Cornerstone of Psalm 118.
Summary:
Every sacrifice finds its substance in Jesus’ cross.
Every priesthood finds its perfection in Jesus’ intercession.
Every king finds its crown in Jesus’ eternal reign.
Illustration – The Puzzle Box
Think of a massive puzzle.
For centuries, Israel held thousands of pieces:
The laws, the ceremonies, the prophecies, the Psalms.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
The Israelites kept turning the pieces over in their hands—studying shapes and colors—but the picture was incomplete.
Then Christ came—
He is the picture on the box.
Suddenly, every piece fits.
The sacrifices make sense.
The feasts find their purpose.
The promises resolve in His person and work.
Illustration 2 – The Shadow and the Substance
The Old Testament is like a dimly lit corridor where light from the coming Christ casts His shadow on the walls of history.
From Genesis to Malachi, we are walking through that corridor, seeing the faint, flickering outline of a figure approaching.
We see sacrifices offered on altars, priests clothed in holy garments, a temple filled with smoke, and kings ruling in partial righteousness.
All of these are shadows—real enough to give form, but unable to give life.
A shadow has shape but not substance.
It can point to reality but cannot replace it.
If you walk into a room and see the shadow of your loved one on the wall, you may recognize the form, but your arms would close on empty air if you tried to embrace it.
The shadow is a herald; the substance is the person.
So it is with the Old Testament.
Every lamb slain in Leviticus, every sprinkle of blood on the mercy seat, every high priest stepping behind the veil was a shadow of Christ to come.
They gave the outline of redemption but could not redeem.
They whispered the gospel but could not save.
Then, in the fullness of time, Jesus Christ stepped into human history, and the substance appeared.
What was once blurry is now clear. What was once promised is now fulfilled.
Paul says in Colossians 2:17:
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Christ is the true Passover Lamb whose blood makes death pass over.
Christ is the true High Priest who enters not an earthly tent but heaven itself with His own blood.
Christ is the true Temple where God meets man.
To go back to the shadows after the substance has come is like turning from your spouse to hug the wedding photograph.
The picture may be precious, but it is meant to point you to the person.
The shadow is not the destination; it is the signpost to the Savior.
This is why the gospel is infinitely precious!!
We are not embracing promises yet to be fulfilled; we are clinging to the One in whom all promises are “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Application
Don’t discard your Old Testament.
Jesus didn’t. He fulfilled it.
Read it with gospel lenses—see how every page anticipates Him.
Rest in His finished work.
The law’s demands have been met in Christ for you.
You don’t need to live in the shadows of self-righteousness.
The substance has come; cling to Him.
Marvel at God’s faithfulness.
Every prophecy fulfilled is a receipt of God’s reliability.
Not one word He has spoken will fail.
Transition to Point 3:
If all Scripture points to Christ (Point 1), and He has perfectly fulfilled it (Point 2), then the only question left is:
How will you respond to Him?
And that leads us to our third and final reflection.
Point 3: How We Respond as Jesus Followers and Kingdom Citizens (1 Peter 1:6–16)
Peter writes to Christians who are exiles in the world but citizens of a greater kingdom.
They were scattered, suffering, and unseen by the world—yet fully seen and loved by God.
And then Peter says something breathtaking:
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Do you hear the wonder in those words?
Peter saw Jesus with his own eyes.
But he marvels at you—believers who love Him without ever having seen Him.
And that love is not empty sentiment— it bears the fruit of joy, a joy so deep that words can’t hold it.
It is the joy of salvation, the joy of knowing that Christ has secured your soul forever.
1. We marvel at the story of salvation
1. We marvel at the story of salvation
Peter reminds us that this salvation is no small thing.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully…
Imagine Isaiah, Jeremiah, and David—
They wrote of a coming King,
They sang of a suffering Servant,
They longed to see the day when grace would be fully revealed.
Peter says they were searching the horizon of history— asking,
“When will He come? What will it look like?”
Then he adds:
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
What a thought!!!
The prophets spoke for our sake.
The angels bend over the balcony of heaven, longing to see grace in action.
And now, through Christ, that grace has reached you and me today.
2. We live as holy, grateful citizens
2. We live as holy, grateful citizens
If the prophets ached for this day, and if the angels marvel at this gospel, how should we live as those who have received it?
Peter answers:
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Holiness now becomes the natural language of gratitude.
We don’t obey to earn the kingdom;
We obey because we belong to the King.
It is like a red carpet of love unrolling before our feet, inviting us to walk in joyful obedience.
3. We prepare our hearts for the King’s Word
3. We prepare our hearts for the King’s Word
If this is our salvation, then every part of our lives bends toward readiness.
We read the Old Testament with kingdom eyes, knowing that every promise and pattern whispers Jesus.
We pray as gardeners, softening the soil of our hearts so that the Word can take root.
I want to take today after the sermon and next week to really press into prayer so that when we step into Matthew’s Gospel, and receive the King with humility and joy.
Illustration – The Garden of the Heart
Think of a garden in springtime.
If the soil is hard and untouched, seeds just sit on the surface.
No matter how good the seed is, nothing will grow unless the ground is prepared.
But when the gardener takes the time to break up the soil, to water it, and to patiently wait, something happens—life bursts forth.
Beloved, that’s what prayer does for the soul.
Prayer is the gardening of the heart.
It breaks up the hard places of pride that resist the Word.
It waters the soil with dependence, reminding us that apart from Him we can do nothing.
It turns our face toward the sunlight of Christ, where life and growth are possible.
Then, and only then, does the seed of God’s Word take root deeply.
Then the fruit of the kingdom begins to grow in us—love, joy, obedience, and hope.
So if we want Matthew’s Gospel to explode with life in our hearts, we cannot simply show up and scatter seed on unprepared ground.
We must pray—pray until the soil is soft, pray until our hearts are humble, pray until the Word lands not on the surface, but deep in the soul.
That is why today and next week we are pressing into prayer as a church.
Thats why we have been utlizing the 21 days of prayer to prepare us.
Prayer is the preparation to receive the word.
We are tilling the soil together, asking the Lord to make us ready to receive our King, so that when we open Matthew and hear His call to follow Him, we will not only hear it with our ears, but our hearts will leap to obey.
Conclusion: Tying in the 21 Days of Prayer
Conclusion: Tying in the 21 Days of Prayer
Beloved, this is why we pray—because apart from Christ, we can do nothing.
If our hearts are not softened by prayer, the seed of God’s Word will land on hard ground.
But when we come to Him in needy dependence—when we confess that we are weak, distracted, fearful, and self-reliant—He meets us in mercy.
Today is Day 10 of our 21 Days of Prayer, and we reflect on the King who calms the storm (Matthew 8:26):
Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
That’s the picture of the praying heart.
Prayer is the cry of the soul that says,
“Lord, I cannot calm myself. I need You.”
Just as the disciples in the storm cried out, “Lord, save us! We are perishing,”
so we come to Christ with needy, desperate prayers, knowing He alone can speak peace to our chaos.
Some of us come with storms raging—storms in our families, our health, our emotions, even our faith.
Others come with a soil hardened by distraction or self-reliance.
But the King is near.
He is the one who calms both the sea and the heart that trusts in Him.
So as we prepare to enter Matthew’s Gospel, let’s do so like those disciples in the storm—falling at His feet, crying out in dependence, and watching Him speak calm to our souls.
This is how we will receive the Word with joy and humility.
This is how the garden of our hearts will bear the fruit of His kingdom.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Church, this is the invitation:
Come to Christ needy.
Pray like a storm-tossed disciple.
Let Him calm your soul and prepare your heart for His Word.
As we continue in prayer, let us seek the King who not only sows the seed but also stills the storms—so that His Word will not merely touch our ears, but take root in our hearts.
Let’s pray together.
Compassionate King,
Thank You for walking with us through the Old Testament and showing us that every page points to You.
Thank You for seeing our blindness and touching us with mercy.
We confess our deep need for You.
Without Your Spirit, we cannot see.
Without Your grace, we cannot follow.
Prepare our hearts, O Lord, for the Gospel of Matthew.
Teach us to live as kingdom citizens now, to obey joyfully, to worship fully, and to love as You love.
Open our eyes to the hurting and broken around us.
Make us a praying, compassionate church—a people who stop, see, and step toward the cries of our neighbors with the hope of the gospel.
Make this Church a kingdom outpost of prayer-a house of prayer as you designed, O, Lord, for your flourishing church to be.
As we finish this series and step into the days ahead, let Your kingdom come in us and through us, on earth as it is in heaven.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
