Walking in Purpose: Learning from Jesus’ Love of Scripture (15-20 Min. Read)

Let's Start with Intention: A Daily Prayer for Purpose

Abba Father, thank You for giving me life and breath today. Align my heart with Yours. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Guide my steps in Your Word, and let me not be distracted by the noise of this world. Use my gifts for Your glory. Show me how to serve my family, my community, and Your kingdom with joy. And above all, let me walk in Your will, close to You, today and always. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

Have you ever laid awake at night asking yourself:

• Am I doing enough?

• Am I walking in the calling God has for me?

• What is my true purpose?

I’m a 44-year-old man, and I’ll be honest: I wrestle with these questions every single day. I wake up every morning asking, “Lord, what do You want from me? How can I do better than yesterday?”

I know my responsibilities: to be a good husband, a good father, a faithful worshiper, a believer, a role model, a provider, a protector, and a servant in my community. But even as I do my best to live out those roles, I feel this tug inside, this sense that God has given me talents and gifts He wants to use in bigger ways. So I ask Him: “Lord, use me. How can I be used?”

And the truth is, I don’t always have the answer. I get distracted. I get busy. I fall short of the discipline I know I need in my daily walk. But when I quiet myself enough to listen, I always come back to this reminder: Draw close to God, and He will guide you. That is the heart of purpose.

The Old Testament Is Not Optional: it’s Foundational

Something I realized recently while searching for purpose shook me: Jesus quoted the Old Testament constantly. In fact, He carried it in His heart and mind, and in moments of teaching, temptation, and even on the cross, He spoke the words of Torah, Prophets, and Psalms.

This matters. Jesus didn’t have a bound Bible like we do. He had the Torah (the first five books), the Prophets, and the Writings, what we call the Old Testament today. And He knew them page by page, line by line.

Why is that important for us? Because if we are to follow Him closely, to walk as He walked, we must also be rooted in the same Scriptures He drew life from.

• The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible.

• It built the framework of His mission.

• He came not to abolish it, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

• The early church relied on it as their authority.

• And through it, we meet the same God revealed in the New Testament.

Jesus’ Model: Memorize, Quote, Embody

Jesus didn’t just “know” Scripture as trivia. He embodied it. In the wilderness, He responded to temptation with the Word. In His teaching, He revealed its depth. On the cross, He cried out with the Psalms.

If we are to imitate Him, we must do the same. It’s not just about reading the Bible, it’s about living it, knowing it so deeply that it forms our thoughts, choices, and character.

Five Steps to Finding Purpose

Purpose looks different for everyone, but here are five simple, biblical practices that keep me anchored when I feel restless or uncertain. They may resonate with you too:

1. Root Your Heart in Scripture

Start with God’s Word. Jesus committed Torah and the Prophets to memory, so much so that He quoted them freely. We can follow His example by reading and even memorizing key passages that shape our hearts.

2. Begin with Prayer, Seeking God’s Voice

Purpose is not something we manufacture; it’s something we receive. Prayer is how we align our hearts with God’s direction. Ask Him to guide your steps, reveal your path, and adjust your desires to His.

3. Use Your Gifts as Acts of Service

God gave you talents for a reason. True purpose blossoms when we use them to serve others. Leadership, creativity, generosity...whatever your gifts are, offer them back to Him in service.

4. Walk It Out in Community

We don’t discover purpose in isolation. God designed us for community. Surround yourself with people who encourage, challenge, and help keep you accountable in your walk.

5. Reflect, Journal, and Course-Correct

Life is full of distractions, and I’m guilty of letting them pull me away. But reflection helps bring me back. Write down your prayers, your goals, your sense of calling. Revisit them often and let God refine your direction over time.

Put Purpose Where Power Lives: God’s Word

At the end of the day, purpose isn’t about “doing enough.” It’s about being close to God. Jesus modeled that closeness by knowing the Scriptures, quoting them, and living them.

That’s why I’ve been compiling the full list of the 44 times Jesus quoted the Old Testament in the Gospels. Seeing how often He relied on God’s Word was eye-opening for me, and a challenge to take Scripture just as seriously.

If we want to walk as He walked, we must take up the same habits. We must challenge ourselves to know God’s Word, not just as pages in a book, but as truth written on our hearts.

Full List of Scriptures Jesus Quoted (from what I've researched)

The following are all the Old Testament passages that Jesus quoted in the Gospels. While they are powerful to see side-by-side, it's important to remember that context matters. For example, when Jesus referenced "an eye for an eye" (Matt. 5:38), He wasn't affirming retaliation...he was teaching a deeper way of mercy and reconciliation. Each verse carries its fullest meaning when read within the broader passage and in the light of Jesus' teaching.

1. Created Male and Female

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6):

• “Have you not read? He who created them from the beginning made them male and female.” (Matt 19:4 TLV)

• “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.” (Mark 10:6 TLV)

Old Testament (Genesis 1:27):

• So God created humankind in His image. In the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.

2. One Flesh

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7–8):

• “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Matt 19:5 TLV)

• “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” (Mark 10:7–8 TLV)

Old Testament (Genesis 2:24):

• This is why a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife; and they become one flesh.

3. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37):

• “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matt 22:32 TLV)

• “How God spoke to him at the bush, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?” (Mark 12:26 TLV)

• “But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised, in the passage about the bush, when he calls Adonai ‘the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’” (Luke 20:37 TLV)

Old Testament (Exodus 3:6):

• Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” So Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

4. Honor Your Father and Mother

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 15:4; 19:19; Mark 7:10; 10:19; Luke 18:20):

• “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’” (Matt 15:4 TLV)

• “Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 19:19 TLV)

• “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’” (Mark 7:10 TLV)

• “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19 TLV)

• “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.’” (Luke 18:20 TLV)

Old Testament (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16):

• Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long upon the land which Adonai your God is giving you. (Exod 20:12 TLV)

• Honor your father and your mother just as Adonai your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and it may go well with you on the land Adonai your God is giving you. (Deut 5:16 TLV)

5. Do Not Murder, Commit Adultery, Steal, Bear False Witness

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20):

• “Yeshua said, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony.’” (Matt 19:18 TLV)

• “You know the commandments: Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.” (Mark 10:19 TLV)

• “You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.” (Luke 18:20 TLV)

Old Testament (Exodus 20:13–16; Deuteronomy 5:17–20):

• Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exod 20:13–16 TLV)

• Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Deut 5:17–20 TLV)

6. Do Not Curse Your Father or Mother

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10):

• “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’” (Matt 15:4 TLV)

• “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’” (Mark 7:10 TLV)

Old Testament (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9):

• Anyone who curses his father or his mother must surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood should be on him. (Exod 21:17 TLV)

• Anyone who curses his father or his mother should surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood should be on him. (Lev 20:9 TLV)

7. Eye for Eye

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 5:38):

• “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’” (Matt 5:38 TLV)

Old Testament (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20):

• Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (Exod 21:24 TLV)

• Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he has injured someone, so it should be done to him. (Lev 24:20 TLV)

8. Love Your Neighbor

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27):

• “Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 19:19 TLV)

• “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt 22:39 TLV)

• “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 TLV)

• “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18):

• You are not to take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people. Instead, you are to love your neighbor as yourself. I am Adonai.

9. Hear O Israel

Jesus’ Words (Mark 12:29):

• “Yeshua answered, ‘The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.’” (Mark 12:29 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:4):

• Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

10. Love the Lord with All Your Heart

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27):

• “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” (Matt 22:37 TLV)

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:30 TLV)

• “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 30:6):

• Love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut 6:5 TLV)

• So now, O Israel, what does Adonai your God require of you, but to fear Adonai your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut 10:12 TLV)

• Adonai your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants—to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live. (Deut 30:6 TLV)

11. Worship and Serve God Only

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8):

• “Then Yeshua says to him, ‘Go away, satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your God, and Him only shall you serve.’” (Matt 4:10 TLV)

• “But answering, Yeshua said to him, ‘It is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your God, and Him only shall you serve.’” (Luke 4:8 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20):

You must fear Adonai your God and serve Him, and swear by His Name. (Deut 6:13 TLV)

• You are to fear Adonai your God. Him you are to serve, and to Him you are to cling, and by His Name you are to swear. (Deut 10:20 TLV)

12. Do Not Test the Lord

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12):

• “Yeshua said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not test Adonai your God.’” (Matt 4:7 TLV)

• “But answering, Yeshua said to him, ‘It is said, ‘You shall not put Adonai your God to the test.’” (Luke 4:12 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:16):

• You are not to test Adonai your God, as you tested Him at Massah.

13. Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4):

• “But He replied, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt 4:4 TLV)

• “But Yeshua replied to him, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” (Luke 4:4 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 8:3):

• He humbled you and let you hunger, then He fed you manna—which neither you nor your fathers had known—in order to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai.

14. By the Testimony of Two Witnesses

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 18:16; John 8:17):

• “But if he does not listen, take with you one or two more, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.” (Matt 18:16 TLV)

• “Even in your Torah it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.” (John 8:17 TLV)

Old Testament (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15):

• By the word of two or three witnesses, the one who is to die is to be put to death. No one is to be put to death by the word of one witness. (Deut 17:6 TLV)

• A single witness shall not rise up against a person on account of any guilt or any sin that he commits. By the word of two or three witnesses is a case to be established. (Deut 19:15 TLV)

15. Depart From Me, You Workers of Iniquity

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:27):

• “Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” (Matt 7:23 TLV)

• “And then He will say to you, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Get away from Me, all of you evildoers!’” (Luke 13:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 6:8):

• Away from me, all you evildoers! For Adonai has heard the sound of my weeping.

16. Out of the Mouth of Infants

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 21:16):

• “They said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these children are saying?’ ‘Yes,’ Yeshua said to them. ‘Haven’t you ever read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing toddlers You have prepared praise for Yourself’?’” (Matt 21:16 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 8:2):

• From the mouths of children and infants You have founded power, because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

17. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34):

• “About the ninth hour, Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?’” (Matt 27:46 TLV)

• “And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?’” (Mark 15:34 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 22:1):

• My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

18. Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

Jesus’ Words (Luke 23:46):

• “And Yeshua, crying out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.’ When He had said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 31:5):

• Into Your hand I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, Adonai, God of truth.

19. They Hated Me Without a Cause

Jesus’ Words (John 15:25):

• “But this happened so that the word written in their Scripture would be fulfilled, ‘They hated Me for no reason.’” (John 15:25 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 35:19; 69:4):

• Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me without cause, nor let those who hate me without a reason wink an eye. (Ps 35:19 TLV)

• Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Powerful are my enemies who would destroy me with lies. What I did not steal, must I restore? (Ps 69:4 TLV)

20. The Meek Will Inherit the Earth

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 5:5):

• “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 37:11):

• But the meek will inherit the land, and delight in abundant shalom.

21. Betrayed by a Close Friend

Jesus’ Words (John 13:18):

• “I am not speaking about all of you—I know whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’” (John 13:18 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 41:9):

• Even my own close friend, whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

22. You Are Gods

Jesus’ Words (John 10:34):

• “Yeshua answered them, ‘Isn’t it written in your Writings, ‘I have said you are gods’?” (John 10:34 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 82:6):

• I had said, “You are gods, and all of you are sons of Elyon.”

23. The Lord Said to My Lord

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42–43):

• “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’” (Matt 22:44 TLV)

• “David himself, through the Ruach ha-Kodesh, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’” (Mark 12:36 TLV)

• “For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’” (Luke 20:42–43 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 110:1):

• A declaration of Adonai to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

24. The Rejected Stone

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17):

• “Yeshua said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures? The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone. This came from Adonai, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” (Matt 21:42 TLV)

• “Haven’t you read this Scripture? ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone. This came from Adonai, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” (Mark 12:10–11 TLV)

• “But Yeshua looked right at them and said, ‘Then what is this that has been written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone’?” (Luke 20:17 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 118:22–23):

• The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. It is from Adonai: it is marvelous in our eyes!

25. Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35):

• “For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matt 23:39 TLV)

• “Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will never see Me until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:35 TLV)

Old Testament (Psalm 118:26):

• Blessed is he who comes in the Name of Adonai. We bless you from the House of Adonai.

26. Seeing but Not Perceiving

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 13:14–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40):

• “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing but will never understand; you will keep on looking but will never see. For the heart of this people has become dull, their ears can barely hear, and they have shut their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts. Then they would turn back, and I would heal them.’” (Matt 13:14–15 TLV)

• “so that ‘seeing, they may see and not perceive, and hearing, they may hear and not understand, lest they turn back and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:12 TLV)

• “He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the rest it is given in parables, so that seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not understand.’” (Luke 8:10 TLV)

• “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they might not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts and turn back, and I would heal them.” (John 12:40 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 6:9–10):

• He said, “Go! Tell this people: ‘Hear without understanding, and see without perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people dull, their ears heavy, and their eyes blind. Else they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return, and be healed.”

27. The Stars Will Fall

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24–25):

• “But immediately after the trouble of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’” (Matt 24:29 TLV)

• “But in those days, after that tribulation, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.’” (Mark 13:24–25 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 13:10):

• For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light.

28. Honor with Lips, Hearts Far Away

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 15:8–9; Mark 7:6–7):

• “‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matt 15:8–9 TLV)

• “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Mark 7:6–7 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 29:13):

• Then Adonai said: “Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a mitzvah taught by men.”

29. Numbered with the Transgressors

Jesus’ Words (Luke 22:37):

• “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was counted with the lawless.’ For what is written about Me has its fulfillment.” (Luke 22:37 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 53:12):

• Therefore I will give Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoil with the mighty—because He poured out His soul to death, and was counted with transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

30. All Your Children Will Be Taught by the Lord

Jesus’ Words (John 6:45):

• “It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened and learned from the Father comes to Me.” (John 6:45 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 54:13):

• All your children will be taught by Adonai. Your children will have great shalom.

31. House of Prayer for All Nations

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46):

• “And He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves!” (Matt 21:13 TLV)

• “And He began to teach them, and He said, ‘Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers!” (Mark 11:17 TLV)

• “Saying to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Luke 19:46 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 56:7):

• These I will bring to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My House of Prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will go up on My altar with acceptance; for My House will be called a House of Prayer for all nations.

32. The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

Jesus’ Words (Luke 4:18–19):

• “The Ruach Adonai is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 61:1–2):

• The Ruach Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn.

33. Their Worm Does Not Die

Jesus’ Words (Mark 9:44, 46, 48):

• “Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:44, 46, 48 TLV)

Old Testament (Isaiah 66:24):

• Then they will go out and look on the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me. For their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and they will be a horror to all flesh.

34. Den of Robbers

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46):

• (Already included above in #31, but note Jesus was blending Isaiah 56:7 + Jeremiah 7:11 together.)

Old Testament (Jeremiah 7:11):

• Has this House, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Look, I Myself have seen it!” It is a declaration of Adonai.

35. Your House Left Desolate

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 23:38; Luke 13:35):

• “Look, your house is left to you desolate!” (Matt 23:38 TLV)

• “Look, your house is left to you desolate!” (Luke 13:35 TLV)

Old Testament (Jeremiah 22:5):

• But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself, declares Adonai, that this house will become a ruin.

36. The Son of Man Coming on the Clouds

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 16:28; 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27):

• “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matt 16:28 TLV)

• “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matt 24:30 TLV)

• “Yeshua said to him, ‘You’ve said it yourself. But I tell you, soon after you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” (Matt 26:64 TLV)

• “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26 TLV)

• “And Yeshua said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” (Mark 14:62 TLV)

• “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Daniel 7:13):

• I was watching in the night visions, behold, One like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He approached the Ancient of Days, and was brought into His presence.

37. The Abomination of Desolation

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14):

• “So when you see ‘the abomination of desolation,’ which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand),” (Matt 24:15 TLV)

• “But when you see ‘the abomination of desolation’ standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Mark 13:14 TLV)

Old Testament (Daniel 9:27):

• He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed annihilation is poured out on the one who destroys.

38. The Righteous Shine Like the Sun

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 13:43):

• “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!” (Matt 13:43 TLV)

Old Testament (Daniel 12:3):

• Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who turn many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.

39. I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 9:13; 12:7):

• “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but the sinful.” (Matt 9:13 TLV)

• “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the innocent.” (Matt 12:7 TLV)

Old Testament (Hosea 6:6):

• For I delight in loyalty and not sacrifice, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

40. Mountains Fall on Us

Jesus’ Words (Luke 23:30):

• “Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’” (Luke 23:30 TLV)

Old Testament (Hosea 10:8):

• The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

41. Jonah in the Belly of the Fish

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 12:40):

• “For just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” (Matt 12:40 TLV)

Old Testament (Jonah 1:17):

• Now Adonai prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

42. Enemies in Your Own Household

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 10:35–36):

• “For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’” (Matt 10:35–36 TLV)

Old Testament (Micah 7:6):

• For son treats father with contempt; daughter rises up against mother; daughter-in-law against mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

43. Strike the Shepherd

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27):

• “Then Yeshua said to them, ‘This night you will all fall away because of Me; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” (Matt 26:31 TLV)

• “Yeshua said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I shall strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (Mark 14:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Zechariah 13:7):

• Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who is My companion! It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered! I will turn My hand against the little ones.

44. I Will Send My Messenger

Jesus’ Words (Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27):

• “For this is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’” (Matt 11:10 TLV)

• “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’” (Luke 7:27 TLV)

Old Testament (Malachi 3:1):

• “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Suddenly He will come to His Temple—the Lord whom you seek—and the Messenger of the covenant—the One whom you desire—behold, He is coming!” says Adonai-Tzva’ot.

Bonus Section: Jesus’ Words in Revelation Echoing the Old Testament

1. The Alpha and the Omega

Jesus (Revelation 22:13):

• “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Old Testament Echo (Isaiah 44:6):

• Thus says Adonai, Israel’s King and his Redeemer, Adonai-Tzva’ot: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.”

2. The Son of Man Vision

Jesus (Revelation 1:12–13):

• “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden menorot. In the midst of the menorot, I saw one like a Son of Man, clothed in a robe down to His feet, with a golden belt wrapped around His chest.”

Old Testament Echo (Daniel 7:13):

• “I was watching in the night visions, behold, One like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He approached the Ancient of Days, and was brought into His presence.”

3. Ruling with a Rod of Iron

Jesus (Revelation 2:26–27):

• “To the one who overcomes and guards My deeds until the end, ‘I will give him authority over the nations and he shall rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are broken into pieces.’”

Old Testament Echo (Psalm 2:8–9):

• “Ask Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance, and the far reaches of the earth as Your possession. You shall break the nations with an iron scepter. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s jar.”

4. The New Jerusalem: God Dwelling with His People

Jesus (Revelation 21:3–4):

• “Behold, the dwelling of God is among men, and He shall tabernacle among them. They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them and be their God. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”

Old Testament Echo (Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 25:8):

• “I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul will not abhor you. I will walk among you and will be your God, and you will be My people.” (Lev 26:11–12)

• “He will swallow up death forever. My Lord Adonai will wipe away tears from every face.” (Isaiah 25:8)

5. The Tree of Life Restored

Jesus (Revelation 2:7; 22:2):

• “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.” (Rev 2:7)

• “Down the middle of the city’s street, on either side of the river, was a Tree of Life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit…” (Rev 22:2)

Old Testament Echo (Genesis 2:9; Ezekiel 47:12):

• “Then Adonai Elohim caused to sprout from the ground every tree that was desirable to look at and good for food. Now the Tree of Life was in the middle of the garden, and also the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.” (Gen 2:9)

• “On the river, on its bank, on this side and that, will grow every kind of tree for food. Its leaf will not wither. Its fruit will not fail. It will bear new fruit every month, because its water flows from the Sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food and its leaf for healing.” (Ezek 47:12)

Friends...even in Revelation Jesus continues the pattern: He anchors His words in the Torah, Psalms, Prophets, and Writings. He’s not only the fulfillment in the Gospels...He’s still weaving the same story at the very end of Scripture.

Now get to it: open your Bible, pray with intention, begin walking in the purpose you were created for.

May your day be filled with the joy of the Lord!