The New Testament frequently quotes the Old Testament. These references are obvious opportunities for the preacher to bridge from the Old Testament to Jesus.[1] To preach New Testament references the preacher has to follow the trail already mapped out in the text. For example, Hebrews 7:17, which states: “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek,” quotes Psalm 110:4, which in turn alludes to Genesis 14:18-20. The preacher, therefore, follows the text from Genesis to the Psalms to Hebrews in order to explain that Jesus is appropriately our High Priest even though (and even because.) He is not a priest in the order of Levi, but rather a priest in the order of Melchizedek. The preacher will then highlight why the order of Melchizedek is a superior order than that of Levi.
New Testament references make it easy for the preacher to connect an Old Testament passage to Jesus.
[1] Greidanus, Preaching Christ, 269.
