Yes — understanding the Old Testament is essential before studying the Gospels.
Les Feldick teaches that the Bible unfolds through progressive revelation, like building blocks, so the Gospels depend on the Old Testament. He calls the Old Testament the bedrock for the New and says there is "no use trying to study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament." Because Jesus' earthly ministry was under the Law and confined to Israel, the Old Testament setting is required to make sense of the Gospel accounts.
Romans 15:4 — This verse states that everything written previously was written for our learning, giving a biblical basis for studying the Old Testament.
Matthew 1:1 — Matthew opens the Gospel with Jesus' descent from David and Abraham, showing that the Gospel narrative is rooted in Old Testament promises.
Scripture itself points to the value of the Old Testament for later readers. Romans 15:4 says that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." This is a direct biblical statement that the Old Testament was preserved for the instruction of New Testament readers. Matthew 1:1 opens the Gospel with "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." That title connects Jesus immediately to the Old Testament covenants made with David and Abraham. The Old Testament is therefore not a separate book; it is the foundation on which the Gospel opens.
Les Feldick repeatedly tells his classes that the Bible is a progressive revelation, built like building blocks. He says, "There's no use trying to study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament," and he calls the Old Testament "the bedrock for the New." According to Les, the entire Old Testament—history, Psalms, and the prophets—was preparing the nation of Israel for the coming King and Messiah. The Law itself was given to make Israel a prepared people. He explains that Christ came about 1,500 years after the Law and was under the Law during His earthly ministry, which He confined to the nation of Israel with only two exceptions. Les also teaches that Old Testament pictures and types, such as the Passover lamb, enhance what believers must understand in the New Testament, even though the Gospel itself is not found in the Old Testament.
Les describes Scripture as a progressive revealing, one layer built on another. In his introduction to Matthew, he says there is no use studying Acts unless you understand the Gospels, and there is no use trying to study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament. This is why he spends time in Exodus 19 before ever opening the Gospel of Matthew.
Since Genesis 12, God has been moving the nation of Israel forward to the time when the King could appear. Everything in the Old Testament—history, Psalms, and the prophets—was preparing Israel for her King, Messiah, and Redeemer. When Israel received the Law, the purpose was to prepare the people for the fulfillment of the covenant. Les also notes that Christ's earthly ministry was under that Law and, with two exceptions, was confined to the nation of Israel.
Les teaches that the Old Testament was written for our learning, not for our doctrine. You will not find the plan of salvation in Exodus, but you will find pictures and types. For example, Les points to the Passover lamb in Exodus 12 and says that when we learn the pictures and types of the Old Testament, it enhances what we have to understand in the New—such as John's description of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Les often shows how the Old Testament flows directly into the New. He traces the line from Genesis 12 through the prophetic books and the time Daniel prophesied, to the Messiah's coming, rejection, crucifixion, and ascension. He also reminds his students that Old Testament believers were saved under a different set of spiritual and physical circumstances than we are today, so the Old Testament background is necessary for interpreting the Gospels accurately.
Progressive Revelation and the Gospels
Les plainly says there is no use trying to study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament, because Scripture is a progressive revelation built like building blocks.
The Old Testament as Bedrock
Les calls the Old Testament the bedrock for the New and explains that while it was written for our learning, the Gospel itself is not found there.
Israel Prepared for the King
Les shows that from Genesis 12 onward God was moving Israel forward to the coming of the King, and the Law was part of that preparation.
Christ Under the Law
Les explains that Christ's three-year ministry was under the Law and was directed to the nation of Israel, so the Old Testament law setting is essential.
Everything Prepares for the King
Les states that everything in the Old Testament—history, Psalms, and prophets—prepares Israel for her King, Messiah, and Redeemer.
Old Covenant Salvation Context
Les notes that Old Testament saints were saved under a different set of conditions than believers today, which affects how we read the Gospels.
From Old Testament to New Testament
Les shows how the Old Testament line moves directly into the New Testament through the Messiah's rejection, crucifixion, and ascension.
Old Testament Types Enhance the New
Les uses the Passover lamb to demonstrate how Old Testament types and pictures enhance our understanding of New Testament truth such as Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Paul's statement that the Old Testament Scriptures were written for our learning supports the need to study them before the Gospels.
Matthew 1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew opens with Jesus' Jewish lineage, showing the Gospel depends on Old Testament promises.
Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
This is the Exodus 19 passage Les points to as the setting for Israel's covenant relationship before studying the Gospels.
Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
The Passover lamb is the Old Testament picture Les uses to show how the Old Testament enhances New Testament understanding.
According to Les Feldick, yes. He teaches that studying the Gospels without the Old Testament is useless because God's revelation is progressive and the Old Testament is the bedrock for the New.
No—Les says you won't find the Gospel or plan of salvation in Exodus or anywhere else in the Old Testament. Instead, it gives pictures and types that enhance our understanding of New Testament truth, such as the Passover lamb pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Yes. Les explains that Christ came on the scene about 1,500 years after the Law was given at Sinai and was under the Law during His three-year ministry, which He confined to the nation of Israel except for two people.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Jew Was Meant to Be a Priest — Exodus 19