No — the New Testament is not a separate program; it is an extension of the Old Testament program.
Les Feldick says many people think there is a big wall between the testaments, but nothing could be further from the truth. The New Testament begins with Matthew 1:1, which ties Jesus to David and Abraham, and the story continues the Old Testament program rather than starting something entirely new.
Matthew 1:1 — The opening verse of the New Testament immediately identifies Jesus as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham, linking Him to Old Testament promises.
Luke 3:38 — Luke's genealogy reaches all the way back to Adam, showing the New Testament's continuing connection to Old Testament history.
The opening verse of the New Testament immediately ties Jesus to the Old Testament: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). The genealogy that follows in Matthew's Gospel is connected to David and Abraham, not to Adam. In contrast, Luke's genealogy reaches all the way back to Adam, ending: "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God" (Luke 3:38). The first New Testament texts therefore begin with Old Testament names and genealogies.
Les Feldick directly addresses the idea that a "big wall" separates the Old and New Testaments. He says "nothing could be further from the truth"; instead, the New Testament is "just an extension of the Old Testament program." He points out that all the Old Testament prophecies are coming to fulfillment in the New Testament, based on everything God promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. The opening verses of Matthew continue that same program rather than beginning something brand new.
Les Feldick says many people think that when you get into the New Testament, "this is Christianity, and everything else is all by the Boards." He calls that completely wrong: "nothing could be further from the truth." According to Les, we do not see Christianity immediately in the New Testament. The New Testament is "just an extension of the Old Testament program."
Les explains that Matthew presents Christ as the King. Since a king must have a royal genealogy, Matthew 1:1 identifies Jesus as "the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" and stops there. The reason, Les says, is that the promise of the King is found in the Abrahamic covenant: "out of that covenant with that man that the King is coming on the scene." The genealogy proves that Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of David.
Les contrasts Matthew with Luke. Luke's genealogy goes all the way back to Adam because Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man. Adam was "the son of God" or "began with God." This ties Christ to the whole human race, and Paul later refers to Christ as the second Adam. So the two genealogies serve different purposes, but they both connect Jesus to Old Testament history.
Why the New Testament Starts With Abraham — Matthew 1:1 Explained
the country. And for those of you in Oklahoma, probably do not even realize that we cover most of eastern Colorado out of Denver, a good share of Indiana out of the Indianapolis station, and then a good part of Minnesota out of a Minnesota state, a Minneapolis station, St. Paul. So anyway, our audience is growing, and the Lord is blessing it, and we're just thrilled that we can be used.
Matthew's Genealogy and the King
Les explains that Matthew presents Christ as King, so the genealogy stops at Abraham because the King comes from the Abrahamic covenant.
Why Matthew 1:1 Stops at Abraham
Les shows that Matthew stops at Abraham rather than the beginning of the human race because Jesus' kingship is based on the promise to Abraham.
Rightful Heir to David's Throne
Les says Matthew's genealogy proves Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne of David.
A King Requires a Genealogy
Les explains that Matthew depicts Christ as King and a king must have a royal genealogy.
Luke's Genealogy Goes to Adam
Les contrasts Matthew with Luke, where the genealogy goes back to Adam because Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man.
Luke's Genealogy to the Son of God
Les shows that Luke's genealogy reaches Adam, 'the son of God,' and that Mary's bloodline goes back to Adam, while Matthew's royal genealogy stops at Abraham.
No Wall Between Testaments
Les directly says the New Testament is an extension of the Old Testament program and that the idea of a big wall between them is wrong.
Matthew 1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
This is the opening verse Les points to as proof that the New Testament begins with Old Testament promises.
Luke 3:38: Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
This is the final verse of Luke's genealogy, which Les says goes back to Adam because Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man.
Les Feldick says yes. He uses the illustration of people thinking there is a big wall between the testaments, but he says nothing could be further from the truth. The New Testament is an extension of the Old Testament program, and Christianity does not appear immediately.
Because Matthew presents Jesus as the King. The promise of the King comes through the Abrahamic covenant, and the throne belongs to David's line. So Matthew 1:1 announces Jesus as 'the Son of David, the Son of Abraham' to show he is the rightful heir.
Les explains that Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man, so his genealogy goes all the way to Adam, the first man, who was the son of God. This shows Jesus' connection to the human race.
Watch the Teaching: Why the New Testament Starts With Abraham — Matthew 1:1 Explained