I wholeheartedly agree with this; a little while back, I had posted that Jesus is the key to interpretation of ALL OF THE REST OF SCRIPTURE. Recently, I have heard people say things that suggest just the opposite: that what Jesus said has to be taken in context and interpreted in light of the rest of scripture (and , conveniently, a view of the rest of scripture that serves the interests of the “wordly powers” just fine; they dream of such allies amongst the theological elite, so that they might win supporters). These reinterpreters of Jesus assume that when Jesus said that “he came to fulfill the law and the prophets” that he was endorsing military might as a “moral and neccessary means” of protection. But I point out a few obvious details: Jesus DID make sure he put a stop to a glaring misuse of scripture:

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”
But I say to you, do not resist an evil person

If this poses a CHALLENGE to one’s adopted acceptable interpretation of “other scripture”, then listen to Jesus and do what you will with the rest; a Christian response is to do what Jesus taught. The intellectual shenanigans that these people engage in in order to suggest “alternative readings” to Jesus’ words to maqke him more “sensible” and “real world” is both amazing and disturbing. Empire is powerful indeed.

pomomusings: Progressive Christianity: Vol 1

I believe that the Hebrew Scriptures are incredibly important in our lives and for a more full understanding of our faith and the history and stories behind it. But…when it all comes down to it…if you’re going to make me choose – I’m going to look to Jesus. I’m going to look to the Gospels and to the stories of Christ-encounters with the downtrodden, the oppressed, the sinners, the outcasts…that is where I hear the gospel speak loudest. That is where the truth is found in experience, in human-human encounters between the God-man and humanity.