‘And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation; but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.” ’ Romans 15:20-21 (NAS)

The Holy Spirit moved Paul (via the pen of Tertius) to reference this quote from the prophet Isaiah in his closing remarks to the church at Rome. 

“But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” Matthew 12:7 (NAS)

Twice in the gospel of Matthew it’s recorded that our Lord Jesus Christ quoted this Old Testament passage   from the book of Hosea. 

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt, and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them; come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’ ” Acts 7:33-34 (NAS)

Last week, we were reminded the Lord does not fail or forsake His covenant people. 

“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ ” Hebrews 13:5 (NAS)

The fact that the Lord will never desert nor forsake His faithful ones is a great confidence builder. 

“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32

Four separate times this Old Testament passage from Genesis 2:24 is wielded in the New Testament. 

“For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ ” 1 Corinthians 1:18, 19 (NAS)

The apostle Paul quotes from Isaiah as he is reminding the Corinthians just who it was who suffered and died for them- Jesus Christ – not Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter); and how He died, by means of crucifixion. 

“What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.’ ” Romans 11:7-8 (NAS)

As the inspired apostle is communicating to the Roman church God’s choice (Rom. 11:5) of His people under the New Covenant, the Spirit moves Paul to quote from the Pentateuch, particularly the scroll of Deuteronomy. 

“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 (NAS)

The apostle Paul, while continuing to contend for the souls of the brethren in Corinth being influenced by the false apostles among them, quotes from the prophet Isaiah. 

For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” Romans 14:11 (NAS)

The apostle Paul pulls another quote from the scroll of Isaiah here in the inspired letter to the Roman church. 

“And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’ ” John 19:37

As the apostle John recorded the events of the crucifixion, the Holy Spirit inspired him to record this partial quote of a verse from the book of Zechariah to confirm how the Messiah “died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3b) This quote is found in Zechariah 12:10.