Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Cross-reference
Isaiah 8:16 first uses the phrase 'law and testimony' — this cross-reference shows the earlier command to bind and seal that testimony.
In Isaiah 30:8-11, the people reject God's law and demand smooth prophecies, illustrating the rebellion Isaiah 8:20 warns against.
Proverbs 4:18 describes the righteous path shining brighter — contrasting with Isaiah's 'no light' for those who reject God's word.
Mark 7:7-9 illustrates those who replace God's commandment with human tradition — the exact situation Isaiah warns produces no light.
In Jeremiah 8:9, those who reject the LORD's word are shamed and lack wisdom, matching Isaiah's judgment of 'no light'.
Luke 16:29-31 says Moses and the prophets are sufficient witness — aligning with Isaiah's call to go to the law and testimony.
John 5:39 shows people searching the Scriptures — the act Isaiah commands — and adds that these Scriptures testify of Christ.
John 5:46 says Moses wrote of Jesus — the law and testimony Isaiah points to ultimately point to Christ.
Acts 17:11 shows the Bereans examining the Scriptures daily — a direct application of Isaiah's call to test teachings by the law and testimony.
In Psalm 19:7, 'law of the LORD' and 'testimony of the LORD' appear together, exactly the terms Isaiah uses as the standard.
In 2 Timothy 3:15-17, all Scripture is inspired and profitable, directly reinforcing Isaiah's 'law and testimony' as the sole standard.
Deuteronomy 18:10 explicitly forbids the occult practices (mediums, soothsayers) that Isaiah 8:19 condemns, making this the legal basis for his warning.
1 Corinthians 2:1 uses the same 'testimony of God' phrase — Paul's preaching aligns with the standard Isaiah 8:20 sets for true teaching.
1 Corinthians 9:8 appeals to the law as authority, echoing Isaiah 8:20's call to measure teaching by the law.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands to test all things — directly parallel to Isaiah 8:20's instruction to test teachings by the law.
Mark 12:24 rebukes those ignorant of Scripture — the same 'no light' condition from rejecting the word in Isaiah.
Mark 7:13 shows human tradition nullifying God's word — exactly the warning that those rejecting the law have no light.
Malachi 4:4 commands remembering the law of Moses—directly reinforcing Isaiah's 'law and testimony' as the standard of truth.
Deuteronomy 13:3 warns against heeding false prophets and calls for testing by God's word, directly reinforcing Isaiah's standard of law and testimony.
Deuteronomy 29:29 affirms that God's revealed law is our guide, echoing Isaiah's charge to consult the law and testimony for light.
Jeremiah 6:16 urges asking for the old paths—echoing Isaiah's call to test teachings by the established law and testimony.
1 Samuel 28:7 shows Saul consulting a medium—the very practice Isaiah 8:19 condemns, illustrating the folly of rejecting God's testimony.
Proverbs 6:23 calls the commandment a lamp and the law light—directly parallel to Isaiah's 'no light' for those rejecting it.
Psalm 78:5 directly pairs 'testimony' and 'law' as established by God, mirroring Isaiah's phrase exactly.
In 1 John 4:6, discerning spirits by whether they listen to apostolic teaching parallels Isaiah's test of speaking according to God's word.
In 2 Peter 1:19, the prophetic word is a light in darkness, paralleling Isaiah's claim that those ignoring God's word have no light.
In 1 Peter 4:11, speaking as 'oracles of God' mirrors Isaiah's test of speaking according to law and testimony — both standards for divine speech.
In Psalm 119:130, God's words give light and understanding, contrasting with Isaiah's 'no light' for those who reject them.
In Micah 3:6, false prophets face darkness without vision, similar to Isaiah's warning that those not speaking God's word have no light.
Malachi 4:2 promises the Sun of Righteousness to those who fear God — the ultimate light that comes from following God's word.
Romans 1:22 describes those who claim wisdom but become fools — akin to Isaiah's 'no light' in those who reject God's word.
Romans 3:2 affirms that Jews were entrusted with God's oracles — the same 'law and testimony' Isaiah 8:20 points to as the standard.
2 Chronicles 17:9 describes Jehoshaphat's teachers carrying the book of the law, echoing the call to follow the law as the standard.
Luke 18:20 lists the commandments — the 'law and testimony' that Isaiah says gives light when followed.
Mark 10:19 lists the commandments — the very 'law and testimony' Isaiah calls to consult.
2 Peter 1:9 warns that lacking virtues leads to blindness — similar to Isaiah's 'no light' for those ignoring God's word.
Matthew 22:29 shows that ignorance of Scripture leads to error, paralleling Isaiah's warning about rejecting God's word.
Matthew 4:7 shows Jesus citing Scripture to resist temptation—exemplifying the principle of testing all words by God's written word.