On the subjects of the new and old testament, if you really look at them indepth, there are a mass amount of similarities, but some things are different. For instance, much of the old testament prophesizies about what will happen in the new testament, about things that actually did happen and are still happening today. A lot of the ceremonies and offerings in the old testament point to the one man who is the prime subject of the new testament, and that would be Christ.
I have always had a defining veiw of the new and the old testaments. I feel that one (the old testament) addressed the unforgiven and sinful generations, hence the sacrifices and the violence that took place back then (slaying of live sacrifices, armies destroying nations an other tribes, utterly, etc.).
But I feel that the new testament addresses a forgiven and sinless generation (if you've accepted Christ), thus violence is no longer suffured or tolorated by God among his believers, like it was in the old testament.
People always point out that the scriptures say God doesn't change (and it does say it), so because of this what applies in the old testament still applies in the new testament, is what they say. They point out, "if God doesn't change, how can he say one thing in the old testament and say something different in the new testament?" But I've always told them "yes, I feel he did say one thing in the old testament and said some things different in the new testament". But not because he changed, as he said, "he is aways the same and never changes". He said those "different things" in the new testament because man changed, not Him. Man changed from
"sinful and unforgiven" to
"sinless and forgiven." The same rules and ordinances "can not" and "should not" apply to both. That's not to say that a sinless man is allowed to lie and steal, but that; if he truly walks in Christ, he wouldn't want to, and if he did slip forgiveness is available, if he continues, forgiveness and possible reprimand. The result is that the sinner is under the law and the forgiven is under grace. The forgiven are those who have accepted Christ, but Christ had not yet died for the sins of man in the old testament, so that forgivness was not available. Not omitting the promise of that forgiveness was given to those who believed that he would come, by observing and believing those things that were said in the old testament about Him. Some of these people included Abraham, Moses, Jacob, etc.
I know it's sort of a black and white view, and sometimes can be the subject of much debate, but that's the way I see it... and do believe it was shown to me that way.
-Thanks for listening