JESUS AND THE OLD TESTAMENT Matthew frequently quotes OT passages to establish Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah. However, Jesus and Matthew often allude to the OT in more subtle ways by drawing comparisons between ancient persons, places, and events and Jesus himself. This form of OT interpretation is called typology. A typological reading of the OT is attuned to distinctive “rhymes” in salvation history where God acts in similar (or typical) ways each time he reveals himself and delivers his people.