jbe and Blue, didn't Jesus himself believe in the Old Testament? I thought he was a believing Jew who declared his complete attachment to the Law?
Before tackling that question, let me make it clear that I personally am an agnostic, with a lingering fondness and respect for the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels (but definitely not for Paul).
That said, let me point out that if Jesus had been nothing but a traditional believing Jew, he would not have been the founder of a new world religion. Even if others founded it in his name, I hasten to add. (I rather doubt that if Jesus had been that attached to The Law, his followers would have jettisoned it so fast, even given their eagerness to convert the Gentiles.)
Now, to cite a relevant (if slightly abbreviated) passage from the Gospels that should help answer your question:
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the traditions of their elders. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Elias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.....
And when he had called all the people unto Him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me everyone of you, and understand:
There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man....
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable....
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly...
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness;
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man...
[Mark 7:1-23]
Right on, Jesus! (Although it really wouldn't be such a bad idea to wash your hands before meals, anyway.) The point here, as I see it, is that Jesus was capable of picking and choosing from the Old Testament and from the Jewish tradition; capable of distinguishing between what he felt to be truly "divine" commandments, on the one hand, and "commandments of men" wrongly taught "for doctrines", on the other. (So much for Leviticus, Chuzzlewit!)
And how about this passage?
...and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?....
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment; else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred; but new wine must be put into new bottles.
[Mark 2:18-22]
And here is Jesus on the Sabbath:
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?....
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Therefore the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
[Mark 2:23-28]
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