Deuterocanon

Not Affirmed By Jesus

Jesus never directly quoted or affirmed the "Deuterocanonical" books as Scripture. Instead, He consistently recognized the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), comprising the Law of Moses (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi’im), and the Psalms (or Writings, Ketuvim), as authoritative.

Luke 24:44 – And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Matthew 5:17-18 – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

When Jesus referred to "the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi’im) and the Psalms/Writings (Ketuvim). The mention of 'the Psalms' is often understood as shorthand for the entire 'Writings' (Ketuvim), since Psalms is the first book in that section of the Hebrew Bible. This reference, along with His frequent quotations from books like Psalms, Proverbs, and Daniel, confirms His recognition of the three-part Hebrew canon.

This indicates Jesus' affirmation of the entire body of Scripture was recognized by Jews at the time.

Genesis (Matthew 19:4-5 quoting Genesis 1:27, 2:24)
Exodus (Mark 7:10 quoting Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4 quoting Exodus 21:17)
Leviticus (Matthew 5:43 quoting Leviticus 19:18)
Numbers (John 3:14 alluding to Numbers 21:9)
Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3)
1 Samuel (Matthew 12:3-4 quoting 1 Samuel 21:1-6)
2 Samuel (Luke 20:41-44 messianic references to David 2 Samuel 7:12-16)
1 Kings (Matt 12:42 referencing 1 Kings 10:1-13, Luke 4:25-26 referencing 1 Kings 17:8-16)
2 Kings (Luke 4:27 referencing 2 Kings 5:1-14)
Job (Matthew 24:28 echoing Job 39:30)
Psalms (Matthew 22:44 quoting Psalms 110:1; John 15:25 quoting Psalms 35:19)
Proverbs (Luke 11:31 alludes to Proverbs 3:13–15)
Isaiah (Luke 4:17-21 quoting Isaiah 61:1-2; Matt 8:17 references Isaiah 53:4)
Jeremiah (Matthew 21:13 quotes Jeremiah 7:11)
Ezekiel (John 10:11 alludes to Ezekiel 34:23)
Hosea (Matthew 9:13 references Hosea 6:6)
Amos (Matthew 24:29 parallels Amos 8:9–10)
Micah (Matthew 2:6 cites Micah 5:2; Matthew 10:35–36 echos Micah 7:6)
Zephaniah (Matthew 13:40-42 imagery like Zephaniah 1:3, 3:8)
Haggai (John 2:19 references Haggai 2:9)
Zechariah (Matthew 26:31 quoting Zechariah 13:7; Matt 21:5 quoting Zechariah 9:9)
Malachi (Matthew 11:10 quoting Malachi 3:1)
Daniel (Matthew 24:15 quoting Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:30 alludes to Daniel 7:13)
Jonah (Matthew 12:39-41 referencing Jonah 1:17)

Jesus Quoted/Alluded To Old Testament

Why Didn’t Jesus Quote The Other Books?

Joshua (Genre: Military conquest of Canaan)

Judges (Focus: Israel’s sin, oppression, and deliverance)

Ruth (Content: Loyalty, redemption, and David’s lineage)
Though Ruth is key to Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5), her story is narrative, not doctrinal.

1 & 2 Chronicles (Content: A priestly recap of Samuel/Kings, focusing on David, Solomon, and the Temple)
Chronicles repeats much of Samuel/Kings (which Jesus did reference).

Ezra & Nehemiah (Content: Restoration of Jerusalem and the Law after Babylon)
These books focus on ethnic Israel’s identity, while Jesus expanded the covenant to all nations.

Esther (Content: A Jewish queen’s rescue of her people)
Its nationalistic tone (saving Jews from Persia) differs from Jesus’ universal salvation.

Ecclesiastes (Genre: Philosophical/reflective wisdom literature)
Jesus’ mission emphasized hope, redemption, and the Kingdom of God, while Ecclesiastes focuses on life’s futility apart from God.

Song of Solomon (Genre: Poetic love song, often interpreted allegorically)
Jesus’ teachings were not poetic or metaphorical in this way.

Lamentations (Genre: Mourning over Jerusalem’s destruction)
Jesus did lament Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44), but He drew on Jeremiah’s prophecies (Jeremiah 7, 26) rather than Lamentations.

Obadiah (Focus: Judgment on Edom)
Jesus’ ministry centered on Israel’s repentance and Gentile inclusion (Matthew 15:24–28), not Edom’s fate.

Nahum (Focus: Nineveh’s destruction)
Jesus referenced Jonah (Matthew 12:41) as a sign of repentance but didn’t revisit Nineveh’s later doom.

Habakkuk (Focus: Faith amid suffering)
Paul later quotes Habakkuk 2:4 (Romans 1:17), but Jesus emphasized faith’s power (mustard seed, Luke 17:6)

Joel (Focus: The Spirit’s outpouring)
Peter later applies Joel to Pentecost (Acts 2:17–21), but Jesus’ pre-cross teachings focused on imminent Kingdom themes.

Abel to Zachariah

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is arranged differently; it ends with 2 Chronicles, which recounts the murder of Zechariah. By referencing Abel (the first martyr in Genesis) to Zechariah (the last martyr in the Hebrew order), Jesus may have been using a literary device (merism) to signify the entire span of Scripture, from the first to the last book in the Jewish arrangement.

Matthew 23:30,35 – And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets… That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

These two incidents occur early in the book of Genesis and late in the book of 2 Chronicles. Jesus was referring to the Hebrew Scriptures as recognized in Jewish tradition. This canon does not include the Apocrypha, since Jewish Scripture never accepted these writings as sacred.

Hebrew Bible / Tanakh

The Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh) does not contain the Apocrypha.

The Law of Moses (Torah)
This consists of the first five books of the Bible, also called the Pentateuch:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

The Prophets (Nevi'im)
This section consists of four narrative books: Joshua, Judges, Samuel (considered two books in Hebrew), and Kings (also two books in Hebrew).
This section is comprised of prophetic books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

The Psalms (Ketuvim or Writings)
This section includes poetic, wisdom, and additional writings.
Poetic Books: Psalms, Proverbs, Job.
Five Scrolls: Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.
Other Books: Daniel, Ezra–Nehemiah and Chronicles (considered two books in Hebrew).