Understanding The Bible
Good Morning,
The people were divided over the teaching and life of Christ.
John 7:12 “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.”
No man could be any better in his personal life than Jesus was. No man could be a better teacher than our Lord. No man can go for years without sin as Jesus did. When it came to teaching ability and communication skills, how could anyone surpass the Creator of the universe – yet, the people were divided.
Do not be surprised when everyone does not like the pastor you like. Do not go into shock if some try to take the words of your pastor and seek to twist them to say what everyone knows he did not say.
Matthew 22:15 “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.”
Mark 12:13 “And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words."
Luke 11:54 “Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.”
The reality is that Jesus did not intend for everyone to understand or to like all of His teaching; there were times when He hid the truth from people.
John 12:40 “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
Matthew 13:11 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
vs. 12 “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”
vs. 13 “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”
When you believe, trust, and seek to learn from our Saviour, He will open the truth of the Scriptures to you. If you do not seek truth and submit yourself to Divine instruction, God will help you NOT to see or to understand.
The Bible is not an intellectual textbook understood best by the most intelligent. Rather, it is a spiritual Book, understood by those who humble themselves before the Creator and ask for His guidance. This is why some of the biggest idiots and critics of the Bible are found in seminaries and gatherings of “scholars.”
God owes us nothing; in His mercy, He teaches us. When an earthly preacher brings biblical truth to a congregation, only those who humbly seek truth will find the Holy Spirit instructing them.
Pastor