The Key to Understanding Scripture
21/02/10 13:11
One of the greatest
hindrances to reading and studying the Bible is the
lack of understanding what we have just read. It
leaves one feeling defeated and depressed, assuming
that nothing was gained by the effort. I think this
is one reason for the many different versions of
Bibles that are on the market today. There are also
many books that promise to make that Book easier to
understand – some of them big sellers. So,
instead of trying to tackle the job, some Christians
just trust to get the “scoop” from the
preacher, or someone else that they believe has read
the Bible with some accomplishment.
The problem with that is, no matter how you look at it, they’re getting “second hand” news. One of the most rewarding things for the Christian is that time of Bible reading (and studying) where he or she rises up from the study with some new revelation. It can be very exasperating when we hear St. Paul say, “For we did not write you anything you cannot read or understand.” And then we see St. Peter say, “Our dear Brother Paul also wrote with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” Well, which one is it? Is the Bible hard to understand or not?
The key to understanding the Bible is, first of all, don’t try to understand it –believe it! It’s not hard to understand that God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It’s not hard to understand, “Thou shalt not…” And it’s not hard to understand, “Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness.” St. Anselm wrote, “I do not seek to understand, in order that I may believe, but I believe, in order that I may understand. I believe even this; that unless I believe, I shall not understand anything.” We must remember, the Bible says, “Repent and believe the good news.”
We must also remember that the Bible teaches us a way of life that runs contrary to the way the world has taught us and the way most of us had lived. I’ll never forget the time I was trying to sharpen some new pencils on our manual Boston pencil sharpener. It seemed that the sharpener wasn’t cutting right, but only on one side. In my frustration, “I hollered that this stupid sharpener is broken.”
My son, who was fifteen at the time, said, “Dad, you’re not doing it right.” You’re holding the pencil too tight, you need to allow it to turn a little bit as you sharpen it.” I had lived twenty years more than that kid! I was sharpening pencils long before he was born. I never did what he was telling me before! But I stopped with all my excuses. I had to question if my pride was getting in the way. I had to believe my son. I had to trust that he knew what he was talking about. So, I tried sharpening the pencil just as he instructed and guess what…
He knew what he was talking about and now I understand how to sharpen pencils. You may think of that as a silly little illustration –but the illustration fits. Maybe people have a hard time understanding because they have too many excuses, or maybe their pride is getting in the way. Or, maybe it’s as simple as not believing and lacking the trust that God really knows how to direct their lives. You know, when men and women stand before God, He isn’t going to ask, “Why didn’t you understand?” but rather, “Why didn’t you believe?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
The problem with that is, no matter how you look at it, they’re getting “second hand” news. One of the most rewarding things for the Christian is that time of Bible reading (and studying) where he or she rises up from the study with some new revelation. It can be very exasperating when we hear St. Paul say, “For we did not write you anything you cannot read or understand.” And then we see St. Peter say, “Our dear Brother Paul also wrote with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” Well, which one is it? Is the Bible hard to understand or not?
The key to understanding the Bible is, first of all, don’t try to understand it –believe it! It’s not hard to understand that God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It’s not hard to understand, “Thou shalt not…” And it’s not hard to understand, “Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness.” St. Anselm wrote, “I do not seek to understand, in order that I may believe, but I believe, in order that I may understand. I believe even this; that unless I believe, I shall not understand anything.” We must remember, the Bible says, “Repent and believe the good news.”
We must also remember that the Bible teaches us a way of life that runs contrary to the way the world has taught us and the way most of us had lived. I’ll never forget the time I was trying to sharpen some new pencils on our manual Boston pencil sharpener. It seemed that the sharpener wasn’t cutting right, but only on one side. In my frustration, “I hollered that this stupid sharpener is broken.”
My son, who was fifteen at the time, said, “Dad, you’re not doing it right.” You’re holding the pencil too tight, you need to allow it to turn a little bit as you sharpen it.” I had lived twenty years more than that kid! I was sharpening pencils long before he was born. I never did what he was telling me before! But I stopped with all my excuses. I had to question if my pride was getting in the way. I had to believe my son. I had to trust that he knew what he was talking about. So, I tried sharpening the pencil just as he instructed and guess what…
He knew what he was talking about and now I understand how to sharpen pencils. You may think of that as a silly little illustration –but the illustration fits. Maybe people have a hard time understanding because they have too many excuses, or maybe their pride is getting in the way. Or, maybe it’s as simple as not believing and lacking the trust that God really knows how to direct their lives. You know, when men and women stand before God, He isn’t going to ask, “Why didn’t you understand?” but rather, “Why didn’t you believe?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
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