June 11
UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE
-2ND Timothy 3:15-17 states, … And that you from a child have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works …
-THANK GOD FOR THE HOLY SCRIPTURES! Without the Holy Scriptures we would be totally in the dark concerning the
things of God. We should read the scriptures daily, pouring over them in an attempt to know the true heart of our Heavenly
Father. The question is though, if so many people claim to read and study the scriptures, then why are there so many different
denominations and such confusion over the scriptures? It must be due to the fact that there is a lack of understanding in
those who are reading the scriptures. Most people know the scriptures ( as the Pharisees did ). They are able to recite many
passages from memory, but they are lacking one very important thing. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES! Why is this?
According to Miles Coverdale:
-"It shall greatly help you to understand scripture if you mark - not only what is spoken and written, but of
whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before
and what follows." ( Miles Coverdale in his introduction to his Bible translation )
-It would do us well to meditate on the words of Miles Coverdale, for they do explain to us the reason why so
few people truly understand the Bible. We are so accustomed to reading our Bibles with our denominational minds already made
up. We have put God in our nice, pretty, and religious box with a beautiful pharisaical bow on top. When we read the Bible
we learn very little of its true meaning, for in our minds we already have God all figured out. WE MUST STOP DOING THIS! WE
MUST STOP PULLING SCRIPTURES OUT OF CONTEXT TO SUIT OUR DENOMINATIONAL AGENDAS! DO WHAT THE MAN SAID! Take the advice of Miles
Coverdale.
-Matthew 13:23 states, … But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, AND
UNDERSTANDS IT; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty … We must seek
to understand the scriptures that we might bear the fruit of the Spirit.
According to Millar Burrows:
-"What we really need, after all, is not to defend the Bible but to understand it." ( Millar Burrows )
-SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES!-
