BIBLE INTERPRETATION SERMON SERIES
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We said last time that the Bible has 66 different books that were written by a variety of different people. We saw that these 66 books are divided into two large divisions, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament has 39 books and the New Testament has 27 books. The Old Testament was written by the Hebrew prophets. Moses is considered the author of the first five books of the Old Testament. The New Testament was written by a number of different people. The New Testament was written in Greek. Jesus' words are recorded in the New Testament but He Himself did not write any of the New Testament.
We said last time that although the Bible has many human authors, the real author is the Holy Spirit of God. Why? The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and the prophets communicated the message. We see a unity of thought and message in the Bible because all the authors were inspired by the same Spirit.
If we want to understand the Bible we must pray for help to understand it. Many people think they can come to the Bible and study it like they study math or science and they will be able to understand it. This is a mistake.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Notice that the natural man cannot know the scriptures because they are spiritually discerned. No matter how learned a man has become, if he rejects the Holy Spirit, he cannot know the real meaning of the scriptures. It will be foolishness to him. He will put his own meaning to the words and come to wrong conclusions. But even an uneducated person if they are led by the Spirit will be able to understand great mysteries hidden from the supposedly wise men of this world.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The first step in correctly understanding and interpreting the Scriptures is to be humble and ask God through prayer to give you wisdom and understanding.
Today we will look at a second step.
John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Jesus said that the doctrines that He taught did not originate with Him. He said that God gave the doctrines to Him. But how can the average person who is just beginning to study spiritual things know that Jesus is telling the truth? How can they trust His teachings?
Jesus said that it is critical that the person be willing to do God's will. If you are investigating the Scriptures and you have no intention of obeying what you read, God will not give you wisdom and understanding to learn more. What would be the benefit in that? What is the use of knowledge of the Bible if you won't put it into practice. It would only make a person boastful about their so-called knowledge.
This is the real reason why so few people understand the Bible. It is not because it is complicated or beyond comprehension. It is because people read it with no intention to obey the word. The Bible was given for moral purposes. It was given to bring people to righteousness and salvation from death. But for those who have no intention to obey God does not give the Holy Spirit to them. They cannot understand the Bible properly.
If you give a beggar on the street a lira and they throw that lira into the sewer will you give them another lira? If child receives a scholarship and doesn't go to class, does the sponsor continue the scholarship? So God does not give understanding to the proud, the rebellious and the indifferent.
But there is a precious promise in Jesus' statement. If you do want to do God's will, He will reveal truth to you. As you appropriate these truths, you will become wise.
Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
As you advance in spiritual knowledge and character He will give you still further blessings. The Bible compares this to the rising sun. At first, in the morning, the sun's rays are not so bright. But as the day pushes toward noon, the sun is very bright.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
God blesses those who are responsible with greater responsibilities. Jesus illustrated this in a parable.
Luke 19:12-27 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 "So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' 15 "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' 17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' 18 "And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' 20 "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 'For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 "And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 'Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' 24 "And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' 25 ("But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') 26 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 'But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' "
Melek and I have seen many people begin to study the Scriptures and grow in faith only to abandon it all at last and return to their old way of life. Why? What happened? As they studied, they found things in the word of God that they did not want to do and so their spiritual life withered and they rejected what they had formerly believed. Once they refused to obey, they were like a plant with no root. Jesus taught this in the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:3-23 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' 16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 "for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 " Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
How is it with you today friend? Have you heard the word of God and loved it, but then you abandon it because the Bible points out something in your life that is sin? Do you cling to the thing the Bible forbids only to lose your hold on eternal life? I pray that you will choose to do God's will. If you do choose to do God's will you will grow in faith and spiritual strength and God will give you still greater wisdom and truth and responsibilities with it. I pray that you will choose to do His will. If you do, you will know the doctrine. If you do you will have a solid faith. If you do you will be a light to those around you. If you do, you will inherit eternal life.
We said last time that although the Bible has many human authors, the real author is the Holy Spirit of God. Why? The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and the prophets communicated the message. We see a unity of thought and message in the Bible because all the authors were inspired by the same Spirit.
If we want to understand the Bible we must pray for help to understand it. Many people think they can come to the Bible and study it like they study math or science and they will be able to understand it. This is a mistake.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Notice that the natural man cannot know the scriptures because they are spiritually discerned. No matter how learned a man has become, if he rejects the Holy Spirit, he cannot know the real meaning of the scriptures. It will be foolishness to him. He will put his own meaning to the words and come to wrong conclusions. But even an uneducated person if they are led by the Spirit will be able to understand great mysteries hidden from the supposedly wise men of this world.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The first step in correctly understanding and interpreting the Scriptures is to be humble and ask God through prayer to give you wisdom and understanding.
Today we will look at a second step.
John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Jesus said that the doctrines that He taught did not originate with Him. He said that God gave the doctrines to Him. But how can the average person who is just beginning to study spiritual things know that Jesus is telling the truth? How can they trust His teachings?
Jesus said that it is critical that the person be willing to do God's will. If you are investigating the Scriptures and you have no intention of obeying what you read, God will not give you wisdom and understanding to learn more. What would be the benefit in that? What is the use of knowledge of the Bible if you won't put it into practice. It would only make a person boastful about their so-called knowledge.
This is the real reason why so few people understand the Bible. It is not because it is complicated or beyond comprehension. It is because people read it with no intention to obey the word. The Bible was given for moral purposes. It was given to bring people to righteousness and salvation from death. But for those who have no intention to obey God does not give the Holy Spirit to them. They cannot understand the Bible properly.
If you give a beggar on the street a lira and they throw that lira into the sewer will you give them another lira? If child receives a scholarship and doesn't go to class, does the sponsor continue the scholarship? So God does not give understanding to the proud, the rebellious and the indifferent.
But there is a precious promise in Jesus' statement. If you do want to do God's will, He will reveal truth to you. As you appropriate these truths, you will become wise.
Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
As you advance in spiritual knowledge and character He will give you still further blessings. The Bible compares this to the rising sun. At first, in the morning, the sun's rays are not so bright. But as the day pushes toward noon, the sun is very bright.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
God blesses those who are responsible with greater responsibilities. Jesus illustrated this in a parable.
Luke 19:12-27 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 "So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' 15 "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' 17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' 18 "And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' 20 "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 'For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 "And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 'Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' 24 "And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' 25 ("But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') 26 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 'But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' "
Melek and I have seen many people begin to study the Scriptures and grow in faith only to abandon it all at last and return to their old way of life. Why? What happened? As they studied, they found things in the word of God that they did not want to do and so their spiritual life withered and they rejected what they had formerly believed. Once they refused to obey, they were like a plant with no root. Jesus taught this in the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:3-23 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' 16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 "for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 " Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
How is it with you today friend? Have you heard the word of God and loved it, but then you abandon it because the Bible points out something in your life that is sin? Do you cling to the thing the Bible forbids only to lose your hold on eternal life? I pray that you will choose to do God's will. If you do choose to do God's will you will grow in faith and spiritual strength and God will give you still greater wisdom and truth and responsibilities with it. I pray that you will choose to do His will. If you do, you will know the doctrine. If you do you will have a solid faith. If you do you will be a light to those around you. If you do, you will inherit eternal life.