Many of us, when we read the Bible, study it with intent on “figuring out” what the words mean. We do exhaustive, intellectual research and study, and there is nothing wrong with that. We should indeed study and search the scriptures diligently. It is also good to search out the meanings of original words and what they meant to the people living in the time that it was written. However, we cannot leave out the most important element, the Holy Spirit who inspired men to write the words that we are now reading. He is the author and revealer. Without the Spirit, we become lost in the “letter,” and bring ourselves and others into bondage. The Apostle Peter spoke of this principle:
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Peter 1:20-21)
This is not saying that only a priest, rabbi, pastor, or “spiritual leader” can understand the scriptures. Not by any means! The Apostle Peter, by the Spirit, is saying that the scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore can only be revealed by the Spirit. Every believer can, and should, receive the Holy Spirit, and therefore every believer can receive revelation from the Spirit!
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (II Peter 3:16)
There are many instances of this “intellectual wrestling” even in Bible translations. For example, Jesus addressed divorce and remarriage in Matthew 5:32 (Which I talk about in the article on Divorce and Remarriage). The New International Version (NIV) reads like this:
“But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her a victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:32 NIV)
The Young’s Literal Translation reads like this:
“But I — I say to you, that whoever may put away his wife, save for the matter of whoredom, doth make her to commit adultery; and whoever may marry her who hath been put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 5:32 YLT98)
The King James reads like this:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
Most translations go along the lines of the KJV and YLT98, but you can see how much the entire meaning of the verse is changed with the NIV. Why did they do this? The original script is basically paraphrased by translators in an attempt to reconcile something that does not make sense in light of current religious culture. In other words, it was the opinion of the translators! This kind of thing happens a lot, and since most of us don’t speak or understand ancient Hebrew and Greek, it can be difficult to comprehend the exact meanings of original words, even with the best research aids and tools. I am not saying that you should not be free to study various translations, but rather you should be sensitive to the Spirit! Ask the Father to reveal, through the Spirit, the things that He wrote! He delights in revealing things to us when we ask in faith, believing!
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)
The NIV (and some other modern translations) also use the term “sexual immorality.” But who defines sexual immorality? Who defines what is moral or immoral? As you can see, the term is subjective. It is broad and could mean just about anything. For example, if a wife catches her husband masturbating, has he committed “sexual immorality?” What if he looks at pornography? Does she have “grounds” for divorce? If there is something that God wants us to know, we need to know more specifically what it entails. The word “fornication” (porneia) in the King James most accurately describes God’s intent regarding sexual behavior. Porneia could be translated as “sexual sin,” or “sin that is of a sexual nature.” Man and culture define “morality,” but God defines sin. Acts 15:29 uses the term in relation to what is forbidden for Gentile believers in regard to the law of Moses, and so we need to find out what Moses said. The principles for understanding God’s intent regarding the legislation of certain sexual behaviors can be found in Leviticus 18:6-23. We should start there and allow the grace of God to reveal the Father’s heart and intent in dealing with these issues. I discuss these things more thoroughly in other articles.
God reveals His Word in principles, not legalistic formulas or ordinances. This is why Jesus spoke in parables, because parables reveal principles by which the Kingdom of God operates! They will not change. For example, sowing and reaping is a Kingdom principle. The Apostle Paul addressed another Kingdom principle:
“Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? Or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” (I Corinthians 9:6-9)
Paul takes the law and explains the underlying principle regarding the ox not being muzzled when he treads out the corn, and applies it to his own situation in regard to his liberty to “forbear working.” Many who struggle to understand scripture miss what God is saying because they do not hear the underlying principle. They get entangled in the letter. This, perhaps, is one of the largest stumbling-blocks for many believers (II Peter 3:16).
A legalist will understand “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox” as applying only to oxen.
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them: and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower” (Matthew 13:16-18).
“Hear ye the principle contained in the parable” (paraphrased)
A parable is an illustration of Kingdom principle. Why is this important? Jesus said that all of these things are spoken in parables so that many “hearing” would not hear, and “seeing” would not see. That the mysteries (principles) of the Kingdom, which are spiritually discerned, would be revealed to those who receive them by faith (see Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11-12).
In Matthew 16:6, Jesus told his disciples to “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” They reasoned (debated) among themselves because they thought that He was speaking about bread, due to the fact that they had not brought any. They heard only the letter of the words, and missed the underlying principle that Jesus was talking about.
In Hebrews 6:1, it says that we should lay our foundation on the principles of the doctrine of Christ, not on legalistic formulas or ordinances.
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God…” (Hebrews 6:1)
When Peter referred to many “wresting” with the scriptures, he was referring to this principle. People were, as many are today, seeking answers for their own lives, but they were not seeking them by faith. Many seek them intellectually and emotionally, and come up frustrated, without concrete answers to everyday issues of life, and therefore “err to their own destruction.” This does not mean that they lost their eternal salvation, but they could have lost their marriages, families, churches, their peace, and even their physical lives because they inadvertently gave place to the devil through ignorance. The same principle applies to us today. We can lose relationships, opportunities, or live in a continual state of bondage if we do not understand what God is saying! Hosea 4:6 tells us that God’s people are destroyed for a “lack of knowledge.”
“My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6)
Revelation (light) is received in the spirit, the human spirit. It does not originate from the intellect or emotions. God is a Spirit, and therefore He speaks to us “Spirit to spirit,” and then the mind recognizes and comprehends what the Spirit is saying!
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed then unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (I Corinthians 2:9-12)
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