By Elon,
This was originally published in the Moriel Bulletin of Nov. 2011.
“Study (Gr. Be diligent) to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (handling) the word of truth. “ (2 Tim.2:15)
Some months ago, I was talking to a lady in a
congregation in our area. I fail to remember the question she asked,
but I do remember my answer began with “Yes, but you have to look
at those verses in context..” “What's that?” she replied. I
began to answer, but an impatient look came over her face and she cut
in with a superior air “Oh I don't need all that, I simply take
what the Holy Spirit gives me”. I was quietly somewhat taken aback
that anyone could come out with such an irrational and silly
statement -especially someone who had been a believer for so long. I
could see that there was something of a problem here with this
woman's perception of the Word of God.
In the Olivet Discourse, we see, that above all
other things, the chief sign of the End Times that Jesus warned
about, was not the earthquakes, plagues and persecution, but
spiritual deception. Satan already has the unbeliever and the liberal
false church in his grasp. But Jesus was addressing true believers
here, who don't normally fall for that kind of nonsense. Let's face
it, we are bible believers and we have the Word of God, -don't we?
But actually, this is where one of our problems is going to come
from. Satan's greatest weapon against the born-again bible believing
saint, can, at times, be the very Word of God itself. That is to say,
-the Word of God misunderstood, misapplied, mistreated and misused.
Satan has used this approach right from the
beginning. In the Garden, he twisted what God had said in order to
deceive Eve, and while twisting God's sayings he also took time
misrepresent the character of God in the process, (his other
favourite tactic). He tried it on Jesus in the wilderness too, but
that time he did not succeed.
A true saint will naturally revere the Word of God
and accord it, and teaching that he believes to be derived from it, due authority. So, if Satan can lure us into believing off-centre or
twisted interpretations, he can not only hold us in bondage, but in
blindness as to our enslaved state as well, as we will believe that
his false ideas are actually God's commandments and will for our
life.
How do we avoid these snares? Well a good working
knowledge of the Bible's contents is a good start, but knowing how to
interpret and apply what we already know is equally important. There
are many believers who know the contents of their Bibles very well,
but nevertheless have been seriously deceived at some point, -why?
Because they did not know what correct use of the Word is,
-consequently they did not perceive misuse when they saw it either.
Now it is not my intention to go into great detail
on the subject of biblical interpretation, only to share with you one
aspect of this subject which I was thinking on recently. That is,
-context. I hope that you will find it interesting.
Fortune Cookie Christians
The approach many believers take to the Bible is
what I would call atomisation. This is ripping it out of it's
immediate context, ignoring the surrounding verses, breaking
scripture into little disconnected bits. I would also call this the
“promise box” or “fortune cookie” interpretive method. This
is a common fault mostly among hyper-charismatics, but with some
other groups too. “Never mind what it means, just find a verse that
mentions some words that fit our purpose”. The lady above would
fall into the “fortune cookie Christian” category. I would hope
that none of us handle the Word of God in this way, and would not be
deceived by simple straightforward errors like this. However misuse
of the Bible is not always so obvious.
Don't Underestimate Your Enemy
It is only over the last few years, that I have
gained a healthy respect for just how well Satan knows the Word of
God and how adept he is at misusing it. There are some deceptions
that require more than just knowing the chapter surrounding the verse
in question. These are days when we need to start becoming much more
familiar with the teaching and original historical context of whole
books plus a knowledge of what issues were being addressed, and in
addition to this, the great themes and overall narrative of
Scripture. In this article I want to mention just one thing to be
aware of that may assist us in this.
Paul And Jesus Didn't Do "Sound Bites"
Politicians are always complaining that some
reporter or other “took my words out of context”. In our days we
live in the age of the “sound bite” when we want the
informational equivalent of fast food. We haven't got the time to
listen to or read through “all that stuff”, we want something
short, that doesn't tax our gnat-sized attention span, preferably a
one-liner. A politician that doesn't realise this will probably get
cut off mid-sentence as the news presenter flicks to the next story.
Though all true believers love God and His Word,
sometimes we handle it like the T.V news reporter deals with the politician
he thinks is droning on too long. How many times have we read a New
Testament passage, noticed that the author is quoting from the Old
Testament and:-
- a) Carry on reading, just assuming that Jesus or the Apostles are using that O.T verse as a one-liner because it's words fit his subject nicely.
- b) Think “Oh yeah, that's from Isaiah or something, yeah, I know that passage” and carry on reading.
- c) Look up the O.T. Passage just to check the wording is the same as in the New Testament, because that's what the Bereans did right? Then carry on reading.
Recognising The N.T Writers Depth Of Understanding
The N.T writers didn't just use a passage or quote
a verse because it “seemed to fit nicely”, or provide a
convenient “one-liner” to underscore a point, not at all. These
people were not ignorant and unlearned men unskilled in the word of
righteousness. They were men throughly steeped in the Scriptures and
the overall biblical narrative. When they referred to an O.T
scripture, for the most part they did so being keenly aware of both
the immediate and the wider context in the book they were citing
from, and the great and overarching themes of Scripture. Not only so,
but they expected and assumed, particularly their Jewish audiences,
to be aware of this as well. Very often they would quote a verse as a
kind of “shorthand” expecting the reader to understand it's
meaning and surrounding context.
An Example From Matthew
Below is one of my favourite examples of Jesus'
use of the Old Testament. I like this one because it is so striking.
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written,
“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.“
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:10-19)
Now of course the high priests and the Temple
authorities were corrupt, they had a monopoly on what was allowed to
be sacrificed in the Temple, and they were probably colluding with
the vendors to keep out produce from “unauthorised” places, so
they could receive “commission” from the vendors who sold at
inflated prices. So the phrase den of thieves was certainly apt.
But there's more to it than that. Let us look at the context of what
Jesus was quoting. Space is insufficient to reproduce both chapters
here, but I think you will get the general idea.
Judgements On The Leaders And The Temple
“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant”.
We can see here at least 3 themes:
- The coming near and revealing of God's righteousness and salvation. See also (Rom. 30:20-23)
- The in-gathering of the Gentiles to share in the covenant given to Israel, or as Paul described it (in Eph. Ch.3) to be fellow-heirs, of the same body and partakers of God's promise in the Messiah.
- The one most pertinent to Temple situation, -the judgement of God against a corrupt and spiritually blind religious leadership.
Now let us turn briefly to Jeremiah:
“Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee”. (Jer. 7:2-16)
In the book of Jeremiah the unrepentant apostasy
and wickedness had made judgement unavoidable as God's messengers
were rejected time and time again. The LORD is particularly sensitive
to that which represents His name becoming a locus of corruption
and sin. In the time of Samuel, there was a house of God at Shiloh.
and Eli the high priest's sons were a bad lot, who stole from the
offerings and slept with the female worshippers. The LORD will not
tolerate unrepentant behaviour of this nature in that on which He has
placed His name. By the time of Jeremiah, once again a situation of
national stubbornness and religious apostasy existed, and the
national and religious leadership attempted to silence the prophetic
voices of repentance. On both occasions God swept away His house in
judgement. In utilising these scriptures Jesus was not just remarking
on the current state of affairs in the Temple courtyard, but saying,
judgement was coming on the nation, because its spiritual leadership
had become corrupt and complacent, and instead of repenting, was
setting itself against the LORD, consequently the Temple would once
more be taken away and the nation scattered.
In Isaiah 56, judgement is pronounced against the
background of the wonderful moment when God's salvation and
righteousness were coming near and being revealed, and the offer of
salvation would be going out to the Gentiles. Isaiah shows us that at
this glorious moment the national leadership of Israel and the people
at large would be mostly blind to it and without understanding. This
is a peculiarly tragic and poignant moment in Israel's history. Luke
understood this well, see how he relates the same events as Matthew:
“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him”, (Lk. 19:41-47)
Luke, in his narrative, positions the cleansing of
the Temple as something immediately following Jesus' lament and
prophecy over Jerusalem; indicating that for him they are intimately
connected in some way. Luke's account confirms that he understood
exactly why Jesus cites those Scriptures and so reveals his depth of
perception of Jesus' intended meaning. See how Luke remarks
specifically on the spiritual blindness and lack of understanding,
both the things that Isaiah mentioned and the impending destruction
that Jeremiah referred to.
Slowing Down A Little
I know what I am advocating here will appear very
simple and obvious, at least in its practical outworking, that as
part of learning to become skilful in the Scriptures we need to slow
down and carefully ponder the N.T use of the O.T in our readings and
study. But its consequences can be profound. Not just in enjoyment of
the greater beauty and depth that comes from observing the O.T
chapters around the quotations in their original literary and
historical context. But, -as we understand what was really being said
in the Old in those passages referred to in the New, it can radically
affect our perception of what Jesus and the Apostles are actually
saying, and even correct our thinking where it is amiss. For example,
a complex and well disguised deception that has been passed off as
orthodoxy, such as Calvinism (the laughingly termed “doctrines of
grace” now in resurgence), rather than being tolerated, would then
be recognised for it is, an extremely serious de-contextualisation of
numerous scriptures and a hideous misrepresentation of God's
character. Satan succeeds in Calvinism and similar sophisticated
deceits in using the Word of God against the Church, precisely
because we lack the skill in the Scriptures that we should have,
often do not pay attention to context -even in the New Testament, and
are even less diligent in following up context in Old Testament
citations in the New. Not only so, we are often ignorant of many of
the overarching themes of Scripture, the result being that our
knowledge of certain N.T passages (e.g Romans 9 often used as a chief
Calvinistic proof text) is often very superficial. We need to discern
the difference between the plain meaning of Scripture and the
seemingly obvious meaning, the latter being that which leaves us
vulnerable to the distorted doctrines of the “restless and
reformed” or other seemingly biblically-based errors which indeed
quote a lot of Scripture but are seriously askew. Some delusions
require a greater degree of understanding to analyse, inspect and
discern, than the simplistic and frankly moronic nonsense of the
Toronto Blessing, Biker Boot granny basher Todd Bentley, or the Word
of Faith and Prosperity Gospels.
In Acts 17, the Bereans were commended not because
they received Paul's message unhesitatingly, but because they
searched the Scriptures daily to see if the Gospel was in fact
biblical. This teaches us that discernment takes time, the time
needed to examine things in context and within the overall biblical
narrative. As we grow in the LORD so should not only our knowledge of
the contents of the Scriptures, but our understanding of those
contents in their proper context and of the Bible's great themes, and
hence our ability to handle the texts correctly. Mere knowledge
without understanding of correct use leaves us in an unbalanced and
dangerous state, -like the lady in the introduction.
Sometimes we
misapprehend the role of teachers in the Body Of Christ. We think
that they are there only to teach us what to believe. Actually it is
equally true to say, they are there to teach us how to believe, how
to grasp and handle the truth for ourselves, that we might grow in
our understanding and application of the Word to the extent that we
can teach others.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14)
Inadequate discernment is directly linked to
unskilfulness in the word of righteousness. May we all mature in our
understanding and learn how to rightly handle the word of truth for
ourselves!
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