One Wednesday night at Bible Study we were discussing a question about a passage. As I was answering a question I remarked that I could give the historical background but that I would not do that this time and go for the simple answer instead. One of the younger participants said loudly, “Good.” When everyone laughed, she laughed too, and said, “Well, you know ten times more useless information than anyone I know.” I had to laugh at myself. Sometimes I get so caught up in the details I lose sight of the question and make the answer more complicated than it should be.
When I study something I want to know all sides and details. But many of those details are just that, details. The Bible is written so that the basic truths can be understood by anyone. No special education, or secret knowledge, is required. We can all read God’s Word for ourselves.
In Luke 10:22, (and Matthew 11:25), Jesus says, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.”
This verse got me thinking. There are many more times in Jesus ministry where He rejected the “wise” men of His day. He preferred the more obvious approach, the kind that was so obvious a child could get it. That is why His story translates so well. Basic truths do not need hidden meanings.
That does not mean education is totally unimportant. Knowing the languages of the Bible, for example, can help us clarify the meaning of scripture. Difficult passages can become easier to understand with a little study. There are passages with deeper meaning that can raise the level of our knowledge of God. But a deeper understanding of scripture should make the meaning clearer, simpler, and more practical, not point us in a different direction from basic truth.
His Word says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” (Heb. 13:8), and “‘But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Pet. 1:25)
God’s Word is for you today, all of it. Read His Word for all its worth.
Bro. Robin
Saturday, March 10, 2007
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