Monday, November 6, 2017

INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE: IS IT ALL JUST A MATTER OF WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO US?





Yesterday, we attended a Bible study at our friends’ liberal, mainline church. According to the pastor, The Book of Micah, which he was teaching, was just a reflection of an ancient culture and their ancient and outdated ways. There was little that we could learn from this book apart from seeing how far we have come.

When I challenged him with the fact that all Scripture is God-breathed, he retorted that this might be true, but it’s all just a matter of our personal, subjective interpretations. Nevertheless, he did have some strong opinions about same-sex marriage. He was convinced that the principle of love made this institution acceptable in God’s sight.

Of course, I asked him how he knew this, since Scripture, for him, was just a matter of personal interpretation. In essence, he explained that same-sex marriage is right because society now says it’s right. Society determines what is love and what isn’t. Consequently, for him, society is more authoritative than Scripture.

But is Scripture just a matter of our own private interpretation – just what feels right to us? Peter claimed that interpretation wasn’t simply a private exercise:

·       But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21; NASB)

If Scripture originates with God, then it is His authoritative word and will, and we do not have the right to do with it as we choose, according to what feels right to us. Peter even argued that some misinterpret Scripture to their destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).

While the scribes and Pharisees ostensibly devoted themselves to the Hebrew Scriptures, they didn’t esteem them and, consequently, interpreted them to suit themselves. Jesus therefore denounced their perverted use of Scripture:

·       You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:7-9)

According to Jesus, there was a correct understanding of Scripture and there were incorrect understandings, which He castigated (Matthew 22:29). The Apostles also asserted that there is a proper and objective way to understand Scripture:

·       Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:14-16)

In fact, everything that Scripture teaches is vital to the health of the Church. Of course, this is built on the assumption that Scripture can be correctly understood and that we can have confidence regarding our understanding (Hebrews 10:19-22; Colossians 2:1-4).

Can we truly be confident about what Scripture teaches, or does it all just depend on our personal perspective? Without such confidence, we will be blown about by anyone’s twisted interpretations:

·       For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. (Colossians 2:1-4)

Without such a confidence, we will be vulnerable to every doctrine of the demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3). The Israelites had been assured that they could be confident about what their God was requiring of them:

·       “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

To follow our Lord, we need to understand Him, and this understanding is not beyond us (Romans 10:8). If we seek understanding and the correct interpretation of His Word, we will be given it (James 1:5; Proverbs 1-4).

Some will object:

·       Look at all the differences of opinion about what Scripture is teaching. From this, it is clear that there is no correct interpretation.

Perhaps, instead, some do not want the correct interpretation (John 5:44-46). This is what Paul declared to the rabbis who had visited him in Rome while under house arrest:

·       “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet… ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’” (Acts 28:25-27)

Perhaps also, our differences might be a matter of immaturity or wrong priorities. However, Jesus promised that those who want to know what Scripture (and Jesus) is saying, will eventually know:

·       So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

He also promised that His sheep will understand and follow Him (John 10:27):

·       As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

Bearing fruit was not just a matter of hearing the Word but also of correctly understanding it. Without understanding and believing what we understand, we cannot be fruitful.

We understand because interpretation is not just a mental exercise or a personal preference. Instead, the Spirit illuminates the Scriptures for us (Philippians 3:15; Luke 24:47). However, the Spirit can use different means, including teachers (Ephesians 4:11-14).

This doesn’t mean that we will understand everything. However, it does mean that we can understand what is necessary.

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