Scripture can never mean what it wan’t intended
I snapped this photo of a rock in the harbor at Blaine, Washington. It is nothing spectacular; when I looked at it, I looked like a mouse to me.
Of course, I know it isn’t a real mouse, but looking at it reminded me that things are not always as they appear.
Just because something sounds biblical or has a Bible verse attached doesn’t make it true. I’m not saying the Bible is untrue. I believe the entire Bible is God-inspired and entirely trustworthy.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
People can misuse Scripture intentionally to mislead. They can also misunderstand what the Scriptures teach and unknowingly teach error. I’m certain we have all done that on occasion to one degree or another.
We’ve given someone a “word of encouragement” that doesn’t mean what we think it does. We interpret a passage to support what we want it to mean, rather than what it teaches. We “claim a promise” that isn’t a promise to us or even a promise at all.
A common example is “Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.” We claim this “promise” from God when our children go astray. This quote is a proverb (Proverbs 22:6), not a promise. A proverb is a general truism, not a guarantee.
When a child or loved one strays, we must pray for them. We know God is loving, merciful, sovereign, and answers prayers. Still, we don’t know His plan or His timing. God can, and often does, restore those who have wandered away.
Scripture can never mean what it was not intended to mean. We can jump through all sorts of hermeneutical hoops to make it seem to mean something else, but it’s still only going to mean what God intended.
His Word is trustworthy. God never lies, nor does He fail to keep His promises. We need to read and study the Word in context and be sure to understand what it meant to the original audience. The Scriptures were written for us, not to us.
Trust in His Word and His character. He loves enough to send His Son to die on our Behalf and His Spirit to indwell us.
Hold fast to the truth.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin