I hear it so often I get so weary of it. “The Bible
is too hard to understand for the lay person. They need to have a good
commentary in order to understand it.”
But when they say that they preclude the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth – as Jesus said He would. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:13-14)
Of course, there are passages of Scripture for which the average reader can benefit from some guidance into the history and culture surrounding what was is written in Scripture. But in my reading of the Bible multiple times, there comes to my mind only a small snippets of God’s -- especially the New Testament -- for which we need additional guidance. I’d suggest easily 95% of the New Testament can be understood by a child.
But when we insist people need a commentary to understand the Scripture, we do nothing less than give many Christians an excuse to avoid reading the Bible. That is why the words of the prophet Amos come to mymind: “Behold days are coming when I will send a famine on the land, not a salmon for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and from North even to the east, they will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord but they will not find it. (Amos 8:11-13).
Has anyone else noticed the famine in our land for the word of God? Television, radio, books -- even from some of our pulpits, nothing less than pablum week after endless week. Lukewarm mush to tickle the ears of those in the pews. Banal drivel without either authority, or challenge, or exhortation to live holy lives.
There is good reason the Lord Jesus told us to pray, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:37).
But when they say that they preclude the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth – as Jesus said He would. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:13-14)
Of course, there are passages of Scripture for which the average reader can benefit from some guidance into the history and culture surrounding what was is written in Scripture. But in my reading of the Bible multiple times, there comes to my mind only a small snippets of God’s -- especially the New Testament -- for which we need additional guidance. I’d suggest easily 95% of the New Testament can be understood by a child.
But when we insist people need a commentary to understand the Scripture, we do nothing less than give many Christians an excuse to avoid reading the Bible. That is why the words of the prophet Amos come to mymind: “Behold days are coming when I will send a famine on the land, not a salmon for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and from North even to the east, they will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord but they will not find it. (Amos 8:11-13).
Has anyone else noticed the famine in our land for the word of God? Television, radio, books -- even from some of our pulpits, nothing less than pablum week after endless week. Lukewarm mush to tickle the ears of those in the pews. Banal drivel without either authority, or challenge, or exhortation to live holy lives.
There is good reason the Lord Jesus told us to pray, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:37).
And Oh, God! I add,
please give your children a passion to read your word for themselves, that we may
know You, and the power of Your resurrection, and the fellowship of Your
suffering, that our lives may be truly conformed to Yours.
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