Of Faith, Interpretation, & Understanding

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29, ESV)

This short work week makes for a short blog this week too. However, I’ve wanted to discuss why I advocate understanding God’s words in the proper context and how His words apply to me after concrete understanding. More so, when I speak of the Old Testament (OT) and its alignment to my learning abilities, I do not view my understanding of it from a literal viewpoint, but in the right framework, from a Christological. I aim always to identify and immerse myself in Christ. Christ in the OT and Christ in the New Testament (NT).

Some people have no time for the OT because of some of the cruelty shown. Some relate to it as old news because they prefer the sweeter topics of the NT. Yet, I am here to say that if the OT is really studied without the idea of reframing what it is meant, it is my honest thought that so many perspectives would change as they move in the direction of its delicateness. When one indeed comes to know that Jesus is the only essentiality to interpreting the entire Bible, perceptions would change.

Luke 24:27 tells us this:

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Hebrews 1:1-2 speaks of these things too. Go see!

So how do we even begin to grasp this? How do we even start on this path, right?

Let’s quickly consider one thing. A question that always seems to come to mind concerning God’s grace towards His people in the wilderness relates to the reason for His consistent mercy. When the people were so defiant, His grace remained over avid complainers, the impatient, and idolaters. Even so, our God continued to feed them and take care of them still when He was so disappointed. The most straightforward and valid reason why I would say God did this, is that He made a covenant with (Abram) Abraham, which He was unwilling to break (See Genesis 12, specifically vv.1-3). Why? Because of His plans to save us through His son, Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes on this in Galatians 3:29. God has also made a covenant with us!

Friends, when we immediately put ourselves into Bible, God’s words, there’s a high probability that we miss the point of their actual meanings. God’s covenant to Abraham is His covenant to us. We are His people on this earth and must strive each day to live by His guidelines displayed in His words and how we find truth and only truth in them as we do in His son, Jesus Christ! I contend that grasping the entire Bible’s ultimate meaning should be the first summit of interpretation. Nothing else!

I have so much more to share on these things, but I must close for now. As I’ve mentioned in a previous reflection, this year it is my desire to write a great deal on this topic of Biblical interpretation. Depending on what life throws at me, I may not be able to be consistent each week, but I’ll certainly try to be.

For now, do enjoy the rest of this week, and I hope to be here next if it’s God’s will.

I enjoy growing in God’s words with you!

Char