May 31st, 2023
THE MOST MISUSED VERSES IN THE BIBLE REVIEW AND CONCLUSION
Introduction: In our past nineteen Bible studies, we came face-to-face with some of the most misused verses in the Bible, verses that have often lost their context today and have taken on new meanings outside the stories and teachings of Scripture.
2 facts about the 19 verses we studied:
1.They have been misquoted unintentionally by well-meaning believers.
Well-intentioned Christians have misquoted the Bible and misunderstood its meaning, leaving behind a trail of confusion and faulty decisions pertaining to God’s will for one’s life. Many a theological heresy has resulted from the misuse or misinterpretation of Scripture, and this can happen no matter how noble the intentions of its interpreters.
2.Their misinterpreted meanings have been embraced as truth by many believers.
“If you repeat a lie long enough, it becomes the truth. (Joseph Goebbels – Nazi politician and Propaganda Minister from 1933-1945)
OUR 19 VERSES IN REVIEW:
1.1 Corinthians 2:9, But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
In the context of 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 this verse isn’t talking about heaven, but wisdom that is given to the believer.
2.Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.
In the context of Matthew 7:1-5, this verse isn’t talking about never holding anyone accountable, but making sure your own life is right before looking at others and their lives and passing judgment.
3.Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
In the context of Matthew 18:15-20, this verse isn’t talking about Jesus being present when two or three are gathered in His name, He lives in and is with each Christian all the time. It is speaking of church discipline and the need for 2 to 3 witnesses based on Deuteronomy 19:15. Jesus promises to be present as a witness when proper church discipline steps are followed, indicative of His seal of approval.
4.John 14:13-14, And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
In the context of John 14:13-14, Jesus isn’t issuing a blank check to us as believers who pray in His name. The same writer of this gospel also wrote 1 John and says this in 1 John 5:14-15, Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
5.Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
In the context of Romans 8:18-28, God has an eternal agenda that He is ultimately focused on and not necessarily the relief of our immediate hardships.
6.Isaiah 53:5, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
The context of the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 is spiritual healing from sin, and not physical.
Peter quotes this verse in 1 Peter 2:24-25 in the context of spiritual healing.
7.Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Apostle Paul doesn’t mean that Christians can do anything that they put their mind to or apply their physical strength to, but that everything that God calls us to in a spiritual sense, He will strengthen us to do it through Christ’s power and presence.
8.1 Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
This verse is often misquoted to say that “money is the root of all evil.” The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Money, in of itself is not evil, the love of it is, and just one of the many roots of evil.
9.Exodus 21:23-25, But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
These verses taken within the context of other Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, especially the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, only serve as a gage of punishment to be meted out in comparison to an offense or crime committed. It was never intended to mean to literally take out a person’s eye if they took out yours.
10.Acts 2:38, Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The misunderstanding that some have with this verse is that baptism is necessary and completes one’s salvation. In the first century, when one was born again, believer’s baptism almost always immediately followed after one’s salvation experience and was looked at as being synonymous with salvation. Jesus promised the thief on the cross next to Him eternal life upon his belief in Jesus as Messiah and his kingdom. And throughout the New Testament, it is reiterated that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. Baptism is therefore an ordinance, not a sacrament, it has no saving power nor does it impart any special graces.
11.John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.”
In the context of John 12:27-37 Jesus is predicting His death on the cross. If Jesus meant in John 12:32 that by His death He would draw every single person to Himself for salvation, then He failed miserably. All people haven’t and will not be saved. Jesus meant that by His death on the cross, He would draw all people groups to himself.
12.1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
This verse has been misused to infer that God will not let anything in our life be more than we can handle. In fact, God lets things come into our lives that we can’t handle, so we will depend on Him more. So here is where God will not allow you to have more than you can handle. It is in respect to temptation.
13.Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
This verse is not an absolute promise that if you raise your child up in the ways of the Lord that they won’t stray or that they will get saved. The book of Proverbs is a book of principles, not promises, and these principles if followed will be beneficial as guidelines to parents and children.
14.Proverbs 4:23, Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
This verse doesn’t mean that one is to never open their heart or themselves up to others in relationship. This verse simply means that one is to “guard the heart” to protect one’s life from unhealthy influences that can easily corrupt our character.
15.James 5:15a, And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
In the context of James 5:13-16,the anointing of oil, laying on of hands and prayer for sick by the elders, the forgiveness of sin, and healing is encouraged, but God is still the Sovereign of the universe and His will and purpose will prevail. God may in fact choose to physically heal someone who prays in faith for healing, but that will be answered according to His sovereign will. Even if He chooses to do so, we know that our ultimate physical healing will have to wait for the life we inherit in the age to come in heaven.
16.Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, the people perish. (KJV)
More modern translations of the Bible render this verse to say that where there is no revelation or prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint.
The writers of the KJV Bible in the seventeenth century would have used the word vision instead of the word revelation when referring to God’s supernatural communication to His people. The reader of that time would have understood that vision meant revelation. So, in a nutshell, people perish or cast off restraint, not because they don’t have a vision, but because they ignore God’s revelation (His revealed Word).
17.Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
In this verse, Jesus isn’t telling us to literally hate our family. In comparison to loving Him it would look like hate. He is driving home the point of the cost of following Him.
18.Philippians 2:12b, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Paul is not teaching a “works-based” salvation, which is contrary to everything else he taught in the New Testament about salvation being based on God’s grace through faith in Christ. He is teaching believers to take ownership of their salvation, progress and mature in their faith.
19.Hebrews 6:4-6, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
This passage in Hebrews is written to professing Jewish people who may have wanted to revert back to Judaism and some of its laws and teaching. This passage isn’t referring to one having salvation then losing it. Many can experience things in the church as the passage says and even look like true believers, but experiencing something isn’t equivalent to possessing it.
Conclusion: It is God’s will that we properly interpret Scripture in the context which it is written. This only comes by careful study of Scripture in the context it is written. The majority of the verses in the Bible are not “stand alone” verses and must be interpreted accordingly. We must also consider to whom the passage is written to and the time period when it was written. Again, the Bible is the best commentary on the Bible. The whole of the Bible establishes truths that are eternal and unchanging. We as Christians do good to ourselves and others when we properly interpret Scripture and apply it accordingly, thus bringing God glory and honor. After all, the Bible is God’s unchanging, infallible, inerrant Word!
Next Week, June 7th New Series, The Most Misunderstood Stories in the Bible. Session 1-David and Goliath