HOW TO UNDERSTAND DIFFICULT VERSES IN THE BIBLE
By Dr. James. A McBean D.Th., MCC
Copyright © 2008 Library of Congress
Washington.D.C.20559
T he Bible is not hard to understand if the reader understand certain principles. What causes people to have problem understanding the Bible, is the eastern Idioms, proverbs, parables, and the symbolic languages of the Bible that seem to throw off people from our atmosphere.
THE FIRST KEY WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS CALL "IDIOMS
"Idioms" words are phrases that mean something other than what it say. A manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of the language. For people in our western hemisphere to understand the Bible we must do a study in hermeneutics. Lets us look at Idioms uses by common people every day.
Example: It only happen once in a blue moon:
"He has a serpent under his hat"
"She have two faces"
Hanna won the contest and now she is walking on air.
I heard it from the horse mouth:
This does not mean that a horse has spoken. It mean that it was heard from a very good source.
"He jump ship:" This does not mean that the person jump off a ship; it mean he changes plan quickly. Leave his political party, leave school, leave his church or even leaving is family over night.
EASTERN IDIOMS: TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK
Matthew 5:39 (KJV) But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luke 6:29 (KJV) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
Do every thing in your power to avoid hostility, even to the point of taking wrong. Our lord was not asking us to give up our weaponed to the enemies, nor to let ourselves being abused. A subject of sport for cowards men who are looking for defenseless people to show themselves off on. We were made by God with about five main instincts, and any doctrines that are contrary to these instincts, appear contrary because there is something about the doctrines that we do not understand. For example, "Turning the other cheek"
1 Cor. 6:7 (KJV) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Turning the other cheek mean to take the wrong, if that will put an end to the strife.
ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE
1 Kings 3:25-26 (KJV) And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. [26] Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
ANY DOCTRINES THAT ARE CONTRARY TO OUR FIVE MAIN INBORN INSTINCTS DOES NOT MEAN WHAT WE THINK IT MEAN.
The soul lives its natural life through what, for want of a better term we earth, and may describe as the instincts.
These instincts are the driving forces of the personality, with which The Creator has endowed man in order to fit him, for an earthly existence (just as He endowed him with spiritual faculties to fit him a heavenly existence).
We call them instincts because they are inborn impulses implanted w1thn the creature to enable it to do instinctively what is necessary for the origination and preservation of natural life.
Writes Dr. Leander Keyser: "If the human infant did not have certain instincts to begin with, it could not survive even with the best of parental and medical care."
(1) SELF PRESERVATION
Let us notice the five most important instincts. The first is the instinct of self- reservation, wh1ch warns us of danger and enables us to care for ourselves."
It is only in rare cases God will ask any one of his saints to stand up and let the enemies of God kill them.
Matthew 10:23 (KJV) But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
The word "flee" Is mention some 101 times in the bible. So if a verse tell you to turn the other cheek, it could not have meant exactly what it say. Because it violates the instincts principles of self PRESERVATION that God originally made us with.
(2) THE GETTING INSTINCT
Second, the acquisitive(getting)instinct, which leads us to acqu1re the necessit1es for self-support.
(3) THE FOOD SEEKING INSTINCT
Third, the food-seeking instinct an impulse that leads to the satisfying of natural hunger.
Proverbs 30:8-9 (KJV) Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: [9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Matthew 12:1-4 (KJV)At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. [3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
(4) THE REPRODUCTIVE INSTINCT
Fourth, the reproductive instinct which brings about the perpetuation of the race.
(5) THE DOMINANCE INSTINCT
fifth, the instinct of dominance, which leads to the exercise of that self-assertion necessitated by one's calling and responsibilities.
The record of man's endowment with these instincts by the Creator is found in the first two of Genesis.
The instinct of self-preservation is implied in the prohibition and warning,
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
The instinct of acquisition is apparent in Adam's receiving from the hand of God the beautiful garden of Eden. The food-seeking instinct is assumed in words. "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat."
The instinct of reproduction is referred to in the with which statements, "Male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply."
The fifth instinct, dominance, is implied in the command, "Replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion.
108 KNOWING THE DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE. By Myer Pearlman. Gospel Publishing House. Springfield, Missouri 65802.
RIGHT EYE IS THE IDIOM FOR HUSBAND
Matthew 5:28-32 (KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
WHAT THIS MEAN
Our Lord is trying to tell us that we are not compel to stay in a relationship, that is not getting any better, and is at the point of dragging us down into hell with it. He is dividing between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. God did not intend for husband and wife to be separate, but there comes a time when you cannot help but do it. It is better to let your right hand go, like a crab, than for the whole body to be destroyed. One of my lady friend xhusband was a bisexual, but pretend to be straight, when making love with her he is ignored the birth canal and are trying to insert himself in the wrong place. She could not take it any more and dump him off like a rotten plum. You do not need to let people dung in your plate, and if they do you do not need to eat it.
Matthew 6:3 (KJV) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
FEEDING THE ENEMY
feeding the enemy is an eastern idioms, that are unlike idioms in some ways, this meant what it say to an extend.
Romans 12:20 (KJV) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV) If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: [22] For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
How many time must we feed the enemy? How many plate of food per day? The scriptures did not say. After feeding the enemy and if the enemy continue to be an enemy, it does not make any sense to nourish and enemy to hunt you down.
By feeding the enemy you have made your peace offering with him. You have show he or she that you do not consider them to be an enemy and you do not hate them, you do not wishes them any harm, but they are safe with you. If the person continue to be your enemy after that, then you are a fool to continue provide sanctuary for somebody that is hunting you down like a wild pig.
The person could complain of a belly aches, and accused you of poisoning them. Now what do you do? Every body knows that you two are enemies.
THE SYRIAN KING DID NOT BOTHER ISRAEL ANY MORE.
2 Kings 6:21-23 (KJV) And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? [22] And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. [23] And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
LOVE YOUR ENEMY
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE
Malachi 4:5 (KJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
JOHN BAPTIST SAY IT IS NOT HIM
John 1:19-23 (KJV) And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? [20] And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. [21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. [22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? [23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
JESUS SAY IT IS HIM
Matthew 11:12-15 (KJV) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. [13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [14] And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. [15] He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
THE TRUTH IS
When God reincarnate a man, and re commission the man, he does not need to let the man know that he was around before. A solder do not need to get all the details.
ONE SAY THE SERMON WAS ON THE MOUNT THE OTHER SAY IT WAS ON THE PLAIN, WHICH?
Matthew 5:1-4 (KJV) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
ONE THE PLAIN
Luke 6:17-20 (KJV) And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; [18] And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. [19] And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. [20] And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
THE ANSWER
Our lord preach the same sermon more than one place, just like us preacher today, who preaches one sermon many times.
WAS IT THE WHOLE WORLD?
Genesis 41:56 (KJV) And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. [all the face of the earth] These expressions, "all the face of the earth," "all countries," and "all lands," (Genesis 41:56-57) must be understood in a limited sense, as when we say, "the whole city," or "everybody in the country," referring to a great crowd. These are examples of synecdoche, the figure of speech wherein the whole is used when only a part is meant. There are several uses of synecdoche in the Bible. All the world as we know it couldn't have gone to Egypt, for there were peoples on continents separated by oceans which hadn't been crossed at that time. See the references in the note on
A PROVERBS.
Matthew 19:24 (KJV) And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:25 (KJV) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
A [camel] Loaded camel, as required here. B [eye of a needle] A Jewish proverb commonly used to express great difficulty or impossibility. In the large gates in the city walls were small narrow ones, each called the needle's eye, through which a camel might enter kneeling down if he were unloaded.
Next time we will talk about symbolic languages. If you understand the symbols used in the bible, you will be able to understand your dreams and visions easy.
Sometime Only Jesus Can Help Us
Acts 4:12 (KJV)Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 5:6 (KJV) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:7 (KJV) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:9 (KJV) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:10 (KJV) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:11 (KJV) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Matthew 6:33-AV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Isaiah 55:6-AV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:7-AV Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
The Bearer’s Of The “Mind Sword”
