Search the scriptures not add to them!

March 12, 2019

The last few weeks, during 'Exploring the Gospels' we've spent some time considering the impact of eisegesis, the presupposes of one's own ideas into what is written. So over the last week, it has been an amazing to witness exactly what the Jews and religious leaders were doing when they were discussing scripture with Yeshua

We know that Messiah is the word made flesh, yet at the time, because the people had a religious filter that they were interpreting scripture through, they were unable to recognise him.

John 7:38

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

Throughout the message, I laid the foundation so you can clearly see that adding to what is written can be the root cause of division. If your method of interpretation is not contextual, based upon the plain truth of the word, then you can make it say anything.

A recent case study of this point is the search for Aviv Barley in the land of Israel. The whole purpose of the research is an attempt to accomplish the observation of Passover and Unleavened Bread in its season. However, the conclusion of the search resulted in division.

So believe this why Messiah taught there we are to beware of the leaven.

Matthew 16:6

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

One of the challenges of the doctrine of men is that it's never taught distinct from the Word of God. The outcome causes people to be unable to separate the word of God from the words of men. If there are many voices, adding to what is written then there are many positions that don't have a basis in the word - confusion.

God is not the author of confusion - God is the author and inspiration behind the Holy Scriptures.

So my encouragement to you is to search the scriptures. If there is a standard, law or tradition that cannot be found in the Bible then are you bound to keep it? Furthermore, if there are standards, laws, and traditions not found in the scripture should they be taught as thought they have authority from the one who authored and inspired Scripture?

If you follow this line of questioning you won't be the one unable to recognise truth and in a perpetual state of confusion.

Shalom saints,