Luke 8:9 (NKJV) Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
Matthew 13:10-16 (NKJV) 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
The disciples came to Jesus, asking him to interpret the Words He spoke. The Word of God does not all and immediately make sense, nor should it. These are high things, deep things, teachings that are beyond us, except for the Spirit of the Lord, who opens our eyes and our hearts, enlightens us, making the Word make sense in our hearts, and gives life and light.
Interpreting scripture begins with sitting at the feet of Jesus. As His anointing teaches us. 1 John 2:27 (NKJV) But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. Mary sat at His feet, and Martha busied herself, and Jesus said Mary made the better choice. Reading the Word in the presence of the Lord. Creating space to be able to be quiet before the Lord, His Word being unveiled in our hearts as we read at His feet. It is not about how fast we can get through the Bible, but about the revelation of truth in our hearts. “The truth will set you free”. Though we do have to get through the Bible within the first handful of years in our Christian journey.
The best tool for interpreting the scripture is scripture. This is why a consistent, hearty scripture meals is vital, and why we don’t do a single scripture devotion reading. We read a full meal while asking Jesus to speak to us. There will be Scripture in the Bible that answers every life question. No other book, commentary, or interpretation is required. Just be prayerful, be patient, be intentional and be studious. “But I am a horrible student” you say. The Lord can make this area new in your life. By being a disciple you are a student of Christ.
Scripture interpretation must align with scripture, as should prophecy, words given, visions, and dreams. There is no aspect of our walk with Jesus or of hearing His voice or speaking His Word that operates outside Scripture. We can carefully come to some unwritten conclusions and fill in some blanks by comparing Scripture, though we cannot add to the Word. If the Word does not say something, it simply does not say it. So we cannot speak to what the characters in the Word may have been thinking or feeling if the Word does not say it. The Apostle Paul makes it clear sometimes when he is speaking, and not the Lord/Word speaking, though he was being used by the Holy Spirit. So we have a pattern of being diligent, careful, and accountable for what we say, and of differentiating when we step out in our own thoughts or understanding.
Not mixing the Word. The Word washes, renews, and makes new. We do not take our experiences, opinions, or questions and mix them with the Word to form an understanding. Understanding is by revelation, not by working it out. The reality is that much of our lives do not align with His Word. We need to allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit, stirred by the Word, to settle in and not try to soften it. All this conviction will not result in hellfire, if not obeyed, but is directly connected to the full, peaceful, abundant life the Lord has made accessible to His Church. Let’s keep it pure. This is the goal:
Ephesians 5:26-27 (NKJV) 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
