CENTRAL THOUGHT
Ye do err not knowing the scriptures.
HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
TEXT: Matt 22:23-33; Lk.2:40-52
INTRODUCTION
The word of God has often been acknowledged as the inerrant, invariable rule by which the believer lives. The Israelites had just the Old Testament before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are privileged in our dispensation to have both the Old and New Testament as the written word of God.
By the word, believers are sanctified, separated unto a walk with God almighty even as the Lord.
Jesus Christ prayed: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. (John 17:17) At age 12, the boy Jesus made teachers of the law who are sometimes referred to as “doctors of the law” appear shallow in their knowledge of the Scriptures. The Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes nonetheless persisted in testing the Lord with what they perceived to be “hard question” but on each occasion the Lord turned them into pupils who needed to be taught. On one occasion the Lord told them very pointedly what their basic problem was: “..Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” Matt.22:29.
In this study we seek to understand the context of this statement, and to know how it applies to us today, even in the technologically advanced twenty-first century world.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand that the Scriptures remain the standard for all.
- To understand that deviation from the Scripture leads to error.
- To learn how the people in the context erred.
- To learn from the Scriptures how we may avoid error.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. WHAT STANDARD SHOULD MAN USE TO MEASURE HIMSELF?
The Scriptures remain the standard of life, the rule by which life is measured. (2Tim.3:16-17) “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Being perfect implies completeness and being “thoroughly furnished” means to be completely equipped and exhaustively endowed. Thus, the ability to perform good works (works of God) is from these Scriptures as we receive the equipment to live successful Christian lives.
This again is echoed by Peter in 2 Pet.1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” It is by the Scriptures we know how to do good and live Godly. The word of God shows us the path to righteousness. (Ps. 119:105) “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
As believers, we need the Scriptures to guide our feet, and to prevent us from going astray. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
Q2. HOW DOES THE DEVIATION FROM THE SCRIPTURES LEAD TO ERROR?
The text implies that we err if we deviate from the Scriptures. It Is a common experience to have a manual accompanying an electronic equipment, detailing how to set up the particular device. Any deviation from the instructions may invariably result in malfunction. It is unwise to begin to add to or subtract from these specific instructions. The Lord God Almighty is the Author of His Word. (Deut.4:2) “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Prov.4:20-22 enjoins us to “attend to”, “incline the ears to” “not let them out of our sight”, and “keep them within our heart”. Any deviation from the path of instruction/guidance from God’s word leads to error. (Rev.22:18-19) “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto him plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and from the things which are written in this book.” It follows that “Not knowing the Scriptures” invariably leads to error.
Q3. FROM THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 22:23-29, DISCUSS HOW THE PEOPLE ERRED.
If they had known the Old Testament scriptures, they would have known a number of passages teaching in resurrection. Dan.12:2 clearly states “and many of them that sleep in dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” This shows a resurrection for both good and bad. Job 19:25-26: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in flesh shall I see God.” Here Job confessed that even though worms destroy the body- in his flesh shall I see God! If his body is destroyed, he must receive another in order to be in his flesh to “see God”. Psalm 16:10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.” In this psalm David was speaking prophetically of Christ, clearly speaking of resurrection of the dead. Of course, in addition to these passages, the Lord Jesus drew their attention to the book of Exodus: Exo.3:6, 15 reads thus, “Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 15,“And God said moreover Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations”. This was too much for the doctors of the law to comprehend. Thanks be to God; the Lord Jesus expounded the scriptures to their understanding. “…they were astonished” Matthew 22:33.
Q4. FROM THE SCRIPTURES, WHAT EXAMPLES DO WE HAVE OF HOW TO AVOID ERROR?
A number of others met the Lord and had their ignorance of the scriptures exposed. One of such persons was the rich young ruler whose problem was that he wanted his own will rather than God’s will done. (Matt.19:16-22). We should desire the will of God done in our lives. The son of God prayed for the Father’s will to be done. So should we.
Some others err because of preconceived ideas which cause them to color the scriptures to suite their own lust. 2Tim. 4:2-4 says “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” In heaping to themselves, people will do what they feel is right and do that because of their own lusts. The Jews were unable to understand the Great Commission. They could not comprehend how the gospel of God should be for the Gentiles also. It took a miracle to get them to understand that it also applied to the Gentiles, beginning with Peter’s vision in Acts 10:11-15: “And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord: for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common”.
Some just know only a fragment of the scriptures and conclude that “this must be all”. We must take the whole counsel of God. Paul declared in Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” In 2 Tim. 3:16, 17, he enjoined us that all scriptures is profitable and in 2 Tim.2:15, he added that we must rightly divide the word of truth (scripture). In Acts. 17:11-12, we also read of a daily search of the scripture to confirm the teachings received by the Berean Christians from the apostle Paul; this we ought to emulate.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
The Christian must not be more broadminded than the scriptures allow, nor must the Christian be more legalistic than is warranted. The believer is to walk between the two boundaries of Christian compassion and divine confinement. The scriptures therefore remain the standard by which believer walk, judging themselves by the rule of the word.
MEMORY VERSE
2 Tim.2:15.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: The word of God is truth.
John. 17:17; Ps.119:142, 151
Tuesday: The word of God gives understanding.
Ps.119:130; 19:7
Wednesday: The word of God profits a man’s life.
2 Tim.3:16; 2 Pet.1:3
Thursday: Meditate on Prov. 4:20-22
Friday: How to avoid going into error.
Acts .17:11-12; Ps.119:105
Saturday: Dwell on the word of truth, not fables.
Ps. 1:1-3; 2 Time.4:2-4.