As we read the Bible we do need to understand them. Our Sabbath School Lesson this week, entitled, "Why is Interpretation Needed, exposes the influences that may affect our understanding of the truth set forth in the holy writ. This lesson will help us how can we understand the spiritual things of God through the written word - the Bible.

Memory Verse: Heb. 11:6

• But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Prayer Thought:

Jesus did not design that the skeptical Jews should discover the hidden meaning of his words, nor even his disciples at that time. After his resurrection they called to mind these words he had uttered, and they then understood them correctly. They remembered that he had also said that he had power to lay down his life and to take it again. Jesus was acquainted with the path his feet had entered upon, even unto the end. His words possessed a double meaning, referring to the temple at Jerusalem as well as his own material body. {2SP 122.1}

The Bible was "given by inspiration of God", able to make as wise unto salvation, rendering the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - the Book of books has the highest claims to our reverent attention.

Superficial study of the Bible cannot meet the claims it has upon u, nor furnish us with the benefit that is promised. We should seek to learn the full meaning of the words of truth, and to drink deep the spirit of the holy oracles.

Remember these:

• To read daily a certain number of chapters without understanding will profit a little.
• To commit to memory a stipulated amount of Scripture without careful thought as to the meaning of the text will profit not much.
• To study one passage until its significance is clear to the mind, and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident.
• To obtain wisdom from the word of God is to give an earnest and prayerful attention to its study.
• To understand the meaning of the passages, scripture must be compared with scripture (Isa. 28:13), there must be careful research and prayerful reflection.
• To discover precious treasure, the miner should dig deeper not just beneath the surface but with persevering effort to search and find truths of the greatest value which are concealed from the careless seeker. (excerpt taken from EGWhite's article in the Signs of the Times, dated, jan. 30, 1893)

What are the influences that affects our understanding of the Bible passages?

A. Presuppositions

“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)

As a period of three days and three nights was consumed in trying, mocking, scourging, and, finally, in crucifying Christ, and then in His dying, being in the tomb and rising (see Matthew 20:19; 16:21; 17:22 23; 27:63; Luke 9:22; 24:21; 18:33; 24:7, 46), then counting backwards three days and three nights from Sunday, the day He arose (Mark 16:9), gives Wednesday. Thus it was Wednesday night in which He ate the Passover supper with the twelve. (10Tr 24)

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." (Luke 24:46); that the sign of the "three days and three nights" literally is fulfilled from Thursday morning, the time of His legal trial, to Sunday morning when He arose; that the paschal lamb, which was about to be killed when Jesus was on the cross, was not that which was killed on the first day of the Passover week, the fourteenth day of the month, but that which was killed on the sixteenth day, the second day of the feasts; -- all these conclusions are firmly founded on the solid facts established herein in simplicity; not, dear reader, on fables or on translations unknown to you, or on so-called "original manuscripts," which you yourself cannot read, and which are not accessible to you, and some of which do not even exist! (10 Tr 15)

B. Translations

“If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)

Those, therefore, who interpret the words, "as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week," to mean that it was late Sabbath afternoon, and that Jesus was then risen, are in serious error. (10Tr 8)

Affirmatively stated, all Scripture, not merely a part of It, is inspired. Negatively stated, none of It is privately interpreted, for the reason that It did not come of men but of God; that is, as the Spirit of God dictated to men the Scriptures, so the Spirit of God must interpret the Scriptures to men, that no man privately (without Inspiration) is capable of disclosing the sealed prophecies or interpreting any part of them or even capable of understanding their importance after they are interpreted except it be by the gift of the Spirit of Truth "None of the wicked," therefore, "shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Dan. 12:10. (1TG 14.16)

C. Cultural Experiences

“… visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,” (Exodus 20:5)

The Decalogue, moreover, is not only a moral code, but also a physical one, for sin against the law involves the sinner's descendants, too. It visits the "iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." Ex. 20:5.

Then, too, every descendant of Adam is naturally born in sin, is given to sin:

Rom. 7:15 -- "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

Such being man's lot, the carnal man hates the law of God, and more so because it crosses his will. (2TG 23.5)

D. Sin

“Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.’” (John 9:41)

Ungodly teaching is followed by sinful practice. It is the seducing bait of the father of lies, and results in the impenitence of self-satisfied impurity. {CCh 323.5}

The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future, Satan's superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be hypnotized. {CCh 323.6}

It is those who have had the most light that Satan most assiduously seeks to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they will, under his control, clothe sin with garments of righteousness, and lead many astray. {CCh 324.2}

The defenses of the soul are broken down. He has no barrier against sin. When once the restraints of God's word and His Spirit are rejected, no man knows to what depths of degradation he may sink. Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as helpless as was the demoniac of Capernaum. Yet his condition is not hopeless. {DA 258.4}

Why Interpretation is needed?

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45

A correct interpretation of the Scriptures produces:

• Unity in Doctrine
• Unity in Teaching
• Unity among believers
• Unity in Mission

Who will be the interpreter of the word?

Let Heaven Guide

Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: "You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message." {TM 475.3}

When a message is presented to God's people, they should not rise up in opposition to it; they should go to the Bible, comparing it with the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true. God wants our minds to expand. He desires to put His grace upon us. We may have a feast of good things every day, for God can open the whole treasure of heaven to us.--Review and Herald, February 18, 1890. {TM 119.1}

For a deeper study please click the link below!

https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/11-the-golden-bowl-zec-4?authuser=0

“Do you ask, What shall I do to be saved? You must lay your preconceived opinions, your hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation. If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord says. If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of God’s word.” COL 112