John 8:43 “Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.”
It may be of a surprise to some but not everyone has the ability to understand the bible. It is not a simple book to understand, it is not an average book written by an average author. In fact, it is not a book; it’s the word of God. The bible was not written to the world it was written to believers as we are told in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The lost person does not need any of these teachings, all they need is Jesus Christ’s gospel preached to them. Until they understand in their hearts who Jesus Christ is, they do not need a biblical education. Jesus asked these folks “Why do ye not understand my speech…” We must understand as Christians that people do not understand our teaching because they are lost and therefore cannot understand the things of God. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."1 Corinthians 2:14 God declared in 1 Cor. 1:23 that the scriptures were foolishness to the lost and a stumbling block to the Jews. I know that people are smart, in fact probably 99.9% of the people on this earth are smarter than I am, however, unless they are saved, they will never understand the word of God. While school smarts in life are wonderful and most needed to get through life, they have nothing much to do with a biblical education. For example, a person can have the greatest of educations even a PhD and never understand the basics of Gods word. Therefore, please do not ever judge a pastor or biblical teacher on their worldly education. Remember God did not choose the strong of the world but rather the weak. 1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" Even those who are well educated in this world God tore down their education to teach them His word in truth. This is done so that we can properly understand the scriptures. The teachings of this world will keep us from understanding Gods word i.e. science is very anti-God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 - 13 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13.) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." Jesus went on to say in John 8:43 “…because ye cannot hear my word.” That is because they are spiritually dead and deaf to His words. If one is dead spiritually then they will never hear the scriptures no matter how smart they are. In fact, they will never hear the simple truth of salvation until the Holy Spirit makes their spirit alive. Therefore, we have so much disagreement in teaching Gods word. Man, not understanding, attempting to teach a book they have no truthful understand of it will always teach lies. "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." Hosea 4:1 Jesus went on to say in John 8:45 “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” Because they simply did not understand it. It confounded them and did not set in as reality to them. Man cannot understand what does not fit the worldly education i.e. science, climate change, etc. Therefore, T.V. programs such as the History and Discovery Channels are so confounded in trying to prove the bible right or wrong. What they need is men of God explaining the bible and not a bunch of lost preachers and liberal professors with only worldly educations. Man will never understand the bible without the Holy Spirit teaching it. “…we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God…” 1 Corinthians 2:12 and in Luke 21:15 "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." So, the next time someone just doesn’t get it, just remember, only the saved do get it. Now please remember man is smart and doctrine can be learned even by the lost, but never understood by the lost.
"A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit." Proverbs 14:5 - 8
