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’s not a simply book to understand, it is not an average book written by an average author. In fact it’s 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 doesn’t need any of this teachings, all they need is Jesus Christ preached to them. Until they understand in their hearts who Jesus Christ is they do not need very much of a biblical education. Jesus asked these folks “Why do ye not understand my speech…” We must understand as Christians that people don’t understand us because they are lost and therefore cannot understand the things of God. 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 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 word 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 in order to teach them His word. This is done so that we can properly understand the scriptures. The teachings of this world will keep us from understanding Gods word. 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 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 simply truth of salvation until the Holy Spirit makes their spirit alive. This is why we have so much disagreement in teaching Gods word. Man not understanding, attempting to teach a book they have no truthful understand of it. 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. This is why T.V. programs such as the History and Discovery Channels are so confounded in trying to prove the bible. What they need is men of God explaining the bible and not a bunch of professors with only worldly educations. Man kind 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 does get it. Now please remember man is smart and doctrine can be learned even by the lost, but never understood by the lost.
