I’m an ordained Bible teacher. I’ve developed study resources and was a teacher at the Alaska Bible Institute for years. I served as an evangelist in San Francisco and worked as a missionary to Mexico. I’ve have been a pastor serving in Alaska.
And yet there are many verses that I really don’t understand. I may have taught them, but I still haven’t fully grasped them. Here are three that I’m starting to work through.
1) Ecclesiastes 7:16
“Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?”
How can you be overly righteous? Isn’t being righteous a good thing, after all, isn’t that God really wants from us?
But in this verse, it seems that there exists a form of destruction that comes when we try too hard to please God.
The best I can come up with is that this verse speaks of “self-righteousness.” I suppose this attitude comes from a desire to achieve and excel outside of the righteousness of Jesus. Reflecting on this dynamic of self-effort I can see how offensive it is to God. To strive to approach God by my personal goodness is utterly impossible.
2) Matthew 24:34
“Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.”
Basically, the apostles will see the end times entirely on their lifespan. Before they physically die, Jesus will return. This is disturbing because it never happened like I thought it should. Why didn’t He return?
Again, what is Jesus talking about? Are the end times contingent on this sign? And if so, are we deceived by a “non-returning” fake messiah?
They’re maybe a better translation and meaning. Perhaps Jesus was speaking of the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, about 40 years after Jesus spoke these words. Jesus was acting like a prophet and spoke of the destruction of the Temple within the lifespan of the apostles.
3) John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
How in the world are we going to do more miracles what Jesus did? Was Jesus overstating things and promising something that could never happen; or maybe our faith deficient? As I read of the miracles that Jesus did. There is no way I can achieve this.
But maybe I’m really misinterpreting things? Maybe my works will never be as sensational as Jesus did; but there will be something of a magnitude about them. Jesus set in motion the kingdom of God on earth. It was like a rock thrown into a still pond. The waves will stretch out and reach the uttermost.
I may never raise the dead or walk on water. But if I share the gospel with my neighbor the kingdom advances. From my home it’s about 6,000 miles to Jerusalem. I’m practically on the other side of the earth. But, His kingdom advances.
These three are just the beginning.
There are other verses or passages that are hard and difficult to interpret. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, humbly turn to your church elders. Buy a good commentary. (Contact me if you need guidance.)
And if you find that you encounter something that totally mystifies you, (and you will,) I counsel you to approach it with faith, knowing that the Holy Spirit will teach you. That is what He does.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:26
