Pursuing Truth, Cultivating Virtue, Creating Beauty

Interpretation Matters Series, Part 1

When you read the Bible, does it matter if you come to the right understanding of a passage? Are there even right and wrong understandings of Bible passages? Is an interpretation right because someone feels strongly about it?

One of the best ways to answer such questions is to see how the Bible interprets itself. Volumes have been written on this subject, so we’ll examine a few examples from Jesus. As followers of Jesus, his Bible interpretation methods must determine our Bible interpretation methods. Jesus demonstrates that correct Bible interpretation is both serious and possible.

Jesus Corrects Wrong Interpretation

Peruse any of the four gospels and you’ll find abundant examples of Jesus correcting wrong Bible interpretation (e.g., Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 24:25-26). Jesus corrects common misinterpretations of Old Testament law in an extended section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:17-48). With a “You have heard that it was said…. But I tell you” formula, Jesus denounces wrong interpretations and replaces them with his right interpretations.

Some misinterpretations receive a harsher rebuke, such as when Jesus tells the Sadducees that they “are badly mistaken” about the resurrection (Mark 12:27). Sometimes interpretations are so bad that Jesus doesn’t just correct it; he condemns the interpreter. Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:39-40, 45-47).

For all their Bible knowledge, the Jewish leaders missed the most important piece of Bible interpretation: Jesus himself. Even though they professed faith in the Bible, they twisted the Bible to fit what they wanted to believe. Because of that, they weren’t only wrong; they were spiritually dead and condemned.

If Jesus took wrong Bible interpretation so seriously, then you should strive to interpret the Bible correctly.

Jesus Commends Right Interpretation

Jesus’ correction of wrong interpretations implies that there is a right interpretation of the Bible. Unfortunately, we find few examples of Jesus commending people for their right interpretations. This doesn’t mean Jesus is uptight and crotchety. We’re just bad interpreters without his help.

However, Jesus does commend the crowds at his Triumphal Entry. As he enters Jerusalem, they celebrate by alluding to Psalm 118:26, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 19:36-38). The Pharisees tell Jesus to rebuke his disciples, but Jesus supports the crowd by answering, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out” (39-40).

At one point after the Triumphal Entry, a scribe asks Jesus what the most important command is (Mark 12:28). Jesus answers that it’s loving God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself (29-31). The scribe agrees (32-33), and “when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’” (34).

Jesus also commends correct interpretation by his example and instruction. In his desert temptation, Jesus defeated the devil with correct Bible interpretation and application (Matthew 4:1-11). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that whoever obeys and teaches God’s commands would be great in God’s kingdom, and that his own words were the only firm foundation for life (Matthew 5:19; 7:24-25). Jesus later taught, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 10:28). You can’t do that unless you understand God’s Word correctly.

If Jesus exemplifies, teaches, commends, and blesses right Bible interpretation, then you should strive to interpret the Bible correctly.

Jesus Gives Grace for Interpretation

Intimidated yet? If Jesus took Bible interpretation so seriously, it can be easy to feel like he’s never pleased with your efforts, or that you might be in serious trouble for not understanding the Bible.

But that’s not true.

If you’re a believer, Christ forgives any mistakes you make in studying the Bible. Incorrect interpretation is not the unforgiveable sin. The only misinterpretations Jesus won’t forgive are ones that pervert the gospel and prevent you from coming to him for forgiveness in the first place (John 5:39-47; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Peter 3:16).

If you’re a believer, Jesus also enables you to grow in your study skills and Bible understanding. Just like he taught the disciples on the road to Emmaus, he will teach you (Luke 24:27; Ephesians 4:20-21). Just like he opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures, he will give you understanding as you study his Word (Luke 24:44-45; 2 Timothy 2:7). Jesus primarily does this through the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Ephesians 1:15-19).

So, don’t be intimidated by Bible interpretation. It’s a serious matter, but it’s also a joyful adventure. We’re responsible to interpret the Bible rightly with Jesus’ methods of interpretation, and as we do so, he graciously corrects our wrong interpretations, commends our right interpretations, and grows our interpretive skills by his Spirit.

How do you study and interpret the Bible correctly, though? That’s what we’ll explore in the future articles in this series.

For now, if Jesus gives grace for interpretation, then pray, pick up your Bible, and start studying!