You know it is true you can find anything and everything at Google.com. The only trouble is anyone can post items, true, untrue, or make-believe. So you are left after searching through many web sites making a decision based on your what you think sounds best.

Now, not exactly the same, but close, is a search through Bible commentaries to find the truth. Let me give you this example. Not long ago while teaching the book of Mark during one of the classes I mentioned the names of 22 different authors that had written a commentary on the book of Mark. And my simple question was, “Which writer is correct?”

As I looked out over the class, I could see the many faces of confusion. Then I said, “That’s right, the one you agree with.” Then I went on to explain if we are not careful we ask others, read books, commentaries, attend lectureships searching for someone that agrees with us and our understanding of a Bible passage.

Remember, it is God that has given us His word, His instructions, and His guidance as recorded in the Bible. Now, of course, a study of language, history, customs, and culture of the day are going to helpful. But that is quite a bit different than saying about a Bible passage, “This is what God meant.”

Note a few passages that make it clear that we can understand.

 Ephesian 3:3-4 “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. That by referring to this, when you read, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”

Of course some things are hard to understand, II Peter 3:15:17, “As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness.”

Last, consider the warning found in, I Cor. 13:36-37, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.”

So again, it is your “own” soul that is of your greatest concern, Not that you are not concerned about others, but be sure of your own situation. My strong suggestion is, be a student of God’s word and not the latest books on the market.

It is being a doer of His word that leads to eternal life.

Dick Brant