God’s will is for us to know Him, His love which abounds forever, and His commandments. He would not give us something that would confuse us because He is NOT the author of confusion but of peace. He has created everything with order and simplicity—just like a perfectly organized closet! He is not a man that he should lie; He IS only truth! (So, you can count on Him to never borrow your lawnmower and not return it.)
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
The Bible contains the Truth—God’s will in written form, which He graciously provided to the men He chose to share His will with the people. It’s like having a heavenly instruction manual for life! These men wrote and spoke as they were empowered by God’s creativity (Holy Spirit), so that His will would be understood clearly. As you study, you will discover that He actually had His word written at least twice within it! Because, let’s face it, when it’s important, a little redundancy is a good thing!
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
From Genesis all the way to the Revelation of Jesus to John, there were witnesses who saw God’s Word come to pass! So, it’s like a celestial public record that can’t be denied! As He said, so it was.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (let’s leave pride out of the race), and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. I mean, because who wants to be that person at the race who trips over their own ego?
When there seem to be contradictions, we must remember that humans interpreted God’s Word into their own languages and may not have fully understood the culture or grammar of the ancient scrolls or people of those times. It’s like trying to read Shakespeare in an ancient dialect—you might need a dictionary and a little divine intervention! Some words were added to supposedly “help in our understanding.” This doesn’t change the fact that the Bible is brimming with God’s Word; His Truth; nor does it give us permission to argue or debate what may seem to be an error. God’s Word IS Truth, even if it sometimes feels like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. When misunderstandings arise, God will help us gain a clear and right understanding when we ask HIM for wisdom. Most importantly, He tells us not to add or subtract from His word, or we may face consequences. And let’s be honest, no one wants a divine retribution hangover!
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Rev 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Yikes, talk about a punishment worse than losing Wi-Fi during your favorite show!)
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
2 Tim 2:23-25 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. (Essentially, be as chill as a cucumber—there’s no need to start a theological food fight!)
There are other books written that will explain this further, which I suggest you search out and study, as there is not enough room here to go through each and every one. It’s like trying to pack for a two week-long vacation in a carry-on bag—good luck! I will, however, touch upon a few.
There are customs and cultures from ancient times that today are misunderstood because they are not ours. Understanding these ancient times will give us a deeper knowledge of what God is saying to us—think of it as upgrading to HD rather than watching it in fuzzy old-school TV.
One example is the ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom.
Matt 25:1-12 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.
There were ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five of these prepared wisely and trimmed their lamps, meaning they filled them with oil and ensured their wicks would shine brightly—kind of like making sure your phone is charged before heading out!
When the moment came for them to go to the bridegroom, those who had not prepared asked the others to share their oil because they hadn’t put in the effort to prepare. They were told, “No, we need ours. Go to the store and get supplies for yourselves.” Just a reminder that when you show up to a party without your promised dish, it’s a little too late to borrow from the neighbor! Sadly, by the time they realized their mistake, the shops were closed for the night.
The custom was that when the virgins and guests were called, it meant the bridegroom was approaching. They were expected to lead the way for the wedding party to the temple. Once everyone was gathered, the doors were locked to keep out latecomers—like a very exclusive club!
Since the five virgins had left to find oil for their lamps, they missed the wedding. Talk about a major case of FOMO (fear of missing out)!
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Another point of misunderstanding comes from when the malefactor asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom.
Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Many versions have placed the comma in the wrong spot grammatically, suggesting that the malefactor would be with Christ on that very day, which is impossible as Jesus did not go to Paradise for almost four days or more! (So, what’s the deal with that comma—seriously, punctuation can change everything!)
If you understand how things progressed in the correct order, you will see this to be the truth.
First, Jesus was in the grave for three days and three nights. Then He appeared to the apostles after that.
Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 16:2-6 And very early in the morning the first day of the week (Sunday, with Saturday being the 7th day), they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun (around 7 a.m.—perfect timing for a sunrise service!). And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Many people think Jesus was killed on “Good Friday.” Logically, that doesn’t add up if He was raised on the third day. It’s all in our understanding—like trying to do math after a long day at work, it just doesn’t add up sometimes!
The day Jesus was killed was a High Sabbath—Passover. This is different from the “regular” Sabbath, which is Saturday.
Exo 12:3-11 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month (Abib—our March/April) they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remains of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S Passover (a high sabbath).
Secondly, unless the malefactor was raised from the dead with those others, when Jesus gave up the spirit, he will not be raised until Christ’s return;
Matt 27:52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection… He may have been raise then. OR, he would have to wait until the resurrection of the saints upon Jesus Christ’s return. The Bible does not tell us.
It’s all in the punctuation, interpretation, and understanding of the special Holy days.
Another area that might seem contradictory is where Jesus mentions a “new commandment.” Some believe that Jesus is “doing away with” the commandments that God had given us, when what He really means is an expansion on the existing foundation.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
He pretty much explains it further in:
Matt 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Talk about a solid foundation!
If we follow these two commandments, we will not want to do anything against anyone! We will want to obey those ten that God gave us. When we truly love, we only want to help and do good.
Pro 10:12 Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.
This doesn’t mean we can simply excuse ourselves from sin just because we love someone who loves us back; it means we won’t want to sin at all—like choosing not to eat the last piece of cake because you know how much your friend loves it!
Another common area of misunderstanding in God’s Word comes from italicized words. Any time you see italicized words, try reading the passages without them, and nine times out of ten, it will make more sense! These words were added by humans (not the apostles) to supposedly aid our understanding. Just like adding too much mayonnaise to a sandwich—sometimes it’s better to keep it simple!
There are also spurious words and passages in the Bible that were not in the original scripts nor were they intended by divine inspiration. They were added to control people, thinking they might be gullible enough to accept them. This is why we must pray and ask God for wisdom in our study—to learn the Truth HE gave us, not what humans wanted us to accept.
There are many resources online that may help clarify these points. You can look up “Spurious Scriptures” in the Bible and embark on a journey of discovery!
Remember, as you study God’s Word, keep your wicks trimmed and your lamps filled with oil! Because just like your car, you don’t want to run out of gas when THE KING IS COMING!