PreachingHelp.org If you were to suggest the most misunderstood page in the Bible, what would you suggest? Think about it. Would you suggest the page that records:
- Judges 11 and Jephthah’s sacrifice of his daughter?
- 1 Samuel 16 and God sending an evil spirit upon King Saul?
- Daniel 9 and the 70 weeks?
- Revelation 20 and the 1000 year reign?
These pages and many others just like them may very well be among some of the most misunderstand pages in the Bible. But any of them, in fact all of them combined together come in a distant second to the page contained in the link below. Go ahead and click on it before you read any further, and see if you don’t agree with me.
The Most Misunderstood Page In The Bible
Well, what do you think? In my judgment, I don’t know of any other page in the Bible that is more misunderstood, and consequently results in so many mistaken beliefs. Misunderstanding this page is responsible for:
- Some observing the Sabbath today.
- Some believing that we can be saved without baptism (like the thief on the cross).
- Some using instrumental music in Christian worship.
- Some misunderstanding Jesus’ teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
- Some believing that some meats are unclean and not to be eaten.
- Some living under a heavy yoke of bondage.
- Some becoming estranged from Jesus and falling from grace.
If we’re ever to come to a proper understanding of God’s will for our lives and faithfully fulfill our responsibilities as Christians, we must understand the implications of this important and most misunderstood page in the Bible.
Why is it so misunderstood?
Thanks for the question, Jeff. The reason I believe this page is the most misunderstood page in the Bible is because failing to understand this page demonstrates that a person doesn’t understand the distinction between the Old Law and the New Law. While all the Bible is the word of God, we are not governed by the Old Law today, but by the law of Christ. Failing to understand this truth leads to people obeying laws that are no longer in force. Hope that helps.
keep in mind that the “thief on the cross” is found in this part of the Bible, so there needs to be more clarification on when the New Covenant begun and what is included and excluded in it. Just some thoughts
Of course, Jeff. This article was intended as hyperbole, to bring to attention the distinction between the covenants. For that matter, this page isn’t really part of the Bible, correct?
So the new law began at Matthew?
No Jeff, the Bible teaches the new law/covenant came into force with the death of the testator (Hebrews 9:16-17). That said, elements of that law were indeed stated in Matthew (Matthew 4:23). During Jesus’ lifetime, he taught in an anticipatory fashion, the gospel of the Kingdom.
I agree Steve!!! Great Post!!!
Great thoughts. In my teaching people from time to time, I try to get them to understand that the Bible is like a “last will and testament.” Under the Old Law, there was no death of the testator, although the wishes of “the testator” were followed by many people, there was no salvation. Their sins were “rolled forward” from year to year. But Jesus brought a new will which replaces the first will, not just a codicil, A codicil would simply add to the first will, and all it contains would be in force. But this new law replaced the old. This new will has been brought into force because the testator, Jesus Christ, died. Since the thief on the cross died before the will was in force, he was not amenable to the new law. Sometimes, you have to say the same thing several different ways before you hit onto the right words and phrases that click for someone. Keep up the great work. I need to stop by more often.
I would like to pose the question, “How do we know the thief had not been baptized? John went around baptizing a baptism of repentance toward God throughout the region. Nevertheless, Jesus is Lord and he can do whatsoever he pleases…he can heal infirmities, forgive sins, and take whom he will to paradise.