5 Commonly Misused Bible Verses

What is the purpose of Scripture?

Scripture reveals who God is and His character

Scripture is profitable for the body of Christ

Scripture is for our benefit which is for God’s glory

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Matthew 5:16

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.Revelation 4:11

How do we understand Scripture?

Rules of Thumb

Context

Author and Audience

Culture and Language

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15

Eisegesis: is often described as “reading into” a text. It involves imposing your own interpretations and beliefs onto a text, even if those interpretations are not supported by the text’s original meaning or context.

Exegesis: on the other hand, is the process of carefully analyzing a text to determine its intended meaning, often by considering its historical, cultural, and literary context. It involves “drawing out” the meaning from the text itself.

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.Psalm 119:160

How do we “use” Scripture?

Unpack the Misuse

Search for Context Clues

Exegete the Truth

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Philippians 4:13

We must abide in Christ

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.John 15:5

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.John 15:8

We must rely on Christ’s Strength

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2 Corinthians 12:9

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.Jeremiah 29:11

God does not abandon His People

God’s plan is always redemption and restoration

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?Ezekiel 33:11

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.Matthew 7:1

We are all judged by the same standard

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.Romans 3:10-12

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 3:23

We must be ready to be judged

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.Romans 14:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.2 Corinthians 5:10

Godly rebuke is done in love and truth

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.Luke 17:3

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:Ephesians 4:15

The goal is restoration

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Galatians 6:1

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13

There is no exemption to temptation

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.Hebrews 4:15

God is Faithful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9

God’s Way of Escape is not easy - Be prepared

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.Psalm 55:22

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.Matthew 11:30

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.Matthew 18:20

Jesus is about accountability

“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬

Everything we do we should do in Christ’s name

And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.Colossians 3:17

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians‬ 3‬:‭18

True Spiritual action is backed by Spiritual authority

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Galatians 6:1

Scripture taken out of context can say anything. However, Scripture in context says what God intended.

Scripture in context reveals who God is - He is faithful

Scripture in context reveals what God does - He redeems and restores

Without context, we risk misusing Scripture; but with it we discover God’s truth.

“Failure to understand Scriptural context is embarrassing at best and eternally damaging at worst”