The Sunday school teacher read...
Illustration
The Sunday school teacher read from her Bible storybook the account of Jonah and the whale to her five-year-old class. When she had concluded, she asked them about its meaning, "What did you learn from the story of Jonah and the whale?"
One little boy exclaimed, "It teaches that you should always travel by air!"
As adults, hopefully, we can read and understand the meaning of Scripture a little better than this young child, but when you read stories of the bizarre messages that some people obtain from the Scriptures, you wonder. The reading of scripture can be a blessing or a bane. What is so often needed is helpful interpretation that explains the message. It enables those of limited background to expand their understanding of the riches of the gospel story. For those who distort the biblical message out of some emotional need, such as interpretive assistance can provide a corrective to their warped perception.
In the synagogue in Antioch, Paul seized the opportunity to speak to his Jewish brothers to explain the meaning of that Biblical message they had read so many times. Recounting the history of Israel for these sons of Israel, Paul finally concluded his message with an eye-opening twist, God had ultimately spoken in Jesus Christ.
One little boy exclaimed, "It teaches that you should always travel by air!"
As adults, hopefully, we can read and understand the meaning of Scripture a little better than this young child, but when you read stories of the bizarre messages that some people obtain from the Scriptures, you wonder. The reading of scripture can be a blessing or a bane. What is so often needed is helpful interpretation that explains the message. It enables those of limited background to expand their understanding of the riches of the gospel story. For those who distort the biblical message out of some emotional need, such as interpretive assistance can provide a corrective to their warped perception.
In the synagogue in Antioch, Paul seized the opportunity to speak to his Jewish brothers to explain the meaning of that Biblical message they had read so many times. Recounting the history of Israel for these sons of Israel, Paul finally concluded his message with an eye-opening twist, God had ultimately spoken in Jesus Christ.
