Taking scriptures out of context.

Acts 1.20

Peter continued, "This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, 'Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.' It also says, 'Let someone else take his position.'
" So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus---"


...

The first time I read this scripture, I quickly looked up the reference in Psalm 65. I think I was expecting the name of Judas to be written in the Psalm. I was greatly surprised to find that there were no references in specific detail to Judas himself. As a matter fact, the psalm was talking about a totally different situation.  

The discovery of this scripture can shortly after my pastor had just told us, the congregation, that we should always interpret scripture in context to what is being written.  It was clear to me that this old testament reference in to the book of Psalms concerning Judas was not done in context.  Since I didn't question my pastor, I made a mental note concerning the scripture and went on reading the book of Acts. 

Years later, I was listening to another pastor teach that Jesus found himself in the Scriptures. One of these references stated, "behold the Lamb of God…" and in Luke 4.18:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the LORD's favor has come."
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"

After the pastor taught more on this subject as to where and what Jesus found in the Scriptures concerning himself, the pastor asked the congregation if they had found themselves in the Scripture.  

I knew that in my life certain scriptures had stood out.  They fit me.  But the words of my first pastor rang steady in my ears, "do not take a scripture out of context."  It took time for me to overcome the teaching of my first pastor and to accept the teaching that my current pastor was telling me.  But slowly, as time went on, those verses in the Bible that stood out to me and fit me, became mine.  By finding myself in the Scriptures through the quickening of the Holy Spirit, I was able to gain a better understanding of what the Lord God wanted for my life while here on earth.  

How about you? 


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