“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)
Many in the Church do not even know what this passage of Scripture means. I am hoping that this article will bring understanding to this vitally important part of God’s Word. The devil uses all of Scripture, and twists it to his own avail. He certainly uses this passage over and over against the child of God. He brings confusion.
Do Not Judge! Really?
Have you ever been told this as you are attempting to teach a person or group about God’s word? Think about it: Saying “Do not judge” is an attempt to discredit everything you have said, and all that you will say. It’s saying to us “You are self righteous and have no authority to tell us what to do. Look at yourself – are you without sin?”
What the Bible Really Says About Judging:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5). (Emphasis mine)
When we are told to stop judging, it is an attempt to shut us down and keep us from sharing anything more about God’s Word. But look at what God is saying. We must first make sure that when we are “fruit inspectors” we must first examine our own lives to see if we are in error ourselves! Let’s say we are friends with a person who constantly gossips. We feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit to gently approach this person about this sin.
First we are to look at our own actions. Have we gossiped – even just a little? If so, we need to go to our Father and ask forgiveness, but we also must make a change in our own lives. Then we are judging righteously by helping our brother or sister who is entangled in the sin of gossip.
How Do We Rightly Divide the Word of Truth?
When reading the Word of God, it is imperative when looking at a passage of Scripture, to go back at least a few sentences to understand the frame of reference, and to go ahead a few sentences to look for more confirmation from the Lord about the passage being read.
Have you noticed that many take Scripture out of context, and they use it to support their own opinion? This is a very dangerous way to read God’s Word, and to glean from it truth and wisdom. God is very clear in His Word, and He wants us to understand it and apply it to our lives. He does not want us to pluck a sentence out of context to draw a person to one’s own opinion or conviction.
God Has All Wisdom
Our own opinions or convictions, if they do not line up with Scripture, are stubble (nothing). If a person is attempting to teach another from God’s Word, that person should have a deep understand of what God means. That is why teachers will be held to a higher standard than others.
There are weak minded Christians. There are baby Christians who are so easily swayed by bad teaching. For this reason, not many should be teachers. This should be a calling from God.
Be A Berean
If you have been taught something and you are a new Christian, or even if you have been in the Lord for many years; if you have a feeling that this teaching does not line up with God’s Word, then always go to the source – the Word of God. See what God says about this teaching. Is it almost right, but not completely right? Almost is not truth. Question all teachers no matter who they are. God is God and we are not.
God Speaks to Us Through His Word
Your Bible is the most important book you will ever own. Commentaries on the Word of God are nice – only if the writer is known for adhering to the Word. But make no mistake – anyone can make a mistake; but NOT our God. His Word is Truth.
Heresies in the Churches
Are you in a church which teaches things that make you very uncomfortable? Do they completely avoid End Time Prophecies? Are they hateful to Israel? Are they teaching Catholic doctrines, and attempting to make you believe that it’s time to return to Rome? Is there contemplative prayer in your church, and other mystical practices? These practices originated in the Catholic religion, which is a cult. Catholicism is a works based cult. Nothing good ever comes out of the Vatican.
I hope that his article has helped someone who is confused or has many questions which they have not had answered.
Every answer is in God’s Word!
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA