I often get questioned about Bible study and understanding. People want to know how to interpret the Bible and how to study it and make sense of it. In my personal opinion, few know the correct answers to these questions. Actually the Bible itself says quite a bit about how to study and interpret or understand it.

One of the first things all students of the Bible must understand is that the inspired word of God was not intended for all to understand. The message is esoteric and God grants understanding only to his true followers. I am not suggesting that there is some mystical force enabling enlightened Gnostics to understand. God let it be known in his word that all would not be able to understand and Jesus qualified that with an explanation of just who among us can understand. The following verses make that clear.

Matthew 7:24-26 (KJV)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 

Matthew 13:10-13 (KJV)
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Isaiah 6:9-10 (KJV)
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

 Isaiah explains in the passage above that God controls who can understand his word.

Nehemiah records that those returning from captivity in Babylon were not all able to understand.

Nehemiah 8:3 (KJV)And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

 Micah teaches that even in the last days while God is gathering the nations they do not understand God’s word.

Micah 4:12 (KJV)
But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

 Here we find God wondering if anyone on earth understood and where seeking God.

Psalm 14:2 (KJV)
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

Jesus himself taught that God did not intend for all to understand in this age.

Matthew 13:13-16 (KJV)
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Mark 4:11-12 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 8:10 (KJV)
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 John 12:40 (KJV)
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Jesus after appearing to his apostles following his crucifixion and burial in the tomb had to open their understanding of the scriptures so that they could accept his miraculous rise from death.

Luke 24:45 (KJV)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

 Acts 28:26 (KJV)
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

Paul also taught his followers that all would not understand as he quoted Isaiah.

Now with the knowledge that God’s word was not meant to be understood by all, how do we, who yearn to understand, make any sense of it? It begins with prayer; if you really want to understand and are willing to follow God’s laws. Bible study and understanding is a lifelong pursuit. Isaiah recorded a major clue to help us understand.

Isaiah 28:9-10, 13 (KJV)
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: . . . But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

We find in above explanation that those who will be taught must be mature and that they will find understanding in many places. The bible will interpret itself but this is rarely evident upon first examination. We all are puzzled at one time or another in our study but are rewarded sometimes years later when we discover the answer to a Bible passage that has been troubling us. One example of this is found in Revelation.

Revelation 13:1 (KJV)
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

 One might be tempted to let his or her mind wander and conjure up an allegorical interpretation of this beast but patience and further study will reveal that the Bible will interpret this for us. Reading on we find the following in chapter 17.

Revelation 17:9-13 (KJV)
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

 As explained earlier, Bible study is a lifelong endeavor that should not be taken lightly and may not be for those who become easily discouraged. God’s plan includes an age where all will understand. Revelation speaks of a resurrection when Jesus returns and another 1000 years later. There are but 144,000 resurrected in the first resurrection, but all remaining will rise 1000 years later

Revelation 20:4-5 (KJV)
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Isaiah 65:17-25 (KJV)
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (KJV)
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The day is coming when you will no longer ask for understanding or be stumped by a Bible passage. God will write in our hearts and remove the need to teach one another God’s word. Thank God!