Bible

25. Can the Bible be understood by everybody?

No, the Bible can’t be understood by all those who read it because many of those who read it have eyes yet they don’t see, they have ears yet they don’t hear. I am referring to those who are perishing, to the unbelievers, as it is written: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – NKJV).

These people read the Bible but they can’t understand the main message of the Bible. Some of them even study the Bible, but to them also the main message of the Bible remains hidden. Their minds were blinded and unless the Lord opens their minds they can’t understand the Scriptures. In other words, it must happen to them exactly what happened to the disciples of Jesus after Jesus rose again, as it is written: “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45 – NIV). It is true that in that case the Scriptures were the Scriptures of the Old Testament, however I am fully convinced that people can’t understand the Scriptures of the New Testament either, unless the Lord opens their minds.

Many read them but they don’t understand them, it seems incredible but it’s true! In the Scriptures of the New Testament the way to be saved is so clearly indicated, yet they don’t see it. As the Jews when they read the Old Testament a veil lies on their heart (2 Corinthians 3:15), so when many Jews and Gentiles read the New Testament, they don’t understand it because the same veil lies on their heart because the veil is taken away when one turns to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16).

I myself began to understand what I read in the Bible only after I turned to Christ. Indeed one can’t understand what he reads in the Bible, unless he turns to the Lord. Obviously, he can understand that he must not kill, or that he must not steal, but the main message of the Bible, which is salvation in Christ Jesus, still remains hidden from him. Those men who read the Gospel without understanding it, are like the disciples of the Lord who, when Jesus said to them that the Son of Man was about to be betrayed into the hands of men (Luke 9:44), did not understand what that meant and it was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it (Luke 9:45). They read John 3:16, which says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (it is clear, isn’t it?), yet they don’t understand these words!!! There is indeed a veil on their heart that prevents them from understanding it. But when the Lord opens their minds, these words will be clear to them.

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