Lesson 7
Understanding the meaning of the words used in the Bible is important, and finding the correct meaning of a sentence or teaching, we need to place them into the moment of the conversation. Like conversation today, things may be exaggerated to emphasize a point. To describe how hard it is for people to give up riches and status, Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. The disciples understood the context of his comments, which is made plain by reading the verses before and after. Getting the context correct makes all the difference when understanding that dead people are not actually talking to the king of Babylon after he dies, any more than the fir and cedar trees will literally talk to him. Sometimes reading the entire chapter is needed before the context is fully revealed. Is there a belief you support with scripture that has been taken out of context? Are there verses you could understand better?
Matthew 19:21-26 International Children’s Bible
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all the things you own. Give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!” 22 But when the young man heard this, he became very sad because he was very rich. So he left Jesus. 23 Then Jesus said to his followers, “I tell you the truth. It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the followers heard this, they were very surprised. They asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible. But for God all things are possible.”
Isaiah 14:9-11 King James Version
4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.