The scripture for today, July 24 (7/24), is Matthew 7:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
The problem we have with putting into practice the Words of God is that we sometimes read blindly. We don’t see the significance of something. We may read it over and over for years and never see its significance.
Take, for example, the story of Jesus’ birth. We sometimes see pictures of baby Jesus in a stable with the shepherds and three wise men all gathered around him. But Matthew 2:11 says by the time the wise men arrived, Jesus and his parents were living in a house. Further, the Bible does not say how many wise men there were; it just says they gave three kinds of gifts ~ gold, incense and myrrh. And, Jesus’ age was close to two by then.
How about 1st Timothy 3:2? “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” This word “overseer” is sometimes translated bishop, sometimes elder, and sometimes pastor. It’s all the same office. We might think at first glance that we believe all this. But do we glaze over the fact that he must have a wife? Hmmm…
Here’s another one. At funerals, we often quote Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.” But for the Christian, there are no shadows in the valley of death. Jesus was born “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79).
Did you know the word “baptism” is never translated in most Bibles? It is a Greek word meaning immersion. Did you know the word “unknown” never appears next to tongues in the Bible? Did you know the word “tongues” is translated most places as languages?
Oh, so many things we overlook ~ meaningful things. Let us continue to study God’s Word daily with our mind and heart open to new things our religious leaders never told us so that we can build the house of our lives “on the rock.”
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so much is lost in translation, thank you Katheryn
So true. One of my pets is Job’s wife. The word “curse” translators make her say is translated “bless” over 300 times in other Scriptures. Even Job said on many occasions he wanted to die. Maybe it was during one of those moments he changed his mind that he didn’t like what she said. But I think she was saying, “It’s okay to die. I will be okay.” I said that to both my mother and my husband and it eased their minds.
Another great article Katheryn
Thank you.
As I started to read your blog, I found myself saying, “Wow! Nice catch.” and although I did find many of your observations interesting. I am sure that they were meant to cause me to think and not just be impressed by your knowledge. I like your style. Thank you for the creative way that you cause the (open) reader look at the scriptures.
That is my goal. People are smart and do not have to be told what to believe by the “theologians”. Everyone can read the Bible for themselves and figure it out for themselves.