HARD TRUTH APPLIED SOFTLY

 

Friday, November 1, 2024

 

HARD TRUTH APPLIED SOFTLY

 

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

Matt 5:17-18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

          Stubbornness and inflexibility have fallen out of favor with modern thought. The great mantra of our culture is tolerance for divergent thought. But Jesus describes the Bible as very inflexible.

 

          A jot is the Greek letter iota which is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet and Jesus used it to describe the dot above the “I” or the period at the end of a sentence. The tittle is the Greek keraia and refers to “something horn-like.” Jesus used it to refer to the accent marks which served for vowels in the Hebrew language. “It is the same as saying everything else may change; the very earth and heaven may pass away, but the law of God shall not be destroyed until its whole design has been accomplished.”(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

          Because we don’t speak either Hebrew or Greek, the originally written Bible has been translated into many languages. I suspect that both jots and tittles have been changed in the process, but the force of the truth and of the written Bible remains inflexible in its teachings. Right has not suddenly become wrong and wrong has not gradually become acceptable because of enlightened human culture and thought. 

 

          The Bible must remain rigid because it is the pier and beam upon which our entire faith is founded. It is not our position but our disposition that must remain tender.

 

Eph 4:14-15

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

Dear Lord, let me be inflexible when teaching Bible truths but tender toward those who are enslaved by sin. AMEN