A saying that's always bothered me when approaching Scripture is "that's just your interpretation of it." As a matter of fact, many want to make much, most or all of Scripture become "open to interpretation." Yet, as we look at both the personal context (who it was written to) of the verses, as well as the Historical context (what was happening at the time), we find that the "It's open to interpretation" mentality doesn't hold up. As a matter of fact, people are attempting to weaponize this argument to uphold and Justify their sinful lifestyles, while attempting to have Jesus at the same time! This is why we need proper context alongside interpretation by the Holy Spirit, otherwise, people will make any verse mean anything they want it to (which they have attempted to do so since the beginning). Let's take a look at what Peter said after preaching through the Scriptures about Christ and Him Crucified:
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:29-36
Do you see how proper interpretation and the work of the Holy Spirit go hand in hand? Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was justified by the Jesus He denied, and, uneducated though he was, took the Scriptures and unpacked them in such a way that explained the Prophets, and what they spoke about Jesus Christ, as well as the way to interpret the times and seasons! It is through the Holy Spirit by the Scriptures that we can demonstrate Christ and Him Crucified! It is by the Scriptures that Christ is preached; it is through the Holy Spirit that a person is convicted; and it is by Jesus Christ that a person is justified to God the Father! So what is the result? Acts gives us more insight:
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." Acts 2:38-41
The Holy Spirit, when the Jesus Christ and Him Crucified was preached through the Scriptures, convicted the masses, and some 3,000 were saved that day! Loved ones, each day we must be in the word for our own Spiritual feeding. In this way, the Holy Spirit will give us interpretation that we might also mature in Christ, ready to share the hope we have in Him!
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