Interpreting Scripture by Scripture Under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
In these last days, the voices of humanity are growing louder and more numerous, while the truth is often obscured by man-made ideas, traditions, philosophies, theologies, and religious concepts.
When we come before the holy, eternal, and living Word of God, we cannot rely solely on human wisdom and knowledge to judge or interpret it. Rather, we must humble ourselves before God, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and understand God’s Word through God’s own Word.
In these last days, only by returning to the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit can we truly know God, fear God, and obey the commands of Jesus Christ.
In an age filled with deceiving spirits, antichrists, false teachers, false prophets, lawless people, the son of destruction, and angels of light, many people neither fear God nor know the truth. Therefore, how should we interpret and understand the Word of God?
What Is the Holy Spirit–Led Method of Interpreting Scripture by Scripture?
What, then, is the “Holy Spirit–led method of interpreting Scripture by Scripture”? It is the approach of understanding God’s Word through God’s own Word, rather than relying on human wisdom, worldly philosophies, or personal opinions. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers allow Scripture to illuminate, explain, and confirm Scripture, thereby faithfully discerning God’s truth, His will, and His eternal purposes.
1. Why Scripture Must Be Interpreted by the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 55:8–9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God created the universe, whose observable extent is approximately 93 billion light-years. Yet the difference between the Word of God and the limits of human understanding is far greater than any physical distance we can comprehend.
The Word of God is from God; the Word of God is spiritual; and the Word of God carries God’s commands. It is not an extension of human opinion. Therefore, how can human beings arbitrarily interpret God’s Word according to human culture, religion, philosophy, theology, personal opinions, experiences, or other human concepts?
2. Interpreting Scripture Through Scripture Under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
John 16:13
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
From this passage, we understand that the Holy Spirit alone can guide people into all truth. How, then, can human culture, religion, philosophy, theology, personal opinions, or human reasoning become the ultimate authority for interpreting truth?
We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through Scripture and use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Otherwise, we can easily fall into the deadly trap of using Scripture in the manner of Satan—quoting Scripture while twisting its meaning.
The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness demonstrates that Satan can quote Scripture in order to distort and misuse it, obscure God’s will, lead people away from the truth, and cause them to rebel against God. If the Scripture being quoted is not understood under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, how can it truly lead people into all truth?
Only the Holy Spirit can rightly illuminate Scripture. Scripture, as brought forth and illuminated by the Holy Spirit, must interpret Scripture. Words that interpret God’s Word according to human culture, religion, philosophy, theology, personal opinions, or human experience belong to the realm of the flesh, the earth, and the world. How, then, can they fully explain what belongs to God?
3. The Folly of Trying to Understand Truth Without the Holy Spirit
Galatians 3:3
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
This Scripture teaches us that we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to understand the truth rather than relying upon the flesh. How, then, should we depend upon the Holy Spirit to understand God’s Word?
Case One: The devil is good at interpreting scripture with scripture
Luke 4:9–12
The devil then took Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple. He said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to protect You; they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
From these verses, we can see that the devil used Scripture to tempt Jesus to test God. Jesus did not engage the devil in a human argument or debate. Instead, He responded with Scripture and allowed Scripture to interpret Scripture, thereby revealing the truth of God’s Word.
The devil knows Scripture and is skilled at quoting it from an earthly perspective. By doing so, he distorts and confuses the meaning and purpose of God’s Word. Jesus, however, quoted Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He could interpret and reveal the Word of God faithfully, completely, and truthfully.
The devil often quotes Scripture in order to tempt people to fix their attention on the values, desires, and pursuits of this world. Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, uses Scripture to lead people to know the truth, turn away from sin, return to God, seek the kingdom of heaven, and receive eternal life.
The purpose of the devil’s use of Scripture is to interpret God’s Word according to worldly concepts and desires, thereby leading people away from God and into disobedience and rebellion against Him. The purpose of Jesus’ use of Scripture is to interpret God’s Word according to the truth of the Holy Spirit, thereby helping people know God, understand His will, obey His Word, and walk according to His purposes.
Case Two: Jesus and Peter
John 21:15
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
John 21:16
“He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’”
John 21:17
“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
These passages show that Peter initially understood Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” according to a human understanding. At that moment, he did not yet fully understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words. How, then, should Peter understand Jesus’ words through the Holy Spirit?
John 14:23
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:14–15
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Luke 15:4
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”
Matthew 9:36
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
John 10:27–28
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
From these Scriptures, Jesus clearly defines love for Him as keeping His Word. Peter had not yet fully understood that loving Jesus means obeying His Word; therefore, he did not yet fully comprehend the meaning of Jesus’ command.
Jesus taught Peter that loving Him means feeding and shepherding His sheep.
How, then, did Jesus shepherd and feed His sheep?
Jesus sought the lost sheep. He had compassion on those who were suffering and wandering. He personally taught His sheep, protected them, cared for them, and ultimately laid down His life for them.
Therefore, Jesus was calling Peter to do likewise.
4. The Word of God Is from God
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 6:63
“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
John 14:21
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
From these Scriptures, we understand that God’s Word is living and comes from God. To obey God’s Word is to love God. Those who keep His Word experience His love and His presence, and Jesus promises to reveal Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments.
5. God’s Word Must Not Be Defiled
Genesis 1:31
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”
1 Timothy 4:4
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
Exodus 20:25
“If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it.”
Deuteronomy 27:5–6
“And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them. You shall build an altar of stones to the LORD your God and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.”
John 4:24
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
These Scriptures teach us that God’s creation is good and that worship must be offered in spirit and truth. Therefore, how can human beings arbitrarily reshape, diminish, or redefine God’s Word according to human culture, religion, philosophy, theology, personal opinions, or human experience?
Would this not constitute treating God’s Word with contempt and defiling what God has spoken?
6. The Only Way, the Truth, and the Life
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
This Scripture makes clear that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. True life, truth, and the way to the Father are found in Him, and His followers are called to obey His commands.
Many theologians and interpreters study the words of Jesus as subjects of theology and philosophy, yet fail to obey His commands. They may continually study His words, but their study does not necessarily mean that they know or follow Him.
Those who refuse to obey the words of Jesus cannot truly understand the spiritual meaning of His Word, cannot come to the Father, cannot abide in Christ, and cannot inherit eternal life.
7. Let No Corrupting Word Come Out of Your Mouth
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
This Scripture commands us to let no corrupting or unwholesome word come from our mouths. What, then, does Scripture mean by “corrupting” or “unwholesome” speech?
Ephesians 5:3
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
From these Scriptures, we understand that corrupt or unwholesome speech includes speech that is unholy and contrary to God’s will.
In God’s sight, words that are unholy, displeasing to God, or that fail to build people up in the knowledge of truth, the fear of God, and obedience to His will are not words that edify.
When interpreters use human concepts and unholy speech to explain or redefine God’s Word, can this not contribute to the spiritual confusion of an age in which many people neither fear God nor know the truth?
Conclusion
In these last days, how should the followers of Jesus know the truth and proclaim the truth? How should they help people know God, fear God, obey the words of Jesus, abide in Christ, and walk with Him?
In this last generation, followers of Jesus must do more than study the Bible and talk about truth. They must allow the Holy Spirit to lead them into truth, interpret Scripture through Scripture, allow God’s Word to correct human thinking, and demonstrate their love for the Lord by obeying the commands of Jesus with all their heart and soul.
Those who expose falsehood and correct the lies of the devil according to God’s will should not do so to exalt themselves, but to call people back to God. They should expose darkness not to condemn people, but to help them see the true Light and walk in the light.
Therefore, followers of Jesus must guard their words carefully and refuse to allow human ideas to corrupt or diminish the Word of God. They must hold firmly to the commands of Jesus and pursue holiness. They must shepherd the lost, the suffering, and those who are wandering without direction. They must help people fear God, know the truth, obey His Word, abide in Christ, and walk with Christ.
May we not merely be hearers of God’s Word, but people who obey His Word faithfully—even unto death—until the Lord returns.
Amen.
