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Understanding the bible


Darrell 48

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I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

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Just remain humble n keep trying

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3 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

Darrell, the fact that you are here, seeking, asking questions, is proof
the seed planted within you is shooting down roots. Good/great soil. Just needs water.
Over the years, there were so many scripture verses that I couldn't understand,  and then one day "wham!"   
"why didn't I see this before??" Some takes time. Start with the milk (of the word)
A good study bible for getting started is the '
Amplified Bible'
It expands the original verses for a simpler understanding. I use one on difficult verses, myself.
I buy a lot of them to give away to seekers.
Cheap on E Bay, for less than 5 bucks, used, free shipping, some like new.
The more you read the word of God (Light-truth), the more the false data (darkness-untruth) is replaced.

Psalm 119:11 KJV;  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Amplified version;

Psalm 119:11 Amplified Bible  Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

 

Another Example;

John 3:16-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].

If you memorize just one verse a month, Darrell, you may only have a dozen in a year, but a hundred and twenty in ten years.
That is more than most Christians memorize in a lifetime.

I'll get you started:

Jesus wept....

 




 


 

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4 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

Hey Darrell,

Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths from the listeners life experiences, using examples they would be familiar with in their every day lives.

He used the soils as examples of people hearts, they all understood the soil had to be prepared before the seeds were planted if they want their crops to grow and produce for them, ...the spiritual truth He was showing is the condition of the human heart when the Gospel is announced, the seed that fell by the roadside was illustrating a hard, unprepared heart, ...the seed that fell in the stony places is also illustrating a hard, unprepared heart, we call it head knowledge that has never descended to be received and appropriated into the heart, ...the seed that fell among thorns was soil that had been initially prepared, but the cares of this world stunted the growth, ...finally the seed that fell on the good soil is not only a prepared heart, but also requires constant attention to watering, of cultivation, keeping the weeds and insects out.

Can one change? ...that depends on the preparation of one's heart and God planting the seed again, ...if there is truly a desire to receive Jesus into the heart, the Word tells us God knows our thoughts and the desires of our hearts, ...couple with that that God doesn't, it's not His will, that any should perish, so yes, we can change the condition of our heart, ...it's really simple, ...just cry out to God, sincerely from the heart, in complete and total understanding that we are sinners, that need to be saved, ...like it's recorded in the Word, the man cried out to Jesus, ...Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, ...many of us here have said those very same words, ...and He is faithful and true to forgive us of our sins.

When asked why He spoke in parables, ...He said, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given."

So..., if you understand what I have written, then you're in the Kingdom of Heaven, ...you are a born again child of God, ...now you need to water and cultivate the Word that is alive in you.

An excellent tool to study God's Word is available online, ...just google e-Sword, it's free and there are many Bible versions, good commentaries, dictionaries, lots of good stuff to use to grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Lord bless

 

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5 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

Persistence and Prayer.. Specifically Prayer asking God to cause you to understand what you need to understand..

You can always post questions online about specific passages asking others what they believe they mean.. Maybe the LORD will send an answer through a brother or sister in Christ..

But the most dependable source of understanding is the Holy Spirit who can make even the most simple person have great wisdom..

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8 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

Shalom @Darrell 48

May I ask what part of the Bible you are struggling with? A particular book or just in general?

I don't believe that your situation is the one mentioned by the Lord Jesus on the various types of soil.  That teaching isn't about comprehension, but about the heart.  If you are reading the Word and don't understand it but WANT to - then rest at ease, you just need to persevere.  

I have a recommendation for you.  An audio Bible might help you massively, with understanding AND remembering it.   I would recommend the NIV one by David Suchet.  It's not the best translation but David reads it incredibly well and it isn't as cheesy as others out there.  Here is a sample and here is the audiobook. If you listen whilst travelling, working or walking, it will really help focus you on the Word.  But don't just listen to it once - it should be a daily thing.  This will help you tremendously in remembering the Word as well - psychologically speaking, listening vastly improves your information absorption rate.

There are also a handful of great Bible films which will help you understand the text in context - but first you need to let me know which part you are struggling with!

Finally, change your translation if you are having a hard time with it.  I'm not sure what your style is, but the New Living Translation is one of the easier ones to understand and reflects the heart behind the text.  Sure, it might not be the most word-for-word accurate translation, but it will teach you all you need to know from end-to-end.

Love & Shalom

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8 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

 

God is not interested in your reformation or trying to change yourself.....He wants to see change, but only HE can do it .He will change you from the inside out which is something only HE can do.Only the Holy Spirit can make the heart contrite and that type of heart ( soil) is the only type that is ready to receive the “ seed” of the Gospel that Jesus promised would save you if you merely believed it.1Cor15,1-4  Christianity begins when you see yourself as a lost sinner who needs a Savior, then turn to Jesus to do that saving.Only the opening of your eyes by theHoly Spirit will allow you to see your lost condition. The best prayer for the unsaved man is “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner”. I guarantee he will hear and show you mercy by having the Holy Spirit pay you a visit.....the rest, with the leading  of that Spirit ,will pretty much take care of itself—- He will lead you into all righteousness.....God bless you, you are in my prayers...

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9 hours ago, Darrell 48 said:

I am having trouble understanding the bible, I read it and next thing I find what  I forget what I just read.  is this what Jesus was talking abought in Matthew 13:3,

when abought the various types of soil ? And if so can one change ?

Hi and welcome Darrell 48,

 I offer the opening suggestion that  one read at least all of the near text as it often explains the point being made. Only read  it for pleasure first, just reading, if possible totally ignore the verse numbering and  reference and footnotes until after it has been read for pleasure.

Also; give thanks to God for His word  being shared with you personally, pray for understanding and especially for personal application.

The presentation was made to a crowd, it was deliberately a parable  for the reason given to the disciples and explained to them by Jesus within the text itself.

As you read; try to "see" the crowd, see the physical setting, and the culture of the crowd, understand that they had Bible knowledge, the same Bible that Jesus read that is now the Old testament. Jesus was, to them, a teacher, He was lecturing. They would both listen but also challenge teaching.

Here is the immediate text without verse numbers, please just first read through for your own pleasure, then pray for understanding, read again and give thanks for the word from God by the Holy Spirit within you. A proper application will come to you personally as situations come up in your own life; at those times the whole of the text will come to your mind, not just an isolated verse without context. Enjoy, read for your own pleasure first:

Matthew 13 English Standard Version (ESV)

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,  but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear.”

 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
 For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.  For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

“Hear then the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.  As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,  but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’  But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables;
    I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”  He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,  and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.  Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.  So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”  And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,  and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”  And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”  And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

 

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