2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation… I. THE MEN WHOSE EVIL HANDLING OF THE SCRIPTURE I AM GOING TO POINT OUT are described generally in our text as "unlearned and unstable." Those meant by "unlearned" are men who, whatever be their human knowledge, have either never "learned of the Father," or who are at best, "unskilful in the Word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:13); and, he adds, "unstable men" — men who, if in some degree enlightened, yet are not established in the faith; but are like "children driven to and fro and tossed about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). II. Now let us see WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH THIS OFFENCE AGAINST GOD'S BOOK MAY BE COMMITTED. 1. One of the most awful ways of wresting Holy Scripture is where men try to draw out of its pages a justification of their sins. "David, they say, was once guilty of adultery — Jacob, of deceit — and Peter of a lying oath; and yet they were good men. And this, they think, is either a warrant or excuse for the sins in which they live themselves. Oh! when men read a portion of God's Word which describes some evil deed, and are tempted from His silence to suppose He disregarded it, let them look at other portions. Let them think of His most holy laws; let them mark His terrible threatenings" against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). 2. Another grievous way of wresting Scripture is where men try to draw out of its doctrines a justification of their doing nothing for their souls. 3. A third way in which Holy Scripture may be "wrested," and often, I fear, is so, is as follows. Men adopt a certain set of doctrines as their own, these doctrines may seem to be the language of certain texts of Scripture, but are evidently contrary to others. What, then, do they do when they are pressed with all those passages which make against them? Why, they try to give these passages another meaning. They find out some ingenious method of explaining them away, or of adapting them to their own peculiar views. 4. I will speak of one instance more of the "wresting" of the Scriptures. It is where men quote Scripture, as Satan did (Matthew 4:6), by halves, so as to make it seem to speak the thing they wish. How awful is that threatening which is addressed in the Book of Revelation to all such triflers with the Bible! (Revelation 22:18, 19). III. HOW, THEN, ARE WE TO ESCAPE THE GUILT AND DANGER OF WRESTING HOLY SCRIPTURE? 1. The chief means, most assuredly, of avoiding such a guilt as this, is to pray for the Spirit as our Guide and Interpreter in reading His own Book. 2. Let me recommend to you, again, some frames of mind in which we must ever pray and strive to open the Lord's Book. (1) One is a sense of our own ignorance, with a desire, a most unfeigned desire, to be led and taught of Holy Scripture. (2) Again, it is a great point to study Holy Scripture in simplicity of mind without any prejudice or bias. (3) He who would shun the sin of wresting Holy Scripture must study it with diligence. He must take all the pains he can to ascertain its real meaning. (4) So as not to wrest it to your own destruction — study it as a sinner searching for a Saviour. (A. Roberts, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; |
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