<Deut 32> 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

God’s word is as important as our life!

• It has power.
• Our lives depend on it.
• But have we understood God’s word correctly?
• “So anyone who thinks that he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding them.” 
  ― Augustine of Hippo, On Christian Doctrine

<Jn 5> 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

<Mt 22:29> Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

“Bible experts” yet did not know God.

• Do we read the scriptures like the Pharisees or like Jesus?
• Pharisees: Treated scriptures like a “rule book”.
• Although they read God’s word, they did not understand His heart.
• Pharisees emphasized self-glory, self-efforts.
• Problem is not with placing too much attention on God’s laws, but misunderstanding and misapplying God’s word.
• <Mt 23:23>, Jesus rebuked them, saying, “You give a tenthof your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
• Jesus: Saw God’s will, love and righteousness in God’s word.

Why is the Bible so hard to understand?

1) Because of man’s sin and idols.

2) Be mindful of wrong attitudes of reading the Bible:

（1）Impose our own ideas onto God’s word.

（2）Only read the Bible for knowledge.

·      <1 Co 8> 1b …But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

（3）Only read Bible out of duty.

3) Because of our enemy the devil.

• <2 Co 4:4> The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

How should we read the Bible?

1) God’s word is spiritual, so need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand God’s word.

• “But the Advocate,the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. <Jn 14:26>

2）Know God’s core emphases in the Bible.

• Whole Bible is a coherent grand story of: God’s creation, Man’s fall, God’s redemption and restoration.
• Old Testament anticipates Christ, and the New Testament reveals Christ, especially Christ’s redemption.
• Some core truths repeated in the Bible: God’s glory, His holiness, His love, His righteousness, His relationship with His people; things of eternal value; sharing gospel with lost souls, etc.

3）Read not just for knowledge but also for life transformation.

• God’s word is not merely a suggestion, but His word concerns life and death.
• God gives us His word so that “the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”. <2 Ti 3:17>
• Read God’s word >>> Do what it says