Knowing God’s Word but not understanding has more to do with our hearts than a lack of academic comprehension. I went to a state university with some outstanding Christian professors who lived out their faith as they taught their students. Although their expertise was not in Biblical studies, over time, I could tell there was something special about them. I was exposed to outstanding scholars when I attended seminary, but living out their faith seemed lacking. This brought forth the truth that information is not transformation.
In the days of Jesus, the religious leaders overflowed with information about the Scriptures, but in the end, that was all many had. They had information without a relationship with the Lord. I remember a first grader in our church who led another first grader to Jesus. She did not know much information but had a relationship with Jesus.
Removing the Blockage
One of my friends had open heart surgery that removed the blockage in his heart, restoring his health. Although this was a physical blockage of his heart, we can have a spiritual heart blockage. We can read God’s Word, but unbelief, bitterness, and sin can prevent us from understanding. This results in spiritual blockage.
A few days before Jesus was crucified, He told the parable of the wicked tenants to a group of religious leaders. In this story, the wicked tenants killed the owners’ servants and, finally, his son. Jesus was trying to convey to the religious leaders that they were the wicked tenants so they could turn to him and have the blockage removed.
Matthew 21:35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. 37 “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 38 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. [1]
Hearing the Word and Understanding
Knowing God’s Word but not understanding does not have to happen to you! A tender heart towards God begins with the humbling of oneself before Him. Begin by asking Him to shape and mold you. As the Lord shapes and molds us, our hearts become pliable like putty in His hands. When we surrender to the Lord, He opens our hearts and minds up to His Word in ways we never experienced before.
To understand the Lord’s Word beyond information is supernatural and takes the Holy Spirit working in us. Paul tells us how the Lord changes our hearts. Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then, you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [2]
To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/parable-of-the-tenants
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 21:35–39). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ro 12:2). Tyndale House Publishers.