TRUTH OR JUSTIFICATION

Baca: MATTHEW 4:1-11

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Bacaan tahunan: Judges 3-5

When tempting Jesus, Satan quoted a verse written in Psalm 91:11-12, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone" (v. 6). Look! Even Satan knows the Bible. Satan quoted the verse correctly.

However, Jesus rejected Satan's command, and quoted another verse (v. 7), written in Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus was not tempted by the spiritual justification done by Satan. For even though Satan quoted the correct verse, he took the context and the original purpose of the verse. Even though Psalm 91 talks about God's protection, its purpose is not to justify reckless actions that tempt God. On the contrary, with the verse He quoted, Jesus showed that the word must be understood in its entirety, not in fragments. Quoting just one verse certainly cannot be used to justify actions that go against the principles of God's truth.

Every verse written in the Bible is the truth of God that is interconnected with each other. Therefore, the verses of the Bible must be understood in their entirety and contextually. Thus, the purpose of reading the Bible should be to know the truth. So that we are open to change if indeed our initial beliefs contradict it. Do not let the truth of the Bible be twisted to seek justification to support every view, belief, or even evil intentions we have. --EBL/www.renunganharian.net

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THE BIBLE IS THE SOURCE OF TRUTH, NOT JUSTIFICATION TO MAKE WHAT IS WRONG APPEAR RIGHT.

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