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Misused Scriptural Passages in Preaching and Teaching Examples

The misuse of scriptural passages in preaching and teaching can lead to false doctrines and practices, often stemming from misinterpretation or selective application of the text [3]. Such misuse can be destructive to faith and is considered hateful to God [3].

One common form of misuse involves distorting the original intent of a passage. For instance, the Jewish teachers in Jesus's time were criticized for corrupting commandments, sometimes interpreting them too loosely and at other times too strictly, particularly regarding the fourth commandment [8]. This practice of "making void the word of God by your tradition" was condemned by Jesus Himself [6]. Similarly, false prophets are described as those who speak lies in the name of God, pretending to be sent by Him when they are not [5]. These individuals are characterized as light, treacherous, covetous, crafty, drunken, immoral, and profane [5].

Another way passages are misused is by applying them out of context to support personal agendas or worldly advantages. Flattery, for example, is a tool used by the wicked, hypocrites, and false teachers to deceive others or gain influence [1]. Daniel 11:21-22 indicates that worldly advantage can be obtained through flattery [1]. False teachers are also noted for speaking "perverse things" to attract followers and deceive many [3]. The apostle Paul warned against those who preach "another Jesus" or "a different gospel," indicating a distortion of the core message [12]. These false teachers might assume high-sounding titles, even arrogating Christ's own title [12].

The problem of false teaching is not new; it has existed throughout the history of the church. Even in Old Testament times, alongside true prophets, there were false prophets who sought to seduce and deceive [10]. These false prophets were sometimes used by God to test Israel [5]. In the New Testament, Judaizing teachers are identified as those who insisted on connecting Mosaic rites with Christian institutions, potentially denouncing figures like Paul for his stance against circumcision [11]. These teachers corrupted the law with "fables" that undermined both morals and truth [9].

The consequences of such misuse are severe. Hosea 4:6 states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children" [7]. This highlights the destructive impact of neglecting or distorting divine truth. False doctrines are described as unprofitable and vain, and believers are warned to avoid them [3]. Ministers, in particular, are called to avoid such teachings and to guard against those who promote them [3].

The Bible provides examples of how leaders and teachers should conduct themselves. Christ Himself is presented as an example [2]. Pastors are also meant to be examples to their flocks [2]. This emphasis on exemplary conduct underscores the importance of integrity in handling God's word. Intercessory prayer, for instance, is exemplified by Christ and commanded for believers, to be offered for various groups including kings, ministers, and all saints [4]. This demonstrates a proper application of biblical instruction.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Doctrines, False — Destructive to faith -- 2Ti 2:18. Hateful to God -- Re 2:14,15. Unprofitable and vain -- Tit 3:9; Heb 13:9. Should be avoided by Ministers. -- 1Ti 1:4; 6:20. Saints. -- Eph 4:14; Col 2:8. All men. -- Jer 23:16; 29:8. The wicked love -- 2Ti 4:3,4. The wicked given up to believe -- 2Th 2:11. Teachers of Not to be countenanced. -- 2Jo 1:10. Should be avoided. -- Ro 16:17,18. Bring reproach on religion. -- 2Pe 2:2. Speak perverse things. -- Ac 20:30. Attract many. -- 2Pe 2:2. Deceive many. -- Mt 24:5. Shall abound in the latter days. -- 1Ti 4:1. Perver”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets, False — Pretended to be sent by God -- Jer 23:17,18,31. Not sent or commissioned by God -- Jer 14:14; 23:21; 29:31. Made use of by God to prove Israel -- De 13:3. Described as Light and treacherous. -- Zep 3:4. Covetous. -- Mic 3:11. Crafty. -- Mt 7:15. Drunken. -- Isa 28:7. Immoral and profane. -- Jer 23:11,14. Women sometimes acted as -- Ne 6:14; Re 2:20. Called foolish prophets -- Eze 13:2. Compared to foxes in the desert -- Eze 13:4. Compared to wind -- Jer 5:13. Influenced by evil spirits -- 1Ki 22:21,22. Prophesied Falsely. -- Jer 5:31. Lies in the na”
  6. Mark “making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this.” -- Mark 7:13”
  7. Hosea “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children. -- Hosea 4:6”
  8. Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 12:1: The Jewish teachers had corrupted many of the commandments, by interpreting them more loosely than they were intended; a mistake which Christ discovered and rectified (ch. 5) in his sermon on the mount: but concerning the fourth commandment, they had erred in the other extreme, and interpreted it too strictly. Note, it is common for men of corrupt minds, by their zeal in rituals, and the external services of religion, to think to atone for the looseness of their morals. But they are cursed who add to, as well as they who take fRom. the words of this book, Rev 22:”
  9. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 1:7: Sample of their "vain talk" (Ti1 1:6). Desiring--They are would-be teachers, not really so. the law--the Jewish law (Tit 1:14; Tit 3:9). The Judaizers here meant seem to be distinct from those impugned in the Epistles to the Galatians and Romans, who made the works of the law necessary to justification in opposition to Gospel grace. The Judaizers here meant corrupted the law with "fables," which they pretended to found on it, subversive of morals as well as of truth. Their error was not in maintaining the obligation of the law, but in abusing it ”
  10. 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 2:1: I. In the end of the former chapter there is mention made of holy men of God, who lived in the times of the Old Testament, and were used as the amanuenses of the Holy Ghost, in writing the sacred oracles; but in the beginning of this he tells us they had, even at that time, false prophets in the church as well as true. In all ages of the church, and under all dispensations, when God sends true prophets, the devil sends some to seduce and deceive, false prophets in the Old Testament, and false Christs, false apostles, and seducing teachers, in the New. Concerning t”
  11. Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 1:15: Some - preach Christ even of envy and strife - These must have been the Judaizing teachers, who insisted on the necessity of connecting the Mosaic rites with the Christian institutions; and, probably, denounced Paul to the Jews dwelling at Rome as not only an enemy to the law and the prophets, but also as a very imperfect Christian, because he declared strongly against the doctrine of circumcision, etc.; and no doubt endeavored to prejudice him with the heathen Romans. The word preach is not to be taken here as implying that the different persons mentioned were”
  12. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:4: if, &c.--which in fact is impossible. However, if it were possible, ye might then bear with them (see on Co2 11:1). But there can be no new Gospel; there is but the one which I first preached; therefore it ought not to be "borne" by you, that the false teachers should attempt to supersede me. he that cometh--the high-sounding title assumed by the false teachers, who arrogated Christ's own peculiar title (Greek, Mat 11:3, and Heb 10:37), "He that is coming." Perhaps he was leader of the party which assumed peculiarly to be "Christ's" (Co2 10:7;”
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