Have your ever heard it been said that there was no need for any other books to be written than the first five books of Moses?
Upon hearing this did you wonder “how could that be the case, when there is so much in the other books of the bible which is not included in the Pentateuch?”
Or
Is the other information included in the first five books and we have overlooked them? I shall not be doing a study from the first 5 this afternoon but by the examining of a few texts which I’m sure you all are acquainted with, I intend to explain why such a statement could be made.
John says in his account to the gospel John21:25.
21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
This therefore means that there is special significance to the stories that are here mentioned in this book.
Have you ever wondered why some people or stories were mentioned and not others? For example, in the Mount Carmel experience Elijah cried unto the Lord and said that that he was the only one left in all Israel that had not forsaken Him, but the Lord had to tell him that there were 7000 more in Israel, (not in Judah) that had not bowed their knees to Baal.
Why were not the lives or stories of these other 7000 mentioned? Have you ever wondered that?
I can’t stress this enough that there is greater significance to the stories that are mentioned, than the face value that we often associate with them.
It follows then that by a detailed study of the bible we can see the hidden messages that the Lord has been trying to communicate to us.
Ellen white makes the comment that “it is better to study one text carefully and get the meaning totally than to read a whole host of texts and not be the least bit benefitted by them.”
The only way that we will be able to defend truth and refute error is if we diligently seek truth. The Holy Spirit is the guide needed to lead to all truth. If we do not acquaint ourselves with Him and truth then we run the risk of being like sifting sands anchored nowhere but are tossed about with every wind of doctrine.
Questions
The study that I am about to share with you has the intent of educating each person here how to unlock scripture, by the grace of God may this be accomplished. No more will you have to depend on the Elders or pastors to interpret the word for you because you will be equipped with the tools to go digging for treasure yourself.
I will not take questions now because of the brevity of time; however I encourage you to write those questions down and I will address as many of them as I can afterwards.
Let us now turn to our passage of study. Math 9:20-22
9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment:
9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
I am sure that most of us are familiar with this text. As a matter of fact if I were to ask a person hearing/reading this text for the first time, “what’s the message behind this text?” they would probably tell me faith. But is this really all the lesson that is to be received from this text?
Let me ask you a question “Is this a parable or is this a true story?
The answer is both! This type of parable is called an acted parable; where the participants depict a story of an event of the church/Israel.
The bible is laced with them Hosea and Gomer (Hosea 1:3)/Abraham and Isaac (gen 22:3)-/Ahijah & jeroboam (1kings 11:30-31)-the division of Israel into 10+2 tribes
Elijah and ahab, jezebel false prophets- john the Baptist-
Step 1
IF WE ARE TO STUDY A text WE NEED TO SET A BOUNDRY, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE BY ISOLATING THIS THOUGHT/STORY OUT OF THE WHOLE CHAPTER. (entire story, sequence of the events and the players—must line up)( first story must be completely understood on the surface before you dig deep)(ellen whites comments on scripture by looking at the sequence of her commentary to match with sequence in scripture)
A boundary is necessary so that we can get a specific understanding…..rather than to rumble over many terms and doctrines and then end up with confusion.
In other words if we are studying the cross of Christ that should be the theme of all texts being used. There should be no mention of other doctrines.
Step 2
Now that I have done that I need now to identify the symbols or terms in my parable or my text of study that need defining.
What are the objects that need defining in this story.
1) Why a woman
2) Why A bloody woman
3) Why twelve years- a complete period
4) Why behind him-recognizing that she was unclean
5) Why touched-
6) Why the hem of his garment
Step 3
Now symbols are interchangeable pending context in which they are mentioned; therefore it is important to note context and then to ask questions. My favorite question is Why.
So for this parable I would ask questions such as
7) Why a woman mentioned and not a man
A woman represents a church Gen3:15, eph 5:32, Isai4:1 rev 21
8) Why did she have an issue of blood
She was unclean………Lev 15:19-26,
9) Why was her infirmity lasting twelve years- a complete period
Complete number just like the number 7, 12 months (lunar calendar) , 12 disciples, 12 patriarchs, 12 gates of the city. The number 12 is just one of those numbers that God uses to symbolize completeness 3+4=7 3x4=12 (gen 35:22, ex24:4, rev 21)
10) Why did she approach from behind-recognizing that she was unclean
Admission of guilt…she recognizes that she had fallen from grace…….that she is coming from a place of darkness and woe. The warning that lots wife received do not look behind you. (Gen19:7)
11) Why did she touch him
Restore the connection recognizing that she had gone astray and was now willing to let her husband know that she wanted to restore the relationship. Touch was necessary to indicate this.
12) Why did she choose to touch the hem of his garment
She was trying to restore the breach at the very point that it had been broken. Numb 15:38-39, ribbon of blue was for the commandments (matth 14:36)
Step 4
Isai 28:10-13
Scripture is its own expositor therefore allow scripture to interpret scripture. Not sure what is the meaning of a word, gather all texts that relate to that word and see how it is used, and like a jig saw puzzle the meaning of the terms will come into place.
This is a painstaking process, as you examine many verses and throw out the verse that don’t apply.
Make logical conclusion
Usual this is where you use the writings of Ellen white to confirm your findings.
Now that we have established the meaning of the different symbols in the text; let us now look at the message that is being portrayed.
The church was to go into a period of apostasy, but she would recognize her uncleanness and her departure from the commandments and she would re-establish her relationship with her Lord and his commandments, and He was going to accept her because of the faith she professed.
Rev6:5-6-states the same thing
6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine
Bible scholars will tell you that this text covers the period when the church was overrun with false doctrines, during the dark ages; i.e. when the pure church left by Jesus became the church of the dark horse. After this period was over, the church emerged from darkness with the Sabbath truth and the correct interpretation of bible prophecy.
Another text that strengthens this same point is
Luke 15:8-9
15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]?
15:9 And when she hath found [it], she calleth [her] friends and [her] neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Rev14:12
Which was the piece that was lost……..the Sabbath truth.
Different writers capture different details in Matth no mention was made of twelve years but in mark it was, because Mark picked up on the significance.
Mark 5: 42
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