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HERMENEUTICS: THOSE ADDRESSED

 

Luke [MKJV] chapter 8 … a great crowd coming together, and those in each city coming to Him [Jesus], He spoke by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, the one fell by the roadside and was trampled; and the birds of the air devoured it. And other fell on a rock, and sprouting, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And other fell amidst thorns, and springing up with the thorns, they choked it. And other fell on good ground and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be? And He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to others I speak in parables, so that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand. …

 

  In comprehending and personally applying God’s Word it is essential to note to whom the Word is addressed. A case in point is Luke 6:45; Ephesians 4:29; 1Peter 3:10; James 3:9-12 having to do with conversation vocabulary. Exactly what people groups are being addressed by these words, followers of Christ or those having never experienced 2Corinthians 5:17?

  In responding to the question, one reader wrote “They all tell us to clean up our words.  Who were they addressing?  Luke was written for the Christians who gathered regularly to participate in the Lord's Supper.  Ephesians was written for the Church at Ephesus.  Peter and James where written to Jewish Christians.  Today, they are for all Christians and some pagan's may have heard these words.“

  Penny wrote “Actually, it is the followers of Christ who are addressed in these passages.  James was right in one regard, not many of us should become teachers because teachers are held to a higher responsibility by God and will be judged more severely.  Yet, we, as Christians, are to be teachers by example and are thus held to a higher standard.  No one should ever be able to say that their experience with a non-Christian was noted with more integrity than with a Christian.  That shame is on us.”

  Indeed the aforementioned verses are written to Christians. Though compliance would benefit all people, they are not addressed to those not of God’s John 1:12 family.

  The further point being this: To apply in practice, including Facebook, to non-Christians is as with the old proverb “Putting the cart before horse.” Or as in present day religious efforts to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals, when the essential present and eternal need is hope for and guidance directed toward trusting Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans chapter1: God did not give homosexuals over to a reprobate mind because of their chosen lifestyle. God rejected them as He does others listed because of refusing to believe in His redemptive grace; rejecting Him first, last, and always, choosing rather to continue in darkness. Jn.1:1-12; 8:12; Act.26:14-18)

  This said, please know that Jesus did exhort and warn about speech as He spoke to general audience of followers and unbelievers.

EBB4