An Example of Continuity in the Teachings of the Bible

Job and the author of Psalm 73 both observed the prosperity enjoyed by the wicked and the hardships faced by those who obey the Lord. And their observations are consistent with teachings given by Jesus centuries later.

 

In John 16:20-22, Jesus taught us as His disciples that now during this present life we will weep and mourn, while those of the world will rejoice.

He then encouraged us when He said that although now is our time of grief, the day will come when we will see Him face to face, and at that time all of our grief will turn to joy.

 

When we consider Psalm 73 in the light of John 16:20-22, we see that the psalmist grieved when he saw the prosperity and relative ease of the lives of the wicked, in contrast to the hardships of his own life. He watched in the midst of his own mourning as the wicked experienced their prosperity and rejoiced.

 

In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus taught along similar lines when He pronounced woes upon those of the world who enjoyed their abundance and consolations in this life, and He pronounced blessings upon His disciples who were poor, who mourned, and who hungered during this present life.

And in Luke 16:19-31 we see yet another consistent teaching. In this passage Jesus taught that the rich man who enjoyed a life of luxury was ultimately rejected by God, while the poor, afflicted beggar Lazarus was ultimately accepted by God and comforted.

 

The consistency of the teaching in all of these passages is only one example among many in the Bible of several different passages of Scripture being in complete harmony and agreement with one another on a particular subject. When we interpret Scripture in the light of other Scriptures, and the teachings and understanding that we derive from our interpretations are in no way contradicted by other teachings in the Scriptures, then we can be confident that we have correctly handled the word of truth, as Paul exhorted Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15).

 

Biblical interpretations that are not contradicted by other passages of Scripture can be accepted as God’s word to us on a particular subject, as given through several different authors of various books of the Bible.

However, if we encounter contradiction and confusion in our interpretation, then we can be sure that there is some degree of misunderstanding in our interpretation. We should then ask God to reveal His truth to us, which He will do in His time for all believers.

 

The Holy Bible is God’s consistent revelation given over the centuries of His plan for the salvation of men through faith in Jesus Christ, and through Him alone. The Scriptures are God’s directives, precepts, and commands on how man should conduct himself during his time here on earth, and they provide insights into some of the ways of God.

 

The Scriptures also give us understanding and comfort in perplexing times of trial, just as the psalmist received comfort when God revealed to him that his obedience to Him was not in vain, and that the prosperity he saw in the lives of the wicked was only temporary. He was given the understanding that the final destiny of the wicked was to be destruction and ruin. But for him, God would guide him through this life with His counsel, and afterward take him home to glory (Psalm 73:14).