Opening Scripture
Reflection of God’s Word
You open your Bible, ready to dig in, and a few verses later, you hit a name you can’t pronounce, a custom you’ve never heard of, or a sentence that just doesn’t seem to land. Sound familiar? With its ancient language, deep truths, and vast history, Scripture can feel like a locked door. But here’s the good news: it was never meant to stay locked. The Scriptures were written with a purpose, so that we might understand God’s will and live by it. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word invites every reader to learn, believe, and obey.
The Old Testament Was Written to Be Understood
Start with the obvious: the Bible was not written to confuse anyone. It was written to teach.
Paul makes that plain:
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
Jesus operated on that same assumption. Again and again, He pointed people back to the text with a simple, pointed question: “Have you not read…?” (Matthew 12:3, 5; 19:4). He didn’t expect blank stares; He expected answers.
That’s exactly what the Bereans gave Him. Scripture praises them because they “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). God commends the reader who leans in with an open heart. And yes, some people needed a little help along the way, think of the disciples on the Emmaus road, or the Ethiopian eunuch puzzling over Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:25-40). But notice what happened next: with guidance and sincere study, understanding came. Every time.
The New Testament Was Also Written to Be Understood
Fast-forward to the New Testament, and the pattern holds. Its writers didn’t assume their readers would be left guessing.
Luke says so outright:
“…to write it out for you in consecutive order… so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4)
John names the exact same target:
“These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30–31)
Two different writers, one shared goal: clarity, not confusion.
But Aren’t Some Things Hard to Understand?
Fair question, and even Peter would agree with you. He openly admitted that some of Paul’s writings were “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:15–16). So take a breath: if it feels difficult at times, you’re in good company. But hard is not the same as impossible. Revelation may stretch you, some passages may take real work — yet God would never have revealed His Word if He hadn’t intended for us to grasp its message.
God Expects Us to Understand His Word
This isn’t just permission to understand, it’s an expectation. God desires “all men to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4), and Paul doesn’t leave it optional:
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17)
Even Jesus prayed for it, that His followers would be united in understanding and belief (John 17:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13). If Jesus prayed for your understanding, don’t you think it’s within reach?
Why Some Don’t Understand
So if the Bible was written to be understood, why do so many people walk away confused? Almost never because it’s impossible, usually because of how they approach it. Watch for these common traps:
- Making little or no effort to study
- Studying for the wrong reasons
- Ignoring common sense and context
- Failing to look up words or consider the whole counsel of God
- Neglecting to study it book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse
- Defeating themselves before they start due to the size of the book itself
Notice something? Not one of these is “the Bible is too hard.” They’re all about approach, and approach is something you can change today.
God Says You Can Understand
Open almost anywhere in Scripture, and you’ll find the same reassurance. From Nehemiah and Job to the Psalms and Proverbs, to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, the message never changes: you can understand God’s Word (see Nehemiah 8:7-8; Psalm 119:27; Ephesians 3:4).
The Answer Is Yes!
So, can you understand the Bible? Absolutely, yes. It may take time, effort, and prayerful study, but God’s Word was written for you: to be read, understood, and obeyed. Open your heart and open your Bible, and you’ll find exactly what God intends for you to find: truth, hope, and life.
So here’s the real question: Will you pursue the wisdom of God in your life? The answers are already there, waiting for you. What will you do today to go get them?
