Revealing Deeper Meanings and Homiletical Points from Scripture
Revealing
Deeper Meanings
and
Homiletical Points from Scripture
Dt 32:46-47 46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a vain ( empty, idle) thing (Word, speech)for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
Remember, all the words in the text are important because they are all of God.
The most important rule when interpreting Scripture is that it must plainly make sense! It must be true to the text. Do not add anything, do not take anything away. The text is where we start as we search for meaning, and the text is our guide.
There is always an interpretation of the text for what it says plainly, and then there is an in-depth interpretation. This goes beyond the plain text, where the simple biblical story is transformed into a universal moral lesson.
We have previously discussed four important points:
- What the text says
- How the text says it
- The importance of considering the context of the text
- The interpretation must make plain simple sense
Tonight, we will be discussing three additional concepts:
- The Simple explanation of the text
- The Deeper meaning of the text
- The Homiletical meaning of the text
Why do we study the text for a deeper explanation? A deeper understanding leads to an appreciation of the story’s significance. Additionally, we understand our personalities as human beings. Though technology may change, we remain the same.
A Study on the Birth of
Jacob and Esau
Genesis 25:20–34 (NKJV)
20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau.
26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.