Don't trust HEARSAY!
Hearsay in its most general and oldest meaning is a term used in the law of evidence to describe an out of court statement offered to establish the facts asserted in that statement. Hearsay is generally not admissible in common law courts because it is of suspect value, but there are many exceptions to this prohibition.
Why is hearsay inadmissible? Because when we repeat what someone said, we repeat what we think who heard or what we think he/she meant. The problem is that we usually get something about that wrong. Do I have you wondering where I am going?
Genesis 3:3 "of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."
Well, this is the first example of hearsay in the scripture. It was not to long after creation. God gave Adam instruction concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in
Genesis 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
We see here that Eve got it wrong! God never said you cannot touch the tree, he said do not eat of the tree! Either Adam or Eve added to God's words.
Now my point here is, how often do we sit in the sanctuary, in Sunday School class or simple talking with friends about scripture and we here something and it sounds right and we simply agree or accept it as fact. We should always prove the scriptures for ourselves. Here is an example, you have heard the saying "Spare the rod and spoil the child!" well that is almost rooted in scripture.
Proverbs 13:24 "He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes."
Betimes, by the way, means "early".
Now that sheds new light on that one doesn't it. It states if we love them we will punish them when they need it. And if we don't punish them we hate them, the word spoil is not used at all. Are you starting to see what I am talking about? Not just with this verse but with all verses, anytime we are told that the Bible says, we should not go tell others that the Bible says until we have studied it for ourselves. A lot of my beliefs growing up were based upon what someone told someone who told me. When it comes to God's Word we have no excuse for not getting this right from the God's Word.
A few years ago, I went through a 3 year Bible study course. This has been helpful in studying the Bible on my own and has really enlightened me as to how much I was relying on hearsay. I have started studying back through the Bible at a much slower pace with a goal for even more understanding. We cannot rely on the study of others we must study for ourselves. Not sure how to study, well simply start one chapter at a time, and keep in mind that our Bible is not assembled in chronological order. If you would like to study the Bible the chronological I would suggest using the Willmington's Guide to the Bible.
Study your bible so the you can give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear ( 1 Pet 3:15 ).
There goes another minute, gone forever!
GO SHARE YOUR FAITH WHILE THEY STILL CAN LISTEN!!!
Why is hearsay inadmissible? Because when we repeat what someone said, we repeat what we think who heard or what we think he/she meant. The problem is that we usually get something about that wrong. Do I have you wondering where I am going?
Genesis 3:3 "of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."
Well, this is the first example of hearsay in the scripture. It was not to long after creation. God gave Adam instruction concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in
Genesis 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
We see here that Eve got it wrong! God never said you cannot touch the tree, he said do not eat of the tree! Either Adam or Eve added to God's words.
Now my point here is, how often do we sit in the sanctuary, in Sunday School class or simple talking with friends about scripture and we here something and it sounds right and we simply agree or accept it as fact. We should always prove the scriptures for ourselves. Here is an example, you have heard the saying "Spare the rod and spoil the child!" well that is almost rooted in scripture.
Proverbs 13:24 "He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes."
Betimes, by the way, means "early".
Now that sheds new light on that one doesn't it. It states if we love them we will punish them when they need it. And if we don't punish them we hate them, the word spoil is not used at all. Are you starting to see what I am talking about? Not just with this verse but with all verses, anytime we are told that the Bible says, we should not go tell others that the Bible says until we have studied it for ourselves. A lot of my beliefs growing up were based upon what someone told someone who told me. When it comes to God's Word we have no excuse for not getting this right from the God's Word.
A few years ago, I went through a 3 year Bible study course. This has been helpful in studying the Bible on my own and has really enlightened me as to how much I was relying on hearsay. I have started studying back through the Bible at a much slower pace with a goal for even more understanding. We cannot rely on the study of others we must study for ourselves. Not sure how to study, well simply start one chapter at a time, and keep in mind that our Bible is not assembled in chronological order. If you would like to study the Bible the chronological I would suggest using the Willmington's Guide to the Bible.
Study your bible so the you can give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear ( 1 Pet 3:15 ).
There goes another minute, gone forever!
GO SHARE YOUR FAITH WHILE THEY STILL CAN LISTEN!!!
posted by Gary Godard at
8:53 PM
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