READING INTO THE TEXT

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

A strange phenomenon exists among denominational preachers and religious leaders. Whether purposely or not, there is a tendency to read into the text words that are not there.

Now, this phenomenon is not new to our day and age, but was a problem that even Jesus had to face. In an exchange Jesus had with the religious leaders of His day, He told them that they transgressed the law of God because of their traditions (Mat. 15:3). You see, the law plainly said "Honor your mother and father," but they were saying do not honor your mother or father, if your profit has been dedicated to the temple (Mat. 15:4-6). Here these religious leaders were clearly adding to what God had stated in the law and, thus, violated another law of God that commanded the people not to add to his word (Deu.4:2). This practice of adding to the text is still common today. In Matthew 23 the context is dealing with the use of religious titles. Jesus said, "Call no man on earth your father; for one is your father, He who is in heaven" (verse 9). Yet, Catholics seem to read that verse as saying "Call the priest your father..." since this is what they practice. Consider 1 Peter 3:21 where the text says, "baptism doth also now save us..." but some denominational preachers and church leaders read that verse as saying, "baptism does not also now save us... ." They teach that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Yet, even Jesus said himself, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Just as those religious leaders of Jesus’ day were warned not to add to the text, so are we today. In Revelation 22:18 God said that anyone who adds to the prophecy of the book shall be added to the plagues written therein. 2 John 9 commands that we should not go beyond the doctrine of Christ. Let each of us learn to take God at his word by not reading into the text those things that are not there.