Broader vs Contextual Meaning

 There are a few Bible passages that come to mind that have a contextual meaning and what I would call a broader or general meaning. Oftentimes the New Testament writers quote and/or borrow language from Old Testament writers to deliver their messages, or to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. Let’s examine a few.

 Matthew 18:6 - Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Contextual Meaning - When Jesus is referencing little ones in this passage He is making reference to all believers, young and old alike. No one should tempt God’s children into sin - it's deadly for the offender to do so.

Broader Meaning - Many Christians will use this verse to refer to children only; e.g. those that want to harm children and sexually groom them to have transgender mutilation surgery because they have confusion about their biological sex or worse, sex traffic them for profit. They (i.e. those that protect children) are saying to the predators out there, “It would be better if someone hung a millstone around your neck and threw you in the sea to drown than for you to hurt a small child.” I see no problem borrowing the language from this verse to emphasize the severe repercussions of harming children but it’s very important to remember the context in which Jesus said this so the original meaning is not lost.

 Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Contextual Meaning - Jesus is proverbially knocking on the door of the Laodicean Church due to their sinfulness, they have locked the Lord out of their lives due to their apostate lukewarm behavior. This is a call to repentance by the disobedient members of this Church. Jesus loves them and desires to be let back in so that He can enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with the members of this congregation. It is not a call or invitation to repent and receive salvation for the first time. By extension this is a warning to all wayward believers for all time that think materialism is a barometer for holiness and success in lieu of obedience. The Laodiceans said they were rich. Jesus said they were wretched, blind, poor and naked (vs17b). Read all the verses regarding the Church of Laodicea.

 Broader Meaning - Many will use Revelation 3:20 as a useful verse for evangelism; to call the unregenerate to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation because He’s standing and knocking on the door of their hearts, so to speak.

 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some count slackness but is longsuffering toward us. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.

 Contextual Meaning - Peter is rebuking those that are mocking the return of Christ. They are saying that it is taking Jesus too long to return. Now mind you, when Peter wrote this, it was the First Century A.D., maybe less than 40 years since Jesus had resurrected and ascended back to heaven. Christians throughout Church history have anticipated Jesus could return in their lifetime. Contextually who are the “us”, the “any”, and the “all” in verse nine? Let’s connect the dots.

In the first letter of Peter we read in chapter 1 verses 1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

 In 2 Peter 3:1-4 we read, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”’ 

In both letters Peter was writing to Christians. We are the “us”, the “any”, and the “all” in 2 Peter 3:9:the elect, the chosen of God before the foundation of the world. A comparable text is Ephesians 1:4, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Broader Meaning - Christians use 2 Peter 3:9 as an evangelistic verse to say since God loves all people (which He does), He does not desire that anyone perish and die without Him which is true. Ezekiel 18:32 and Ezekiel 33:11 tells us God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Again, it's effective and I believe it right to borrow 2 Peter 3:9 as an evangelistic verse as long as the contextual meaning is not lost. 

 Exodus 33:18-19 - Moses asked the Lord, “Please show me your glory.” Then He (The Lord) said, “I will make My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

 Paul borrows the language of Exodus 33:19 when discussing election:

“And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”[1] As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”[2]

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses. “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have 

compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy (Romans 9:10-16).

Paul anticipated that his audience would think and question God’s righteousness regarding election as unfair, so he is preemptive by saying there is certainly no unrighteousness with God. Remember, man is a sinner, and the only thing we deserve is hell. God deciding to choose who He wants to extend mercy to is His divine prerogative. God’s mercy is His unexplainable love to those who hate Him.

Sovereign election is God choosing who will be recipients of His saving grace. During the time of Isaac, his wife Rebecca was pregnant with twins, Esau and Jacob. God told Rebecca that the older son (Esau) would serve the younger son (Jacob), and that Jacob would be stronger than Esau (Genesis 25:23). Now when the text says that Jacob would be stronger than Esau, it's talking about the two nations which ended up being Israel and Edom. The descendants of Edom or the Edomites no longer exist, but the Israelites or who we call Jews today will always exist. Why? Because of the covenant made with one man, Abram (Genesis 12:2-3). The Jews are descendants of the first Hebrew Abram (Genesis 14:13).

We know this was sovereign election because the text says that before the sons were born, before they could do any good or evil, God chose one over the other so that His plan of election would stand. This is why Paul quoted the Exodus passage: “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”[3]

In like manner, God does that today when He decides to bring someone into the kingdom of God. Before we were born, it was in the mind of God to save sinners because He lovingly chose us through His mercy and compassion. He through the gospel message opens the eyes of the one He chooses to save. He grants them repentance and faith so that they believe and are saved (Eph 2:8; 2 Tim 2:25). This way God gets all the glory for salvation and the redeemed can say, “Thank you Lord for having mercy and compassion on me!”  

When we understand the original context of a passage, it should hold us accountable to treat God’s word with more reverence and care. It takes time, diligence, careful study and discipline to obtain the authorial intent of all the books of the Bible. Doing this is part of our maturation as Christians. Let's do everything we can to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman who is not ashamed - rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

 

[1] Paul quoting Genesis 25:23

[2] Paul quoting Malachi 1:2-3

[3] God sovereignly showed mercy to Jacob in a way he did not show mercy to Esau.

Jacob was not better than his brother in any way, but he was chosen by

God according to the Lord’s divine purposes.