God’s word is rich with truth and stories that are applicable to our lives. Because we sometimes view the Bible through the lens of our culture and experience, we can often misinterpret or overlook some things.
Let us explore some common misconceptions that Bible teachers, traditions, or denominations have often gotten wrong in the past.
King Saul’s Eternal Fate
Many people assume King Saul went to hell because of his horrible deeds. It isn’t as clear as some may think. King Saul consults the prophet Samuel through a medium; Samuel says: “The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me (1 Sam. 28:19).
Before we make any conclusions that Saul and his sons went to heaven, note that we don’t have enough information from the Scripture. King Saul was not sent to hell because he committed a sin by disobeying God or conducting a visit to Endor’s witch. We should be careful about going too far beyond what the Bible can tell us. The Bible does not say anything about it, so we must be silent!
God only knows for sure if he went to heaven or hell. It is apparent that he and his children passed away with their bodies being laid in a grave. That meant they went down to Sheol. In 1 Samuel 31:8-13, it is stated that the bones were buried after their bodies were cremated.
Ask, and You Shall Be Given
Many people take the words from Matthew 7:7-11 and assume Jesus is saying if you believe in faith, God will give you anything you ask for. But we know this isn’t the case.
1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” We know from this passage that what we ask for must be according to God’s will, not just our own, in order to receive what we’re asking for. Let’s humbly submit ourselves to prayer!
David Was a Young, Innocent Shepherd Boy When He Overcame Goliath
Although often depicted as a teenager, the Bible refers to David as “ruddy, and altogether of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to” (1 Samuel 16:12) before being selected for the battle. In all probability, this means that he must have been an athletic young man and possibly even an experienced soldier. The emphasis of the story is not on David’s stature but on his bravery and trust in God.
The Story of the Rich Young Ruler
Many people believe the rich young ruler wasn’t able to go to heaven because he did not want to give up all his riches, but the Bible does not specifically mention whether he gave them up or not. Maybe he changed his mind and repented. Maybe he just went away and never returned. Who knows!
Jesus says to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).
The story’s focus is on the heart of the man; although he kept all the commandments and had riches, he was still not fulfilled and that’s why he came to seek answers from Jesus. This story reminds us that attachment to wealth and material possessions can be a hindrance to our spiritual growth. Once we become excessively attached to our belongings, we risk becoming self-centered and greedy.
Jesus Avoided Confrontation
We hear “turn the other cheek” and think of Jesus’ silence during his trial with the Pharisees and religious leaders before His crucifixion. But on multiple accounts, Jesus confronted the religious Pharisees and called them out for their evildoings. He calls them “blind leading the blind,” “whitewashed tombs,” and “hypocrites.” Jesus consistently challenges their interpretation of Scripture.
Jesus Never Felt Anger
We know this isn’t true. When Jesus entered the temple courts and saw the selling and money exchanging going on, he “drove all from the temple courts” after making “a whip out of cords” (John 2:13-17). Jesus clearly acted out on His righteous anger, but He first took the time to braid a whip of cords, which means He didn’t act impulsively.
Jonah’s Message
Some people assume Jonah went into Nineveh to try to convince the people of God’s existence, but in reality, all it says is, “He cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4).
Jonah preached a message of coming judgement, and that was enough to turn the people’s hearts around. God does the work of convincing; all He asks for is obedience.
Solomon Gave Up
Some people believe Solomon, due to his concubines and many wives, turned from God and ended his life in despair. But we see in Ecclesiastes, despite his “depressing” tone, he ends the book with “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Solomon had everything but realized it wasn’t enough and that walking righteously with God was all that mattered in the end.
The Prophets Were Popular
Many people believe God’s prophets were popular in ancient Israel, but this wasn’t always the case. Many times, the prophets were hated by the people, especially the kings and rulers.
Jeremiah was thrown in prison for long periods of time and lowered into a well of mud. Ezekiel did strange things that made the people question. Jesus says to the authorities, “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them” (Luke 11:47). The prophets were often unpopular, disliked, and mistreated.
Samson Drew His Strength from His Long Hair
The Nazirite law required that Samson never drink wine, cut his hair, or come in contact with dead bodies. His locks were the embodiment of his vow to be a Nazirite.
His dedication to God’s covenant was the source of his power, not his hair. When Delilah clipped off his hair, it signified a violation of this vow, thereby causing him to lose God’s coverage.
Moses Was Well-Equipped
Many people think of Moses as a charismatic, strong leader, but in reality, he was ” non-eloquent…slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10).
He was an 80-year-old herdsman, reluctant to do what God was calling him to do. He even asked that someone speak for him when he went to Pharaoh. This story shows that regardless of skills or qualifications, God can use anyone to accomplish His will.
All of the Pharisees Were Bad
When we hear the word “Pharisee,” we think of a bad guy. But this wasn’t always the case, for we know the prominent Nicodemus was a believer that Jesus was from God (John 3:2).
Also, we see that at Jesus’ burial, a man named Joseph of Arimathea, a Pharisee who was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked for Jesus’ body to properly bury Him with honor (John 19:38).
In the next verse, we see that Nicodemus also donated about a hundred pounds of materials for Jesus’ burial, which probably wasn’t cheap. These men secretly loved Jesus.
Jesus Couldn’t Perform Miracles in His Hometown
Some people take the passage from Matthew 13:57-58 and say Jesus was restricted because of the people’s lack of faith, but Jesus performed some miracles in the region. In fact, Mark specifically states: “He laid his hands on some sick people and made them whole” (Mark 6:5).
Consequently, His power was not the problem. Jesus simply chose not to perform miracles there because “they were offended at Him” and seemingly did not want Him there.
Therefore, when all the reality is looked at, one will have to agree that there is no actual issue with the biblical story. The point lies within those who look for a fault in Jesus’ life to avoid surrendering to Him. God performs miracles so that we can have faith in Him.
Peter Was the Leader of the First Church
Many people take the passage from Matthew 16:17-19 and say this was Jesus establishing Peter as the leader of the church. In reality, Peter was a leader, but not the only one. The apostles all had distinct roles in the founding of the early church.
This is not to say Peter didn’t have a significant role, separate from all the other apostles. He was the one to preach the first sermon after Pentecost, in which the church began (Acts 2). Peter was also the one who opened the door to the Gentiles being saved (Acts 10).
Esther Mentions God
One would assume that every book in the Bible refers to God, but the Book of Esther never actually mentions God. Although He is silently in the background of every moment in the story, we never hear of Him. This is not to say the Book of Esther is any less significant than the other books in the Bible.
Hosea is an Example of What We Need to Do As Christians
Some people may believe that Hosea, a story where God calls a prophet to pursue an adulterous and sinful woman, is an example of what Christians should do in relationships. This is not the case.
Hosea is a beautiful story about God’s love and pursuit of Israel. It is ultimately an example that can be pointed to Christ and His sacrificial love for the church. This story serves as a reminder of God’s love and mercy and of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to Him.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts
There are some branches of Christianity that argue that you must speak in tongues in order to receive the true “baptism of the Holy Spirit” in the book of Acts. In reality, being filled with God’s Spirit can look different in many ways.
1 Corinthians 12:11 says, “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” Receiving God’s Spirit can look very different from person to person. Everyone has their own testimony and experience. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an extraordinary experience, like the one(s) we see in the book of Acts.
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