Not of My Own Intelligence

For anyone who thinks they are pretty special for having a strong understanding and knowledge of the Bible, below can be a very humbling passage:

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17

The very fact that we have the ability to read Scripture and come to a proper understanding of it and thus a saving faith in the God who inspired it, based on this passage (and even the preceding verses), have no claim to their own ability to understand. It is indeed a gift given by God.

So whether you’re John Piper, D.A. Carson, Pastor Bob, or John Doe; whatever ability we have to understand Scripture, to come to saving faith in Christ, to mature through reading and study and prayer, to offer biblical counsel to others, all of it is ascribed to the good pleasure of God. He chose us, he opens our eyes and ears and hearts.

To God alone be the Glory, Honor, and Praise.