What does "spoken to you by God" reveal about Scripture's authority? The Scene in Matthew 22:31–32 “ But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31–32) What the Phrase “spoken to you by God” Tells Us • Divine voice, not human opinion: Jesus treats the written words of Exodus 3:6 as the very speech of God directed personally to His hearers. • Ongoing relevance: Though penned centuries earlier, the statement still addresses the listener “to you,” showing Scripture’s perpetual, living authority. • Immediate obligation: If God Himself is speaking, then obedience, trust, and submission are not optional; they are the only fitting responses. Three Pillars of Scriptural Authority Highlighted 1. Origin – God breathed every word • “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16) 2. Transmission – Human authors carried by the Spirit • “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) 3. Application – Present, personal, living voice • “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7–8) Supporting Snapshots Across Scripture • Acts 4:25 – David’s psalm credited to God speaking “through the mouth of our father David.” • Hebrews 4:12 – The word is “living and active,” piercing and judging. • Isaiah 40:8 quoted in 1 Peter 1:25 – “The word of the Lord stands forever,” and that enduring word “is the gospel proclaimed to you.” Implications for Everyday Discipleship • Scripture deserves the same reverence we owe God Himself, because it is His direct speech. • Every time we open the Bible, we meet a living God who addresses us personally and expects response. • Confidence in its inerrancy flows naturally: a perfect God does not speak error. • Interpretations must bend to the text; we do not stand over God’s word but under it. • Proclaiming the Bible is more than sharing ideas; it is transmitting the authoritative voice of heaven. Living Under the Spoken Word • Approach every passage expecting God to address present needs and challenges. • Measure every tradition, feeling, or cultural trend against the unchanging voice of Scripture. • Find assurance: promises spoken by God cannot fail, and commands spoken by God cannot be safely ignored. Summary Because Scripture is “spoken to you by God,” its authority is absolute, personal, perpetual, and life-shaping. |
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