Jesus said "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (Jn 6:63)?
Many people are surprised to discover that the Bible is primarily a spiritual book. Symbolism, typology, prophecy and the like are all divinely accredited within the pages of Holy Writ (Job 12:7-9; Ps 19:1-3; Rom 10:17-18; 1:20; Matt 13; Heb 10:1; 8:4-5; Col 2:16-17; 1 Cor 10:1; Rom 15:4; etc). Why then should we refuse such a practice? No, we don't over-spiritualize everything, but we don't ignore the counsel of God either. "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter" (Prov 25:2).
Ask yourself today, do I read the Bible with spiritual eyes? Or am I limited by a natural, and often carnal, mindset and thought pattern? The words of our Lord are dense words, full of meaning, varied in shade, nuance, implication and application. They aren't to be applied on a mere natural level of significance alone; they aren't to be understood according to the mere flesh of man's natural understanding, or solely viewed through mere flesh colored glasses. While a literal interpretation is of course useful and of aid, we should never orphan the Spirit's breath for the sake of a literal tone. Rather, His words are living; they "liveth and abideth forever" (1 Pet 1:23). His Words are to be spiritually understood, and the life they promise is of a spiritual nature too. His Words are deep (Dan 2:22; Ps 42:7; 1 Cor 2:10; Rom 11:33; Eph 3:8; Job 5:8-9; Ps 145:3-7; 139:17-18; 92:5; 40:5; 1 Tim 1:17); His wisdom is manifold (Jer 10:6-10; Ps 111:2; 104:24; Eph 3:10; Rom 11:33), while the flesh (the bare, carnal, literal meaning) profits relatively little by comparison. The spiritual truth of Jesus' words are to continually pierce through the facade of man's natural wisdom, penetrating the very core of his spiritual reality. Jesus' words are spirit and life, "the works of the Lord are exceeding great" (Ps 111:2, HV).
Yet, for some reason, in studying Scripture, we constantly find ourselves relating primarily naturally, by the flesh. We seem to cling to a literal significance alone.. perhaps that's what we're most comfortable with? But did you realize that the Bible actually accredits at least a three-fold interpretation of itself? Are you shocked? It's true. There is a natural interpretation, of course, but there is also a spiritual interpretation, and a prophetic. Observe what King Solomon said: "Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Prov 22:20-21). This word "excellent" in Hebrew means, "three-fold; weighty". Thus, the words of Scripture are manifold in significance and application - they are weighty; they are living!
All throughout the Bible, we see this principle applied: Jesus continually spoke in spiritual truths. Very rarely were His words meant to be taken literally and via a natural interpretation. Phrases such as "poor in spirit" were all to convey a deeper spiritual truth. Sadly, often the Jews missed His point altogether because they sought to cling to a natural meaning alone.
The apostle Paul recognized this truth and prayed for his readers to receive it too: "[I] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints"(Eph 1:16-18). He spoke of the letter of the law (literal interpretation) AND the Spirit of the Word, that is, the dense spiritual truth contained behind the mere literal significance. He admonishes us to serve in the "newness of the Spirit" (Rom 7:6; 2 Cor 3:6), not solely in the letter. One example he gave was concerning circumcision. Circumcision has an obvious literal interpretation, but the Spirit of the word concerning circumcision is a spiritual truth: "he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom 2:29). Furthermore, he likened the Scriptures to a 2-edged sword.. And what edges can these refer to but to a literal and a spiritual interpretation? Such an application is the only way it can be said to be "quick [living], and powerful"... "piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12-13).
We see this truth evidenced by the Tabernacle too. The priest's daily bread, also known as the bread of faces, and the bread of His presence, was located in the Holy Place, far from any natural sunlight. The only light that was present to enable the ministry of the priests was that which shone from the golden lamp stand, symbolic of the Holy Ghost. In that place, the bread (symbolic of the Word of God) was illuminated by the lamp (symbolic of the Holy Ghost). Even so today, as we search the Scriptures, we too should allow the Spirit of God to speak His deep mysteries to our hearts, often bypassing our mere natural understanding and interpretation. The outer court had natural sunlight (a literal interpretation), but the inner court had only supernatural light! Which would you prefer? Which court would you rather reside in?
Friends, surely "Thy commandment is exceeding broad [roomy, wide, large, free]" (Ps 119:96).. For "we know that the law is spiritual..." (Rom 7:14). Thus, shouldn't we take heed to and seek after Paul's prayer for the church? Shouldn't we likewise ask for and seek the "spirit of revelation", that is, His daily portion of bread, mingled with the sweet wine of spiritual enlightenment (Prov 9:5)? Don't you want to eat "angel's food", the blessed "corn of heaven" (Ps 78:24-25), that precious manna that's veiled and hidden from the carnal thoughts of man's natural wisdom? I sure do! I want to eat my full! Such a word is spiritual, such a word is glorious - far more glorious than that engraven in literal stones (2 Cor 3:6-8).
Friends, Jesus' words are spirit and life! Which does your palate crave?
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