Protestants will often quote one passage (like Ephesians 2:8) as if it is the final word on a specific topic so that they will not allow other passages to modify their understanding of that single passage. Satan does that when he quotes Psalm 91:11-12 in the temptations of Jesus, as if Psalm 91 was a universal promise. But Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 to show Satan that one passage can modify our understanding of a specific text.
You and I need to make sure we study a passage as thoroughly as possible before we presume to speak on God’s behalf. Another example is Matthew 12:1-8 where Jesus shows that the text about remembering the Sabbath is modified by another text, Hosea 6:6.
In Romans 4, Paul interprets Genesis 15:6 (4:3) relative to Abraham’s faith being reckoned as righteousness in light of Psalm 32:1, a text which was written after Genesis 15:6.
Acts 5:29 tells about Peter and John stating that we need to “obey God rather than man.” We are supposed to obey our civil rulers (Rom. 13:1-4), but there are occasions when we are obligated to disobey them in order to stay faithful to God.
In Mark 12:33, a scribe says that the two greatest commandments are “much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
So the Scriptures teach that while every passage is important and comes from the mouth of God, God also teaches us to consider other passages which comment on the same point or the same theme. Because one text might teach a principle that takes precedence over another text.
Paul Holland
