John 21:21-23Yet Jesus Said Not

Misrepresenting and Misinterpreting

• It is easy to misrepresent or misinterpret what someone says

– The person didn’t say it at all

– We heard only a portion of what was said

– We purposely or inadvertently (memory failure) change what we heard

Misrepresenting and Misinterpreting

• Peter asked about John: “And what shall this man do?”

• Jesus responded: “If I will that he should tarry till I come…”

• The brethren thought Jesus meant: “that disciple should not die”

• John corrected this misrepresentation by repeating Jesus’ exact statement

Misrepresenting and Misinterpreting

These brethren…

• Probably had good intentions

• Interpreted the statement incorrectly

• Were convinced of its accuracy

• Were guilty of promoting a false, unsubstantiated rumor

Lessons Learned• Many believe what they want to believe,

right or wrong (2 Kings 5:11-12; Acts 26:9)

• It is dangerous to build our faith on human “sayings”, traditions, or (mis)interpretations (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 2:5)

• Just because “brethren” believe and practice something, doesn’t mean that they are right (Gal. 2:11ff)

Lessons Learned• Many are apt to misrepresent and

misinterpret the words of Christ; if brethren can do it, others can as well (2 Pet. 3:16-18)

• There is a great need today to listen carefully to the words of Christ and his words only (Mt. 17:5; Jn. 12:48; 14:6; Rom. 2:16)

The Words of Christ• Today it’s all about: I think, I feel, the

scholars say, brother so-and-so says, etc.

• Many do not read the Bible, they read what people say about the Bible!

• Be careful about Bible class workbooks, commentaries, brotherhood papers, scholarly books and journals, online chatrooms, Facebook discussions, etc. (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:1)

The Words of Christ• “Did ye never read in the scriptures…”

(Mt. 21:42) 

• “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures…” (Mt. 22:29)

• “And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35)

The Words of Christ• “and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto

them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures” (Acts 17:2)

• “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11)

The Words of Christ• “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an

Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures (Acts 18:24)

• “for he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:28)

The Words of Christ• “For what saith the scripture?” (Rom. 4:3;

see also 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; Gal. 4:11; 1 Tim. 5:18)

• “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)

Misrepresenting and Misinterpreting

• How can we avoid this?

• Read carefully the scriptures (Lk. 10:26); listen carefully to what is said (Lk. 8:18)

• Do not add to scripture (Prov. 30:6)

• Like John, simply repeat the exact wording of Jesus (Jn. 21:23)