Selective Hearing of Bible Verses

By Martin Cheah

Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” (Mark 16:15)

Most of us hear the first part and then we travel all over the world on holiday but we fail to preach the gospel.  Worse yet, if we make ourselves poor witnesses for Christ by our offensive conduct overseas.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. (Matthew 6:12)

Usually we find it so easy to ask God to forgive us our trespasses but almost impossible to forgive those who have stepped on our toes.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38).

In this case, we hear the second part of the statement.  We expect to receive until overflowing but we miss out on the first word – Give

You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  (Matthew 6:24b-25)

We always imagine that God tells us not to worry about our life because we are more important to Him than the birds.  However we forget the “Therefore” which tells us that we cannot serve both God and money.  So, while we are serving money, we will constantly be worried as the banks keep collapsing.

Of course, there are many, many more verses which people use selective listening that leads to erroneous understanding.  Maybe you would like to share some with us on The Winepress Blog.