Luke 8

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'" ESV

Luke 7

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ NET

The Context of the Old Testament

Although both pertain to God’s covenant relationship with Israel, these two historical blocks (i.e., the Primary History and Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah) present two distinct theologies. The former reviews the history of the people of God leading up to the exile to explain why God sent his people into exile. The latter assures the returnees that they, not the “bad figs” left in the land, are the principal heirs of Israel’s preexilic heritage and emphasizes their need for faithful worship, purity, and trusting obedience.

Bruce K. Waltke and Charles Yu, An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach (Accordance electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), 59.

Papal Edict, 1301

We declare, state, define and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary to salvation for every human being to be subject to the Roman Pope.

 - Pope Boniface, unam sanctam

Interpreting Scripture

The salvation history represented in both the primary and secondary history of the Old Testament moves toward the goal of fulfillment in Jesus Christ and everything after him, including the Gospels, which represent the church’s reflections on Jesus, a developing interpretation of him in the canon of the New Testament. In other words, Jesus is the hinge on which the Old and New Testaments turn. This entails that all Scripture should be interpreted in light of the Lord Jesus Christ as represented in historically conditioned sources.

Bruce K. Waltke and Charles Yu, An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach (Accordance electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), 53.

Proverbs 16

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

 - ESV

John 5

You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. And you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life. - HCSB