This is one of the most misunderstood elements of coming to know the teachings within the Bible.
Here is a prime example. An atheist Jew once confronted me one time due to the fact that I was Christian. Over and over again she would spout out “Go sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor!” She was stuck on this like listened to a scratched vinyl record. In her mind all Christians were hypocrites and liars because they had not sold all their property and were living in poverty.
In some aspect she was correct. However to be fixated upon this one line from the Bible taken totally out of context, is something that not only is a problem with those like this lady that have no knowledge of the Bible. It is also to those that state they are Christian, but do not follow the teachings that are within this Holy Book.
Now just for clarification. This verse she was referring to had to do with the young rich man. (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18-23)
Mark 10:17 – As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
You can see that when taken in context it is not a statement for all that call themselves “Christian” to go and sell all their possessions. It is showing that those that cherish the riches of this life over the eternal reward that is to come when we enter into the next life. That those who cling to wealth here in this temporal time have their reward, and that it is hard for someone with wealth to enter into heaven. That is why more than once the Bible says you cannot worship God and money. It must be one or the other.
Does this mean that those with money cannot get into heaven? That is a complicated question believe it or not. That is why I said to a degree the woman was correct. Those who are rich and buy multiple homes, travel extensively and in turn do not share their wealth to those in need, are worshiping money and not God. Even if they profess to be “Christian,” then their odds of entering heaven decreases.
This is just one example of knowing the context of the Bible. There are many other things that come out daily that are not in context. Most of these out of context statements come from those that wish to deceive and lead those that are unknowing down a path to destruction.
A very recent example was done by the Democratic Party Presidential Candidate. She said:
“The greatest commandment is to love.”
This is a lie, this is false. This is not only out of context but an outright lie. I will show the following verse first. Then I will show what the greatest commandment is.
Galatians 1:6 – I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
When someone changes the Bible for their own reward and glory they are cursed, destine to damnation and any that listen will join with them.
Now this is the Greatest Commandment of all:
Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
So you see why it is important to know the Bible and to read it in context. You must stay in context and you must not change it, remove from it or add to it. For when you take it out of context you run the change of falling into this curse. A curse that will not lead to God but to the pit of fire and eternal damnation.