Sometimes we hear someone say that they can’t understand the Bible. While it may be true that they don’t understand the Bible, it is not correct for them to say that they can’t understand it. The Bible says that we can understand what the will of the Lord is. To suggest that the Bible can’t be understood calls the goodness of God and the integrity of His word into question. God made man, and God has revealed His will to man through His word. What are we saying about God if we claim that His word can’t be understood?

Is it possible for us to know the truth? Jesus has given the answer to this question. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). What is this truth? Where is it found? While man has pondered these questions, Jesus again has given the answer. While praying to the Father, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The truth that sets us free from the ignorance, bondage, and guilt of sin is God’s word. Can we know the truth? Yes. Where can we find it? In God’s word.

Jesus expected people to know God’s word. When they asked Him questions about subjects like the sabbath and divorce, Jesus responded by pointing them back to the Scriptures: “Have you not read?” (Matt. 12:3; 19:4). They should have known the answers to these questions. On one occasion, a lawyer stood and asked Jesus a question to test Him. He asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus did not answer the man’s question. He pointed him back to the place where his answer could be found: “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” (Luke 10:25-26). Jesus expected the people of His day to know the truth by understanding the Scriptures. Why would it be any different for us today?

Peter made an interesting claim about the writings of Paul. He said that some of the things Paul had written are “hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16). I agree with Peter, there are some things that are hard to understand, but hard does not mean impossible. In Ephesians 3:4, Paul wrote, “by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.” Peter said that some things are hard to understand, but Paul assures us that we can understand them. Paul went on to write, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is? (Eph. 5:17).

The fact that we are commanded to understand God’s will tells us that we can understand it. Some of it is hard to understand, which means we will have to apply ourselves to studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15).

There are different reasons a person may not understand the Bible. They may not have a love and respect for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). Such a person does not care to know God’s will. They may not have a hunger and thirst for the righteousness revealed in the Bible (Matt. 5:6), so they will not put forth the effort needed to understand. They may be influenced by preconceived ideas and false doctrines. If so, they do not approach the Bible to discover the truth but to reinforce what they already believe. They may be lazy and unwilling to study.

Whatever the reason, the problem is not with the Bible. It can be understood by those who desire to know the will of the Lord.