Verse 20

Then you must recall the LORD’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.

Referenced Verses

  • Mic 3:6 : 6 Therefore night will fall, and you will receive no visions; it will grow dark, and you will no longer be able to read the omens. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn to darkness over their heads.
  • Isa 30:8-9 : 8 Now go, write it down on a tablet in their presence, inscribe it on a scroll, so that it might be preserved for a future time as an enduring witness. 9 For these are rebellious people– they are lying children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s law. 10 They say to the visionaries,“See no more visions!” and to the seers,“Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! Tell us nice things; relate deceptive messages. 11 Turn aside from the way; stray off the path. Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.”
  • 2 Pet 1:19 : 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
  • Isa 8:16 : 16 Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers.
  • Jer 8:9 : 9 Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the LORD’s message, what wisdom do they really have?
  • Mal 4:2 : 2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.
  • John 5:39 : 39 You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,
  • John 5:46-47 : 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”
  • Acts 17:11 : 11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.
  • Rom 1:22 : 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
  • Gal 3:8-9 : 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying,“All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written,“Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us(because it is written,“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. 15 Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say,“and to the descendants,” referring to many, but“and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. 19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. 21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the scripture imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise could be given– because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ– to those who believe. 23 Sons of God Are Heirs of Promise Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female– for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
  • Gal 4:21-22 : 21 An Appeal from Allegory Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
  • 2 Tim 3:15-17 : 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
  • 2 Pet 1:9 : 9 But concerning the one who lacks such things– he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.
  • Matt 6:23 : 23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
  • Matt 22:29 : 29 Jesus answered them,“You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God.
  • Mark 7:7-9 : 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ 8 Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” 9 He also said to them,“You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.
  • Luke 10:26 : 26 He said to him,“What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”
  • Luke 16:29-31 : 29 But Abraham said,‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ 30 Then the rich man said,‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He replied to him,‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
  • Ps 19:7-8 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the LORD are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. 8 The LORD’s precepts are fair and make one joyful. The LORD’s commands are pure and give insight for life.
  • Ps 119:130 : 130 Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.
  • Prov 4:18 : 18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
  • Isa 1:10 : 10 Listen to the LORD’s message, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God’s rebuke, people of Gomorrah!
  • Hos 6:3 : 3 So let us search for him! Let us seek to know the LORD! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.”