EXPOSITION OR EXEMPLARY?
Pastor William Heinrich
G. Campbell Morgan once preached from II Samuel 9:13: “So Mephibosheth dwelt in
Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame in both
feet.” He used this as exemplary teaching in the following ways: (1) His being
lame taught human depravity; (2) His being lame in both feet taught total
depravity; (3) His dwelling in Jerusalem taught justification; (4) His sitting
at the king’s table taught adoption; and (5) His sitting at the king’s table
continually taught the perseverance of the saints. In his Advanced Seminar, Bill
Gothard named the brothers of Goliath and taught a spiritual doctrine from
either their names, six toes, or deeds. This is not Bible exposition, but it is
hermeneutical confusion.
The student of God’s Word should approach the Bible in search of what it says,
not for a hidden meaning. When the Bible is proclaimed, the student should be
able to go back at any time to the Scriptures taught and to find the truth
given. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), not some hidden exemplary teaching that
does not say what the preacher says it does. God’s Word is to be rightly divided
(II Timothy 2:15) and not handled deceitfully (II Corinthians 4:2). Our hearts
are to be warmed by His Word, not by a story about His Word (Luke 24:32). It is
the Word of God plainly taught that equips the believer for every good work (II
Timothy 3:16 - 4:5).
Every preacher needs to read a good book on the science of interpretation
(hermeneutics). There may be many applications to a passage, but there is only
one correct interpretation. What it meant to the person or persons to whom it
was written is essential. Context is vital; type of literature, such as proverbs
or epistles, makes a difference. Similes, hyperboles and aphorisms all must be
properly considered. Grammar, history, culture, and comparing Scripture are the
science of interpretation.
To draw things out of the Bible that simply are not there will exalt the
teacher. He will seem to have special insight, for the student will soon say, “I
would never have gotten that out of that passage.” It will also cause the
student to not trust his own ability to understand the Bible when he reads it.
This will greatly impede spiritual growth, while it places the exemplary teacher
in an exalted position.
God gave man the Bible so he would read it for what He has said, not what He has
not said.