The Bible makes it apparent that understanding is essential to salvation. In fact, those "without understanding" are listed in the same category as murderers and homosexuals (Romans 1:24-32).
Matthew 13:19 |
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then
the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he
who received seed by the wayside. |
Ephesians 5:17 |
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. |
Ephesians 4:17-19 |
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk
as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God,
because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to
lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. |
Mark 4:11,12 |
And He [Jesus] said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the
kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may
hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven
them.'" |
2 Peter 3:16 |
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some
things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their
own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. |
Romans 1:27-32 |
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (KJV) |
Matthew 13:13-15 |
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not;
and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled
the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's
heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they
have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with
their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them. (KJV) |
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