Understanding

Understanding is: God-given perception of the nature and meaning of things, resulting in sound judgment and decision-making.

Proverbs 3:5–8 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

The source of understanding

Understanding belongs to God

Job 12:13; Ps 136:5

Job 12:13 ESV

13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

Psalm 136:5 ESV

5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

See also Ps 147:5; Pr 3:19; Je 51:15; Je 15:15 God’s understanding gives rise to compassion.

Understanding is a gift from God

Pr 2:6; Is 29:24

Proverbs 2:6 ESV

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

See also 1 Ki 4:29; Job 38:36; Is 32:3–4; Da 1:17; Da 2:21; Da 2:30; Da 9:22; Ro 15:21; Is 52:15

Understanding spiritual truth

Understanding truth about God

1 John 5:20 ESV

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

See also Pr 2:5; Pr 9:10; Is 40:21; Is 40:28; Is 43:10; Je 9:24; Jn 10:38; Ro 1:20

Understanding God’s purposes

God has revealed many of His purposes and we still do not understand; Dt 9:6 God’s reason for choosing Israel; 1 Ch 28:19 God’s plans for the temple; Job 34:10–11 the reason for Job’s suffering; Ps 73:16–17 God’s dealings with the wicked; Is 57:1–2 God’s purpose in taking the righteous; Je 9:12–13 the reason for the exile

Understanding God’s word

Ps 119:73; Lk 24:45

Psalm 119:73 ESV

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

Luke 24:45 ESV

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

See also Ne 8:8; Ne 8:12; Ps 119:27; Ps 119:125; Mt 24:15; Lk 24:27; Ac 8:30–31; Jn 12:16

Understanding Jesus Christ’s teaching

Mt 13:11; Mt 16:12; Mt 17:13; Mk 4:33; Mk 8:17; Jn 2:22

Understanding God’s salvation

Ephesians 1:18 ESV

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

See also Is 41:20; Ro 13:11; Eph 1:9; Eph 3:4; Eph 3:17–19; Col 2:2; Phm 6

Human understanding is limited

Job 36:26; Pr 3:5

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

See also Job 26:14; Job 36:29; Job 42:3; Pr 20:24; Ec 11:5; Is 40:13–14; Is 55:8–9; 1 Co 13:12

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Gaining understanding

Through faith

Hebrews 11:3 ESV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

See also Mt 16:8–9

Through God’s Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:12 ESV

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

See also 1 Ch 28:12; Job 32:8; Is 11:2; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:13–15; 1 Co 2:14; Eph 1:17

Through God’s word

Psalm 119:130 ESV

130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

See also Dt 4:6; Ps 111:10; Da 9:2; Jn 20:9

Through wise teaching

Psalm 49:3 ESV

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

See also Job 8:8–10; Pr 1:2; Pr 4:1; Pr 15:32; Ec 12:9

Lack of understanding of spiritual truth

Not knowing God

Isaiah 1:3 ESV

3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

See also Dt 32:28–29; Is 27:11; Je 4:22; Ro 10:19; Dt 32:21

Lack of understanding due to hardened hearts

Dt 29:4; Is 6:9–10

See also Job 17:4; Is 44:18; Is 48:8; Je 5:21; Eze 12:2; Mt 13:13–15; Mk 6:52; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26–27; Eph 4:18

Not understanding God’s purposes

Ps 82:5; Ps 92:6–7; Is 5:13; Is 19:12; Mic 4:12; Lk 12:56; 1 Co 2:8

Luke 12:56 ESV

56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

1 Corinthians 2:8 ESV

8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Not understanding Jesus Christ’s teaching

Matthew 13:19 ESV

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

The results of understanding

Seeking God

Psalm 14:2 ESV

2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

See also Ps 53:2; Ro 3:11

Obedience

Psalm 119:34 ESV

34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

See also Ne 10:28; Ps 32:9; Ps 119:100; Pr 28:7

Taking the right path

Proverbs 2:9 ESV

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

See also Ps 119:104; Pr 15:21

Life

Ps 119:144; Pr 16:22

Psalm 119:144 ESV

144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Proverbs 16:22 ESV

22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Sensible living

Job 28:28 avoidance of evil; Pr 11:12 slowness to criticise; Pr 12:11 conscientious labour; Pr 13:15 winning favour; Pr 17:27 showing restraint and an even temper; Jas 3:13 good deeds and humility

The results of a lack of understanding

Foolish behaviour

Pr 6:32 committing adultery; Pr 7:7 being easily seduced; Pr 17:18 making rash commitments; Pr 18:1–2 selfishness and self-importance; Pr 24:30–31 idleness leading to ruin; Ho 4:11 Drunkenness clouds understanding.

Death

Pr 10:21; Pr 21:16; Ho 4:14

Proverbs 10:21 ESV

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Proverbs 21:16 ESV

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.

Understand God’s Plan of Salvation

Hear God’s Word; Believe that Word; Repent from Misunderstanding; Confess Jesus as God’s Son and Savior; Be Baptized for the remission of Sin and to be added to the Lord’s body; Remain Faithful all the days of your Life.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32–33 ESV

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

1 Peter 3:21 ESV

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.