The Letter Versus the Spirit of the Word (Episode 122)

Some churchgoers can quote lots of the Scriptures. Some of them have gotten good at that because they have practiced memorization of Bible verses for many years. But being able to quote Scriptures is not even close to properly understanding them.

In this episode, Frank King addresses the letter of the Word vs the spirit of the Word. The letter of the Word is what the Scriptures literally say. The spirit of the Word refers to God’s intended meaning of His Word. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63, KJV).

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day, namely, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, considered themselves to be the authorities of the Law (better known as the Old Testament). They had rigid views about what the Law said. And they judged everybody’s conduct by their rigid views. But they understood just enough about the Law to be dangerous.

For instance, they took the Law literally regarding the Sabbath day as a day a rest. To them, that meant absolutely nothing could be done on that day. That was the letter of the Law. But Jesus told them it was lawful to do good even on the Sabbath day.

One reason the Pharisees and the Sadducees knew only the letter of the Law was because they rejected Christ. They saw Him as the enemy. Hence, whenever they read the Scriptures, there was in effect a spiritual veil over what they read. And Paul tells us that veil remains until one’s heart turns to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16).

What's Wrong with the "Letter"

When one cannot see beyond the letter of God’s word, legalism will be the result. Just think of all the commandments in Jesus’ teachings and the many calls to action in Paul’s epistles. Some may be led to believe that Christianity is a life of dos and don’ts.

But the clear message in the New Testament is that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. No one can earn salvation by keeping lots of dos and don’ts, “lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9, KJV).

Moreover, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life,” Paul writes (2 Corinthians 3:6, NASB). These words underscore the life-giving message of the New Testament versus the legalism of the Old Testament.

Still, many people in church today are bound by legalism. They view Christianity as a religion of strict adherence to the commandments and dos and don'ts found in the Scriptures. Those who do so have failed to grasp the spirit of the Word of God. The Christian life is not characterized by rules and regulations but by faith in Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.

When someone has a legalistic view of Christian living, they view others through their faulty lens. That’s what Jesus encountered in His day. For instance, the Pharisees had a view of what the Law said about the Sabbath Day, albeit wrong it was. They tried to impose their twisted view upon Jesus—who was God and who was Lord of the Sabbath. Perhaps we all know someone who knows just enough of the truth to be dangerous.