5 Surprising Ways Popular Bible Stories Are Misunderstood

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The Bible is full of wisdom, but there are many popular Bible stories that are commonly misused and misunderstood, even by well-intended Christians. While the Bible is part of daily life for many people, offering wisdom and guidance for how people should live their lives, unfortunately, the text has been retranslated and misinterpreted. Readers and carriers of the message often hear particular verses and passages in ways they were not intended to be read. It’s important that you really understand these stories, particularly if you are living by the Word and professing it to others. The problem with the reading of the Bible today is the fact that many of us hurry the reading, so we aren’t engaged in what the stories say or are really telling us. It becomes problematic when people turn Scripture into a collection of one-liners without paying attention to the context of the verse or the history behind the text. Here are five misused Bible stories and the surprising ways they are misunderstood.

David & Goliath

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You might envision David versus Goliath as a story of a weak shepherd defeating a mighty warrior. However, it turns out that’s not what the story is about at all. Take a look at the story again. First, Goliath can’t see. He has to call out to David in order to fight him. At a glance, you may think that’s simply because he can’t see them, but big competitors’ perceived advantages can often mask their even bigger disadvantages. Next, Goliath is powerless. David is a lowly shepherd boy, but is also the only person in the story who realizes that heavy armor weighs a warrior down. Finally, David is deadly. One big misconception is that David goes into battle with “only a sling” which most believe to be a tiny, toy slingshot. However, that’s not what David has at all. Instead, he’s carrying a sling, which is a simple effective weapon that armies used in battle and shepherds like David used to protect their flock. That’s why David is able to walk right up to Goliath and kill him with a single shot to the head. The lesson isn’t simply that when a powerful competitor takes on a smaller one, the small one might nevertheless win. Instead, great leaders understand that the real keys to battle are sometimes obscured by our misconceptions. Perceiving them correctly can amount to a Goliath-sized advantage.

Cain & Abel

Cain and Abel, the world’s first siblings, have a story that causes lots of confusion and debate in Christian circles. Their story is not so much misused as it is misunderstood. The storyline doesn’t seem right or fair. The Bible tells us, “By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith, he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts and even though he is dead, he still speaks through faith” (Hebrews 11:4). The words faith and better sacrifice modify each other. Because it was done in faith, Abel made a better sacrifice in God’s sight. By implication then, Cain’s sacrifice was no done in faith or with an attitude of worship. Therefore, God rejected it. The nature of the offering wasn’t the problem. The problem comes from what each man’s heart was offering.

Jonah & the Big Fish

If there is one story in the Bible that has captured the imagination of children everywhere, it has to be the story of Jonah. Even for adults, there’s a lot to like about Jonah’s story: adventure, boats, storms, a huge fish, a rebellious runaway prophet, guys and grime, a miracle rescue and a dramatic ending. But when you take a closer look at it, the story has God’s redeeming love written all over it. Jonah’s story is often misunderstood because the main emphasis of the story is often put in the wrong place. The main theme is not about a fish, it’s not about the city of Nineveh, and believe it or not, it’s not even about Jonah. The story of Jonah is about God and His patient, loving grace and mercy; his relentless pursuit of sinners like you and me.

The Woman Caught in Adultery

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This popular Bible story has been used as a shield for sin. It is an uncomfortable story to be sure, for it begins with a woman who has been “caught in the act of adultery.” No further details are given. The scribes and the Pharisees bring her to Jesus and place her in the center of their circle. They question Jesus about what should happen to her, since the Old Testament law of Moses says such a person should be stoned (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 2:23-24). The truth is, they weren’t after the woman as guilty as she might be. They were really after Jesus. But there is good news for the woman because they brought her to Jesus. Many people stop early in the story and say, “See, we’re all sinners, so no one has the right to judge me or hold me (or anyone else) accountable.” It is true the woman needed grace. But she also needed truth.

Judas and the Betrayal

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Judas was a thief that was full of greed and jealousy (John 12:4-6), a man upon whom was pronounced a woe by Jesus Himself (Luke 22:2). His guilt did not lead him to true faith but to suicide. He gives no evidence of trusting in Jesus as the Messiah who would save Him. Judas does not give enough evidence to suggest that he was ever a true believer in Jesus Christ. In fact, the way Jesus talks about him in the narrative description of his actions and character suggest the very opposite. Therefore, the story of Judas could never be used as evidence that a true believer could lose their salvation. While this is a sad story, it’s not a believer’s story.