Darkened Minds, Closed Hearts: Why False Teachers Cannot See the Truth

[bdavidc]

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ~ Matthew 11:25 ESV

Why False Teachers Cannot Understand the True Meaning of Scripture

False teachers, regardless of how skilled they may be in speech or how impressive their theological training may appear, remain blind to the true meaning of Scripture because their hearts are not submitted to God. Scripture is spiritually discerned, and those who distort its message often do so because they lack the Spirit of God or resist His leading (2 Peter 2:1–3). Their motives are impure—driven by pride, greed, or a desire for influence—rather than a desire to glorify Christ. As a result, they twist the Word to fit their own agendas (2 Timothy 4:3–4), cutting themselves off from the true light that only comes through obedience and humility.

Jesus warned of such individuals, saying, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). The problem is not always a lack of knowledge, but a refusal to bow to Christ as Lord. Without genuine submission to Him, no amount of scriptural familiarity can lead to true understanding. They may possess the letter of the Word, but they miss its spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Therefore, false teachers remain in darkness not because God's Word is unclear, but because their hearts are closed to the truth it proclaims. Only those who come to Christ in faith and humility—willing to obey—will have the veil lifted and the Word illuminated. Obedience is the gateway to understanding, and rebellion blocks the way.

Click below for more on this subject:
Darkened Minds, Closed Hearts

 

[Curtis]

Col 2:8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). (AMP)

 

[Curtis]

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

No amount of logical analytical reasoning can ever come to revelations of God's Word. (understanding)

By "faith" only we understand God's Word, and the faith needed to understand only comes by hearing the Word of God, or in other words
"Faith" only comes by hearing the voice of Jesus, who is the Word.

 

[Butch5]

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ~ Matthew 11:25 ESV

Why False Teachers Cannot Understand the True Meaning of Scripture

False teachers, regardless of how skilled they may be in speech or how impressive their theological training may appear, remain blind to the true meaning of Scripture because their hearts are not submitted to God. Scripture is spiritually discerned, and those who distort its message often do so because they lack the Spirit of God or resist His leading (2 Peter 2:1–3). Their motives are impure—driven by pride, greed, or a desire for influence—rather than a desire to glorify Christ. As a result, they twist the Word to fit their own agendas (2 Timothy 4:3–4), cutting themselves off from the true light that only comes through obedience and humility.

Jesus warned of such individuals, saying, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). The problem is not always a lack of knowledge, but a refusal to bow to Christ as Lord. Without genuine submission to Him, no amount of scriptural familiarity can lead to true understanding. They may possess the letter of the Word, but they miss its spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Therefore, false teachers remain in darkness not because God's Word is unclear, but because their hearts are closed to the truth it proclaims. Only those who come to Christ in faith and humility—willing to obey—will have the veil lifted and the Word illuminated. Obedience is the gateway to understanding, and rebellion blocks the way.

Click below for more on this subject:
Darkened Minds, Closed Hearts

But what about the church?