"Exceptions"

Nick S. Wallace

Sometimes when general statements are made in Scripture, they can be clarified with exceptions. For example, in Matthew 28:18, Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”1 If all we had was this verse, we would believe that nothing exists that isn’t under Jesus’ authority. However, Paul clarifies in 1 Corinthians 15:27 that the Father Himself is “excepted” from the list, serving as an exception to the rule. Similarly, when Paul wished that those to whom he preached would become just like him, he clarified that this would be true “except for these chains” (Acts 26:29). A third example is Jesus’ teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her” (Mark 10:11). Despite this general rule, an exception appears in Matthew 5:32 for sexual immorality.

We should only make exceptions where the Bible makes exceptions. For example, in 1 Samuel 15:3, God told Saul to “utterly destroy” all the Amalekites, but Saul allowed exceptions for “Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good” (v. 9). As a result of making his own exceptions, Saul’s dynasty was rejected (vv. 23–35). Also, Paul commanded to “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (2 Thess. 3:6), but some make exceptions for close friends and family members. While there’s a case to be made for an exception between spouses, since Paul wrote that a Christian should not separate from an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor. 7:12–16), we should take care not to make additional exceptions that lack book, chapter, and verse. In a similar manner, the Bible condemns the taking of innocent human life (Gen. 9:6; Prov. 6:16–19; 1 John 3:15) and teaches that the unborn constitute living children (Gen. 25:22; Luke 1:15, 41–44). As a result, some recognize abortion as wrong but, nonetheless, believe in exceptions for rape and incest. While such situations are tragic, the Bible does not list exceptions where killing an unborn child becomes permissible. Unless we can give book, chapter, and verse for the exceptions we make, we should avoid making them.

Since all have sinned (Rom. 3:23), we all deserve the wrath of God (2:8). However, in Christ, we can become exceptions to the punishment we deserve. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). In His word, God has revealed what we should do to please Him (2 Tim. 3:16–17). By letting God’s word decide the rules and exceptions, we can avoid the broad way leading to destruction and, instead, follow the narrow way that leads to life (Matt. 7:13–14).

“Let Us” in Hebrews

Steven J. Wallace

Looking for some encouragement? Get it from the Lord’s word. We can grow our inner resolve by planting some Bible “let us” in our minds.

Heb. 4:11, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
Heb. 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Heb. 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Heb 6:1, 2, “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
Heb. 10:22, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Heb. 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Heb. 10:24, 25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Heb. 12:1, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Heb. 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
Heb 13:13, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”
Heb. 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

Pick a passage and memorize it over the next two weeks. Then choose another after that and repeat. Ask, “What does this passage mean in its context?” Notice how many times “therefore” appears in our list. Also ask, “How might this apply to me today?” Brethren, let us go forward and upward!