It is easy to lose perspective - particularly when one wishes endorsement of his or her ideas, quests or desires. Within this context it is sometimes amazing what some allege Scripture to affirm.
To my considerable surprise I was once advised by a parishioner (indeed, one of my Board members) that Scripture sanctions couples living together so long as they eventually marry. To my "enlightenment" he then quoted I Corinthians 7:28: "If you marry, you have not sinned." If ever illustration was needed as to the perils of taking Scripture out of context, this had to be a prime example!
There are, of course, numerous other examples. During the height of the "wealth and prosperity" teaching, we were often told that Scripture promises the believer a hundred-fold increase in houses and lands if he rightly "leaves" his assets for "Christ and the gospel's sake" (Mark 10:29,30; Luke 18:29,30). This, of course, was often applied to one's supporting particular ministries.
What was generally overlooked was that Jesus also included brothers, sisters, parents, wives and children in this multiplied return. While doubtful that too many might have been interested in hundreds of relatives, I was sometimes curious as to how some might have responded to the idea of a hundred wives.
The whole of Jesus' statement was in answer to what had transpired immediately before. Having just dealt with an individual sufficiently possessed by his riches as to preclude his forsaking it all to follow Jesus, our Lord then observed, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God." At this juncture, Peter draws Christ's attention to the fact that, in contrast to the materialistically driven man, "We have left everything and followed you." Jesus then spoke of multiplied family and resource.
What did he mean? Simply this: Among Christ's true followers lies a oneness of family relationship so that in following Him, even if it costs one everything, he will not be alone or impoverished. Having gained acceptance into the family of faith, he will rather have gained their love, relationship and means as his own - a hundred times over, and more. And lest there be any illusions as to the cost of following him, Jesus advises his listeners that they should be prepared to pay a price in terms of persecution.
Context can explain many things.
Burl Ratzsch
