1. The Promise: The Willing Doer Shall Know the Doctrine
Jesus declared, "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." This is a profound promise. Understanding does not come first, followed by obedience. Willingness to obey comes first, followed by understanding. The person who is willing to do God's will will be given the ability to discern true doctrine. The person who is unwilling to obey remains in ignorance and confusion. Obedience is not the ground of knowledge but the condition for receiving it.
2. The Example of the Pharisees: Unwilling to Obey, Unable to Understand
Jesus said to the Pharisees, "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." The Pharisees studied the Scriptures diligently. They knew the words. They memorized the texts. But they did not understand because they were not willing to obey. They were not willing to come to Christ. Their unwillingness to obey blinded their minds. Knowledge without obedience does not produce understanding; it produces pride.
3. The Psalmist's Testimony: Obedience Brings Understanding
The psalmist writes, "I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation." He does not claim to be smarter than his teachers. He claims to have more understanding because he meditated on and obeyed God's testimonies. He also writes, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments." Obedience is linked to understanding. The one who fears the Lord and keeps His commandments will be given a good understanding.
4. Obedience Opens the Eyes to See Wonders in the Law
The psalmist prayed, "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law." This prayer was prayed by one who delighted in God's Word. But note the context: the psalmist also said, "I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever." Obedience and illumination go together. The one who is not keeping God's law should not expect his eyes to be opened. Disobedience dims the spiritual sight. Obedience clears the vision. The wondrous things in the law are seen by those who walk in its ways.
5. The Principle: To Him Who Has, More Will Be Given
Jesus taught, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." This principle applies to understanding Scripture. The one who obeys what he already understands will be given more understanding. The one who does not obey will lose even what he seems to have. Obedience is the key that unlocks further revelation.
6. The Danger of Hearing Without Doing
James warns, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." The hearer who does not obey deceives himself. He thinks he has understood, but he has not. True understanding leads to action. If there is no action, there was no true understanding. Obedience is the proof of understanding, not an optional addition.
7. The Example of Abraham: Obedience Produced Deeper Revelation
After Abraham obeyed God's command to offer Isaac, the Lord said, "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Abraham's obedience did not earn his salvation, but it opened the way for fuller revelation. God revealed more of His covenant promises to Abraham because Abraham obeyed. The pattern continues: obedience leads to deeper understanding. The believer who steps out in obedience will find that God reveals more of His will.
8. Obedience and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever." The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who teaches all things. But Jesus links the giving of the Spirit to obedience. Love for Christ is demonstrated by keeping His commandments. To those who obey, the Spirit is given as Teacher. The disobedient should not expect the Spirit's illumination. Obedience invites the Teacher into the heart.
9. The Practical Path: Start with What You Know
No one understands all of Scripture. But every believer understands some of Scripture. The path to more understanding is to obey what you already know. Do not wait for full understanding before obeying. Obey the light you have, and more light will come. The psalmist says, "I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart." Obedience leads to enlarged capacity for understanding. The one who runs in the path of obedience will find his heart enlarged to receive more of God's truth.
10. The Blessing of Understanding Through Obedience
Solomon writes, "He who keeps the law is a discerning son." Discretion and understanding come to the obedient. The psalmist declares, "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." Understanding brings peace, and peace confirms understanding. The obedient believer walks in confidence, not confusion. He knows the way because he walks in it. The promise is not merely intellectual comprehension but practical, life-giving knowledge that transforms the whole person.
Conclusion
Obedience is essential for understanding Scripture. Jesus promised that the one who is willing to do God's will shall know the doctrine. The Pharisees searched the Scriptures but would not obey, so they remained blind. The psalmist testified that obedience brought understanding. The hearer who does not obey deceives himself. To him who obeys, more understanding will be given. The path to deeper knowledge is not more study alone but study combined with obedience. Let every student of Scripture be a doer of the Word, and understanding will surely follow.