— 1 Corinthians 14:38
At first glance, that verse can feel… harsh.
Does God really want people to stay ignorant?
Does He encourage spiritual blindness?
Not at all.
When we rightly divide the Word of truth, the meaning becomes clear—and deeply sobering.
▪️God Has Already Spoken
Just one verse earlier, Paul writes:
“The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:37
That’s the issue.
Not lack of information.
Not lack of access.
But response to truth already given.
God has spoken—through the Apostle Paul—revealing:
• The mystery
• The dispensation of grace
• The truth for the Body of Christ today
The light is on.
The question is—
Will we walk in it?
▪️What Kind of “Ignorance” Is This?
This is not:
• Someone struggling to understand
• Someone new to the Bible
• Someone still learning
This is something else.
This is:
Willful ignorance.
Chosen blindness.
A deliberate refusal to receive truth.
“For this they willingly are ignorant…”
— 2 Peter 3:5
They could learn.
They could grow.
But they choose not to.
▪️When Truth Is Rejected
God will not force anyone.
If a person insists:
“I don’t want that truth.”
“I don’t accept Paul’s authority.”
“I’ll believe what I want.”
Then Scripture says:
“Let him be ignorant.”
Not because God desires it—
But because He honors free will.
▪️The Real Issue: Paul’s Authority
In context, the issue is clear:
Will you recognize that Paul’s writings are the Lord’s commandments for today?
If someone rejects that…
They are not just rejecting a man—
They are rejecting the message Christ gave from heaven.
“If any man think himself to be… spiritual…”
— 1 Corinthians 14:37
Here’s the test:
Do they receive Pauline truth?
Do they rightly divide?
Or do they resist it?
▪️Ignorance vs. Growth
Let’s be honest.
All of us are ignorant… in some measure.
No one knows the Bible perfectly.
That’s not the problem.
The problem is:
• Being content in ignorance
• Being comfortable in error
• Being unwilling to grow
It’s easier to stay where we are.
Tradition is comfortable.
Change is hard.
But truth calls us forward.
▪️God’s Desire Is Maturity
God’s will is not ignorance—
It is growth.
“That we henceforth be no more children…”
— Ephesians 4:14
“Study… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
— 2 Timothy 2:15
He has given us:
• A completed Bible
• A clear message
• A defined program for today
We are not lacking truth.
We are called to receive it… and live it.
▪️A Sobering Reality
Many don’t reject truth because they can’t see it.
They reject it because they don’t want it.
“My people love to have it so…”
— Jeremiah 5:31
They prefer:
• Feel-good messages
• Religious tradition
• Comfort over correction
And so…
They remain ignorant—by choice.
▪️Our Response
So what do we do?
We don’t argue endlessly.
We don’t force.
We follow Scripture:
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”
— 2 Timothy 2:25
We teach.
We are patient.
We are gentle.
But we also recognize—
Some will refuse.
Conclusion:
God has not hidden the truth.
He has revealed it.
Clearly.
Fully.
Through His Word.
The issue is not:
“Has God spoken?”
The issue is:
Will we listen?
Let’s not choose ignorance.
Let’s choose growth.
Let’s choose truth.
Let’s choose to rightly divide.
Grace and peace.
