I have been informed that the purpose of your class meeting is to study
the significances and mysteries of the Holy Scriptures and understand the
meaning of the divine Testaments. It is a cause of great happiness to me
that you are turning unto the Kingdom of God, that you desire to approach
the presence of God and to become informed of the realities and precepts
of God. It is my hope that you may put forth your most earnest endeavor to
accomplish this end, that you may investigate and study the Holy
Scriptures word by word so that you may attain knowledge of the mysteries
hidden therein. Be not satisfied with words, but seek to understand the
spiritual meanings hidden in the heart of the words. The Jews read the Old
Testament night and day, memorizing its words and texts yet without
comprehending a single meaning or inner significance, for had they
understood the real meanings of the Old Testament, they would have become
believers in Christ, inasmuch as the Old Testament was revealed to prepare
His coming. As the Jewish doctors and rabbis did not believe in Christ, it
is evident that they were ignorant of the real significance of the Old
Testament. It is difficult to comprehend even the words of a philosopher;
how much more difficult it is to understand the Words of God. The divine
Words are not to be taken according to their outer sense. They are
symbolical and contain realities of spiritual meaning. For instance, in
the book of Solomon's songs you will read about the bride and bridegroom.
It is evident that the physical bride and bridegroom are not intended.
Obviously, these are symbols conveying a hidden and inner significance. In
the same way the Revelations of St. John are not to be taken literally,
but spiritually. These are the mysteries of God. It is not the reading of
the words that profits you; it is the understanding of their meanings.
Therefore, pray God that you may be enabled to comprehend the mysteries of
the divine Testaments.
Consider the symbolical meanings of the Words and teachings of Christ. He
said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat
of this bread, he shall live for ever." When the Jews heard this, they
took it literally and failed to understand the significance of His meaning
and teaching. The spiritual truth which Christ wished to convey to them
was that the reality of Divinity within Him was like a blessing which had
come down from heaven and that he who partook of this blessing should
never die. That is to say, bread was the symbol of the perfections which
had descended upon Him from God, and he who ate of this bread, or endowed
himself with the perfections of Christ, would undoubtedly attain to
everlasting life. The Jews did not understand Him, and taking the words
literally, said, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Had they
understood the real meaning of the Holy Book, they would have become
believers in Christ.
All the texts and teachings of the holy Testaments have intrinsic
spiritual meanings. They are not to be taken literally. I, therefore, pray
in your behalf that you may be given the power of understanding these
inner real meanings of the Holy Scriptures and may become informed of the
mysteries deposited in the words of the Bible so that you may attain
eternal life and that your hearts may be attracted to the Kingdom of God.
May your souls be illumined by the light of the Words of God, and may you
become repositories of the mysteries of God, for no comfort is greater and
no happiness is sweeter than spiritual comprehension of the divine
teachings. If a man understands the real meaning of a poet's verses such
as those of Shakespeare, he is pleased and rejoiced. How much greater his
joy and pleasure when he perceives the reality of the Holy Scriptures and
becomes informed of the mysteries of the Kingdom!
I pray that the divine blessings may descend upon you day by day, that
your hearts may be opened to perceive the inner significances of the Word
of God. There is no fruit in knowing the mere letters of the Book. Most of
the Jews had memorized the texts of the Old Testament and repeated them
night and day, but inasmuch as they were ignorant of the meanings, they
were deprived of the bounties of Christ. I pray that you may be quickened
by the breaths of the Holy Spirit and illumined by the rays of the Sun of
Truth. May you be favored with heavenly blessings in the threshold of God
and attain to eternal life. This is my prayer. May God bless and enlighten
you.
3 December 1912
Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney
780 West End Avenue, New York