Why is it that some people quote the bible but only when it's fitting?

Question

I read a recent question about abortion and one of the posters quoted text from Exodus 21 stating:
22- And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow, he shall be surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23- But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

The idea being since the bible is treating the baby as a life then it should be in our laws today. Here's where it gets interesting though.... In the very next 2 verses:
24- eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25- burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

This is the tried and true part that we as more "civilized societies" decide to deviate from the bible. We don't cut a mans hand off if he had done the same to another man. We put him in jail.
6- Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man. Hmm..

The last quote was from Genesis 9 by the way.
So if I cut a man he has all rights (by the bible) to draw blood from me as well.

If we make ourselves more civilized by not following certain parts of the bible "to the letter", then why do we choose to only certain things and not others?

Answer 1

Note that the section of Exodus from which are are quoting is talking about passing sentences in a court of law. It is stating that the sentence given by the judge should be in proportion to the damage done by the crime. If I were to cause you to lose a tooth, then executing me what be out of proportion. I should have to pay the cost of the tooth, or the burn, or the wound, etc. In the case of a life, the cost of a life is a life.

None of the scriptures support an INDIVIDUAL doint those things. I can not knock out your tooth because you knocked out mine. But I can go to a court of law and seek damages from you for the loss. There is a different.

Jesus dealt with this issue in his Sermon on the Mount. Even in his day people were trying to use "an eye for an eye" as a justification for personal revenge.

Matthew 5:38 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."

Jesus said not only banned personal revenge, but said we are wronged, that we are to turn the other cheek. And if we are taken to court and sued, we are to make not only repay the damage, but give them extra as an apology, etc. for the damage.

Answer 2

This is very interesting. It points out how men differ from God. Civilization from the beginning have set themselves up to be more merciful than even God. In our own self-pride, we think that following our system of jurisprudence, that we are somehow more understanding of mankind's faults than the quoted passages.
The intent of the law was to be merciful. In this system of government (eye for an eye) there is less crime, because men are fearful of it's result, but as Jesus has shown us, noone in the whole world is fit to be the Judge that orders such retribution for the crime.

John 8:7 'But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."''

People quote the Bible a lot, but usually miss the point of what it means. They instead become the stone throwers (even in words), and defeat the meaning of the passages.
My religion has many advocates that aren't capable of advocating on behalf of God due to their total lack of insight and study. They have what I refer to as a 'Prophet complex', always wanted to elevate themselves, in their own mind and in others sight, as special. They have their reward.

Matt. 6:1 ‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven'

No matter how much sense it makes to them. They will even give a thumbs down to those that tell them the truth. It isn't our place to deny a man or woman their sin between themselves and God in heaven. Some of them would even sin in order to end the sin. They are not followers of God. They are hypocrites.
Abortion is a sin, and sinners can't say the sin is any worse than their own. But they do and will continue to.

Answer 3

When reading the Bible, one needs to find out who, what, where, when and why.

Also, God gives us wisdom about His word when we ask Him to and when we accept His Son as our Lord and Savior.

My Public, in Luke chapter 19:11-26, Jesus is telling the parable of the Ten Minas. He did not tell the people to kill His enemies. It was a parable.

Answer 4

"You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17) The word "covet" means "to wish, long or crave for". I know that the beginning focuses on a marriage relationship, but it goes on to say "anything else that belongs to your neighbor". So, I think this verse definately applies.

Answer 5

ALL the people who believe ANYTHING in the wholly bible are Spiritual idiots...............
and WILL make-up whatever they chose to, to fit their belief system, which is 99.092450% lies and deceptions............

Here's how to avoid the bible, christianity and religion:

Create a private, personal, direct, divine Relationship with Our Creator and save your Soul from religion.

Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truly Free!

Love and Believe in Our Creator;
Love and Believe in Yourself.

"religion is Spiritual fraud"; "religion is the Worse invention of humanity" - Jesus Christ, Buddha and any one else with Spiritual intelligence.

Without God, there is No Love; Without religion, there are No Wars!

atheists = all the people in religion

Answer 6

I like it especially where the quotes contradict each other. For example, a Commandment is "thou shalt not kill" Yet in Luke 19, Jesus asks us to kill all those that do not follow him.

Answer 7

You don't see many people driving their wives out of the house when the wives menstruate either, though many may wish to. In Deuteronomy it says women on their periods are unclean, and must not be allowed on the furniture.

Below I see another misuse of bible quotes; once again someone claims that Jesus told his followers to kill. It's actually what a king says within a parable that Jesus is telling. So, now you know. That particular argument about the madness called the bible, is invalid. Here's the actual verse:

"The Parable of the Ten Minas
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a]'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'

17" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'

18"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'

19"His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'

20"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'

22"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

24"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

25" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'

26"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me."

The Triumphal Entry
28After Jesus had said this,....." I can see where the confusion arises. It's an unfortunate way to end the parable, because does make it sound like those who don't want a king over them will be killed.

Answer 8

Some people read only one book in their whole life, and this is bible...now let me quote something from bible to those ones: thou shalt read more books.

Answer 9

because christians KNOW that the bibles does not mention abortion, so they have to TRY to make that verse refer to it. women have been terminating pregnancies since the begining of time. in the begining, it was with herbs. as we as a society developed, as did the methods of termination, until we have what is today.

Answer 10

The best time to use scripture is when it is fitting and applicable. Not to condemn or condone but as an answer to a spiritual need.