Common to Jesus’s interaction with the religious leaders was his rebuke, “Have you not read?” (Mt 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31; Mk 12:10, 26). The effect of Jesus’ question is grounded in the understandability of Scripture. The New Testament attests to its own perspicuity, even in passages thought of as more difficult to interpret, like Matthew 24:15 (cf. Mk 13:14; Lk 21:20). The insertion “let the reader understand,” informs us that the biblical author wants the reader to understand.

The perspicuity or clarity of Scripture is affirmed by the hundreds of New Testament references and allusions to the Old Testament. Jesus believed “Moses and all the Prophets” (Lk 24:27) could be understood and he sought to explain and interpret in those writings “the things concerning himself.” By rightly searching the Scriptures, Jesus trusted readers would see that they bear witness about him (Jn 5:39­–40). The decisive element of Christ’s argumentation recorded in the Gospels was an appeal to the Old Testament. Such an appeal was not empty because Christ knew the Scripture to be understandable. He “builds upon the acknowledged meaning of the texts he cites.”[1] His teaching at the synagogue on the Sabbath day (Lk 4:16–21; cf. Is 61), his sermon on the mount (Mt 5:2–7:27; “you have heard it said…but I say to you”), and his explanation of the new covenant at the Passover meal (Lk 22:7–37) showcases Christ’s expectation of familiarity with those Scriptures. Replete throughout his ministry and the Gospels overall is the refrain, “it is written” (Mt 2:5 4:4, 7, 10; 21:13; 26:31; Mk 1:2; Lk 2:23; 24:46; Jn 6:45; 8:17; 12:14). Jesus believed Scripture could be understood and that any misunderstanding on the part of the listener was not due to Scripture’s obscurity, but on some spiritual defect in the person or group. Common to Jesus’s interaction with the religious leaders was his rebuke, “Have you not read?” (Mt 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31; Mk 12:10, 26). The effect of Jesus’ question is grounded in the understandability of Scripture. The New Testament attests to its own perspicuity, even in passages thought of as more difficult to interpret, like Matthew 24:15 (cf. Mk 13:14; Lk 21:20). The insertion “let the reader understand,” informs us that the biblical author wants the reader to understand.

The Understandability of the New Testament

The New Testament was written to be clear. “From translations of foreign words to descriptions expressed in familiar terms, from editorial comments to background information, the biblical writers supply information designed to enable their readers to better understand what they have written,”[2] Allison writes. Translations are given from Hebrew (Mt 1:23; Mk 7:11; Jn 1:38, 41; 9:7; Acts 4:36) and Aramaic (Mt 27:46; Mk 5:41; 15:22; Jn 1:42; Acts 9:36). Idiomatic expressions are given explanation (Mk 3:17) and background information is supplied (Mk 7:3–4). Unfamiliar features are elucidated (Gn 13:10; 1 Sm 9:9) and interpretive commentary is provided (Mk 7:18–19; Jn 7:37–39). These findings demonstrate that the biblical authors intended for their writings to be understood. In Paul’s words, the authors are “not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand” (2 Cor 1:13).

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