John MacArthur's Lame Bible Commentary

By David J. Stewart

I have in front of me the "Revised and Updated" edition of The MacArthur Study Bible. It pains me to look through it, because John MacArthur's commentary as as corrupt as is the New King James Version (hereafter referred to as NKJV) upon which it is based. I'd like to share with you some of my observations. A naive believer would have difficulty in identifying MacArthur's theological blunders and bias toward modern corrupt bible versions, but with the Lord's help I will show you a few things that I believe are very important.

Worshipping Jesus Ignored

Jesus Christ is worthy to be worshipped as Almighty God (John 1:1-3,14;10:33; Revelation 1:8), and we should worship Him.

Deceitfully, most modern versions remove the word "worship" concerning Jesus Christ, and replace it with a mere "knelt." The NKJV is no exception and perverts the Word of God in Matthew 20:20. Of course, in all these perverted bibles, they still keep the word "worship" in Revelation 13:4 concerning those who worship THE BEAST! Evidently Nelson Publishers has no problem with worshipping Satan.

The King James Bible (hereafter referred to as KJB) reads in Matthew 20:20...

"Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, WORSHIPPING him, and desiring a certain thing of him.."

The corrupted NKJV reads in Matthew 20:20...

"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him."

Interestingly, John MacArthur, in his Revised and Updated 1997 edition of The MacArthur Study Bible fails to comment on the issue of worshipping Jesus in Matthew 8:2, 9:18; 14:33; 15:25 and so forth. What is he hiding? I believe it's because MacArthur knows that if he comments on these Scriptures, i.e., concerning Jesus being "worshipped," that he'll stick his neck out, because the NKJV and other modern versions have been corrupted. The trustworthy KJB says that the mother of Zebedee's sons "worshipped" Jesus; but the watered-down NKJV states that she only kneeled before Jesus. There's a big difference between kneeling and worshipping. One can kneel in honor or respect of a dignitary without worshipping him. For MacArthur to comment on this issue, in lieu of these corrupted Scriptures, would open him up to much criticism.

The Greek word for "worshipping" in the KJB is proskuneo, which originates from the act of a dog licking his master's hand. I'd say that's worship! Yet, the corrupters of the NKJV chose a lesser meaning, than to render to Jesus Christ the worship that He is entitled to receive (Philippians 2:9-11). I'm sure if we were to interview the mother of Zebedee's sons, and ask her if she wanted to have the word "kneel" or " worship" used, which word do you think she would choose? You know the answer, and so did the King James translators and any other honest person. If you ask any believer who loves the Lord Jesus Christ if they would rather "kneel" or "worship" before Him, they would instantly say WORSHIP!

I find little use for a lame commentary that fails to comment on Scriptures where people worshipped the Savior, Creator and God of the universe.

God's Promise to Preserve His Word Ignored

MacArthur fails to provide any meaningful comment on God's promise to preserve His Word unto all generations in Psalm 12:7-8. Psalm 12:6-8 in the KJB reads, "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." Psalm 12:7 is God's promise that He will PRESERVE His Words in every generation. That means that somewhere on the earth today we have God's preserved Words. I believe God's Words have been faithfully preserved in the precious King James Bible. Here's the commentary which John MacArthur provides in his Revised and Updated "Study Bible" on page 752 for Psalm 12:7-8:

"The hostile realities of v. 8 call for the heavenly resources of v. 7"

SOURCE: The Revised and Updated edition of The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson publishers, page 752

That's it? That's all you've got to say Mr. MacArthur concerning God's promise to preserve His Words? Lame!

The Necessity of the Literal Blood of Jesus Ignored

MacArthur also fails to provide any meaningful comment on the applied blood of the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:13. In MacArthur's Revised and Updated "Study Bible," he avoids Exodus 12:13 like the Bubonic Plague. Exodus 12:13 in the KJB reads, "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." MacArthur doesn't comment concerning the necessity of applying the blood to the doorposts and lintel of the home. It baffles me as to why any professed Gospel preacher would make light of the literal blood of Jesus Christ. MacArthur has nothing good to say about Jesus' physical blood, because he doesn't think it has any value in and of itself.

Here are MacArthur's comments for Leviticus 17:11, i.e., the phrase "the life of the flesh is in the blood":

"..the shedding of blood represents the shedding of life, i.e., death ... NT references to the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ are references to His death."

SOURCE: The Revised and Updated edition of The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson publishers, page 178

There is NO such teaching in the Scriptures! John MacArthur has fabricated his own corrupt way of thinking. Hebrews 9:6-7 state: "Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second [i.e., the holy of holies] went the high priest alone once every year, NOT WITHOUT BLOOD, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." How can Mr. MacArthur be so naive and unbiblical as to claim that Jesus' literal physical blood didn't need to be applied to the Mercy Seat in Heaven, in consideration of such overwhelming Scriptural evidence?

What good is a "Study Bible" that ignores the most important doctrine in the entire Bible? 1st Peter 1:18,19 tells us just how important the blood of Jesus is: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Corrupting of the Scriptures Ignored

The NKJV perverts Romans 1:25.

Romans 1:25 in the KJB reads:

"Who CHANGED the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

Romans 1:25 in the NKJV reads:

"who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

The NKJV corrupted "changed the truth" to "exchanged the truth" (ditto: NIV, NASV, NRSV, RSV). Romans 1:25 in the KJB is clear that the ungodly corrupt the Word of God in an attempt to justify their sins. We see this much today. This is why the word "sodomite" has been completely removed from the demonic NIV bible, because there were homosexuals on the translating committee. The NKJV has distorted the true meaning of this Scripture, and John MacArthur's lame commentary on Romans 1:25, the phrase "the lie," proves it...

"A denial of God's existence and His right to be obeyed and glorified."

SOURCE: The Revised and Updated edition of The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson publishers, page 1694

MacArthur is wrong, and so are Nelson Publisher's and their garbage bible. Verses 24,26 and 27 clearly indicate that the particular sin in focus here is homosexuality. "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves ... For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature" (Romans 1:24,26). It is clear from the context of the surrounding Scriptures that Romans 1:25 is condemning those who CHANGE the word of God, i.e., corrupt the truth into a lie, to justify their sins. Most homosexuals believe in God Mr. MacArthur. There is a massive homosexualization of churches taking place in America today, and it is of the Devil.

To interpret Romans 1:25 as merely applying to atheists is to completely and inexcusably overlook the lucrative Bible-corrupting movement in America today. The Greek word for "change" in the KJB is metallasso and means "to exchange, change." The root word for, llasso, means "to change, to exchange one thing for another, to transform." The King James translators understood this word to condemn those who transform, or change, the truth; thus, exchanging it for a lie instead. You can't just pick out one particular meaning as Nelson Publisher's has done. The word metallasso means to exchange by changing, not just exchanging in itself. This is very important. Homosexuals today are exchanging the truth of God's Word for a lie, by corrupting the Word of God. They even have their own queer bible now called the New Oxford Annotated Bible.

MacArthur fails to address the issue of corrupt bibles anywhere in his so-called "Bible Study." Folks, the Devil is shrewd and deadly. How is it that Mr. MacArthur is smart enough to see false religions, false christs and false prophets; but yet he can't see the forest for the trees when it comes to Satan corrupting the Word of God? There are false bibles everywhere today! Awake to righteousness!

Ghostwriting?

There are so many contradictions in The MacArthur Study Bible, as compared to MacArthur's previous writings, that it is questionable to me if some of his commentary was written by a GHOSTWRITER.

Here's a perfect example of how MacArthur contradicts himself 100%. On page 1920 of MacArthur's Revised and Updated "Study Bible," concerning Hebrews 12:14 and the phrase "pursue... holiness," he states:

"Unbelievers will not be drawn to accept Christ if believers' lives do not demonstrate the qualities God desires, including peace and holiness."

SOURCE: The Revised and Updated edition of The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson publishers, page 1920

I agree with the above interpretation; however, MacArthur totally contradicts himself concerning his interpretation of Hebrews 12:14 in another book he has written...

“Eternal security is a great spiritual truth, but it should never be presented merely as a matter of being once saved, always saved--with no regard for what you believe or do. The writer of Hebrews 12:14 states frankly that only those who continue living holy lives will enter the Lord's presence. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Kingdom Living Here and Now (pg. 150).

Which is it Mr. MacArthur? Those are two VERY different interpretations. The introduction to MacArthur's Revised and Updated "Study Bible" calls him a "world-class scholar." I think not! Either 1 + 1 = 3, or else 1 + 1 = 2. It can't be both. I'm tired of supporters of John MacArthur quoting places where he says 1 + 1 = 2, while ignoring other places where he clearly teaches that 1 + 1 = 3. MacArthur's hundreds of books are at best, a compilation of confusion, contradictions and bad theology. It is MacArthur's numerous contradictions, like the one I just shared with you concerning Hebrews 12:14, that naturally raise questions as to who wrote the comments in The MacArthur Study Bible. Has MacArthur revised some of his doctrines, but not said anything to anyone? If so then why is he still selling his older flawed writings, which are misleading people? I mean, either a ghostwriter wrote MacArthur's "Study Bible" or else he is just a confused individual.

Conclusion

I plead with you to throw your NKJV into the garbage pail, and The MacArthur's Bible Study as well if you own one. The best way to interpret the Bible is with the Bible. Commentaries are at best, risky, because you may be led away from the truth by bad theology if you don't know any better.

MacArthur is corrupt in his views. The very fact that Mr. MacArthur denies the efficacy (i.e., redeeming power) of the literal physical blood of Jesus is enough reason to avoid him completely. MacArthur is a cult leader, just as is R.B. Thieme, Jr. who teaches the same heresy on the blood. Pastors all across America have embraced this apostate man of sin, who dares blaspheme the holiest and most precious substance in this world—the literal liquid blood of Jesus Christ! I am going to expose anyone who says that Jesus' physical blood is worthless in and of itself. There's not a more precious, important and holy doctrine in God's Word than the redeeming power of Jesus' literal liquid blood.

Read what Revelation 1:5 states in the KJB...

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD."

To no surprise, John MacArthur has absolutely NOTHING to say about the blood of Jesus in this Scripture. Page 1992 of The MacArthur Study Bible says nothing about the precious blood in Revelation 1:5, nothing! Don't you tell me that Mr. MacArthur is a believer! Don't you tell me that John MacArthur is a Christian! Don't you tell me that MacArthur loves the blood! No Sir! Dr. MacArthur is an imposter, an unsaved Modernist who name the name of Christ. There are countless good things taught by unsaved Mormons, Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses; but that doesn't justify their damnable lies. MacArthur is no different. I mean, brother, If you're wrong on the blood of Jesus—you're wrong on everything!

And finally, here's some startling information that you probably didn't know about the damnable NKJV...

The NKJV removes the word "Lord" 66 times!

The NKJV removes the word God 51 times!

The NKJV removes the word "heaven" 50 times!

In just the New Testament alone the NKJV removes 2,289 words from the KJB!

The NKJV makes over 100,000 word changes!

And most changes will match the NIV, NASV, RSV, or RSV!

And Thomas Nelson Publishers have the audacity to claim in an ad for the NKJV (Moody Monthly, June 1982, back cover), "NOTHING HAS BEEN CHANGED except to make the original meaning clearer." John MacArthur, just like so many others today, have sold out to Satan for filthy lucre sake. Jesus plainly stated, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." —Hebrews 9:12

It's The Blood Of Jesus!

BEWARE of The MacArthur Study Bible!

Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!