INFERENCE
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BIBLE WE FIND THAT IT
CONTAINS SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERATURE.
A. There are passages that must be labeled as
poetry.
B. There are sections that contain proverbs and
wisdom sayings.
C. There are psalms and gospels.
D. We find narrative accounts.
E. There is also apocalyptic literature.
F. Last week we explored the fact that the Bible
contains examples.
G. I advanced the proposition that the Bible
uses examples to show us what is right and wrong.
H. In addition to examples there are also inferences
and commands
I. Today we want to look at the word inference.
2. An inference is a means of understanding and
applying information.
3. We use inference on a regular basis.
4. Day after day we are often presented with
some facts.
5. We take these facts and we draw conclusions.
6. The bible does the same thing.
7. A few moments ago we heard the scripture
reading (Mt.
8. Jesus was baptized.
9. The text says, “He came up out of the water.”
10. This is a fact.
11. Can we infer anything from this fact?
12. Does this information allow us to draw any
conclusions?
13. Yes.
14. If Jesus “came up out of the water” He had to
be in the water.
15. When we say that Jesus was in the water we
have drawn an inference.
16. There are several inferences in scripture.
17. Sometimes these inferences require careful
study to uncover them.
A. Let’s take a look at Mt. 22.
B. Mt.
C. These people did not believe in a
resurrection.
D. These fellows had a question that they may
have thought that no one could answer.
E. These men said, “If the resurrection is true,
how would you explain a situation?”
F. Suppose that a man got married. Before he could father any children he died.”
G. “Because of Moses’ law his widow married
another man; a brother. He too died.”
H. “This happened 7 times.”
i). If there will be a resurrection these men
wanted to know who the woman would be married to.
I. These fellows must have felt pretty smug when
they put their question to Jesus.
J. They must have thought, “We have got Him
now.”
K. In verses 29-30 Jesus answered their
question.
L. Then the Lord said this (verses 31-32).
M. Notice the tense of the verbs.
N. Jesus spoke of the dead.
O. We speak of the dead by using the past tense.
P. “He was a nice guy; she was
mean; they were sickly.”
Q. Jesus noted that the Old Testament Law used
the present tense to describe the dead.
R. This showed that the dead were still, in some
sense, alive.
18. According to Jesus the present tense is proof
of a resurrection.
19. If these men were still alive this implied
they would one day be raised.
20. Some in our world might say this is flimsy
evidence.
21. This not how Jesus viewed the matter.
22. Jesus came face to face with some of the most
powerful religious leaders in the first century.
23. He challenged one of their most firmly held
beliefs.
24. His proof of the resurrection was based upon
an inference.
25. If God is the God of the departed, those who
are dead must (in some sense) still be alive.
26. These men would one day be raised to be with
God.
27. If Jesus drew inferences from scripture are
we not to do the same?
28. If Jesus found authority for the resurrection
in an inference we must follow His example.
29. WHEN WE REALIZE THAT INFERENCES ARE FOUND IN THE BIBLE WE WILL BEGIN TO NOTICE THEM IN PASSAGE AFTER PASSAGE.
A. The Bible says that belief precedes baptism
(Mk. 16:16).
B. Before baptism people must repent (Acts
2:38).
C. These are two facts. What can we infer from these facts?
D. We can infer that infants are not suitable
candidates for baptism.
E. If baptism requires belief and repentance,
inference tells us that small children are exempt.
30. There are other inferences in scripture.
31. Do we remember the story about Peter in Acts
10?
A. God told Peter (10:13) to “Rise, kill,
and eat.”
B. The animals that were put before Peter had
been unclean under the Old Testament.
C. Peter said, “Not me Lord.”
D. “I have never eaten those kinds of
creatures.”
E. Listen to Acts 10:28. READ.
F. Peter finally got the point.
G. He inferred that all meats could be eaten and
that no person is “unclean.”
H. He took the facts, reasoned the matter out,
and came to a conclusion.
32. I once heard someone object to this type of
reasoning.
33. This person said, “This is human reasoning
and it has no basis in scripture.”
34. This is absolutely false.
35. Jesus used an inference to prove the
resurrection of the dead.
36. God used inference to show Peter that the Old
Testament law had been repealed.
37. These are by no means the only two times we
find inferences in scripture.
38. Let’s look at another statement made by
Jesus.
39. This passage comes from Mt. 12.
40. In this section of scripture Jesus spoke
about Satan.
41. He again used inference.
42. The exact reference is Mt. 12:26. READ
A. Let’s divide this verse into three parts.
B. The first part says “Satan casts out Satan.”
C. The second part says, “He is divided against
himself.”
D. Suppose these statements were made and then
the verse stopped.
E. If Satan were divided against himself and He
cast himself out of people what could we infer?
F. We would infer that he would not be
successful.
G. We would infer that he would be unable to do
what he wanted to do.
H. What did Jesus say?
I. READ 26c again.
J. Jesus drew an inference.
K. If Satan worked against Himself Jesus
inferred that his kingdom would not function.
43. Jesus Christ took facts and then drew
conclusions from them.
44. He was not the only one who used inferences.
45. Do we remember Jn. 20:28?
A. Thomas was told about the resurrection.
B. He said that he wanted proof that Jesus was
no longer in the grave.
C. Jesus appeared and said to this man, “touch
me.”
D. Jesus said, “Look at my hands. Feel my side.”
E. What did Thomas concude?
F. He said, my Lord and my God.
G. Thomas drew an inference.
H. He took facts, he reasoned from those facts,
and he drew a conclusion.
I. This was an incredible inference.
46. There was another man who used inference.
47. Certain things happened when Jesus died on
the cross.
48. One of the men who was in the area of the
Lord’s death was a centurion.
49. When this man saw what happened he said,
“truly this was the son of God” (Mk. 15:39).
50. This man inferred that Jesus was who the
people said He was.
51. Another inference in scripture, if you have
kept your Bible open to Mt. 12 is right in front of you.
52. Notice verse 28. READ.
A. Jesus was casting out demons.
B. He was doing this by the Spirit of God.
C. What did this mean? What was the inference? The kingdom of God had come.
53. Again and again the bible encourages us to
use inferences.
A. Jesus said He is “the way” (Jn. 14:6).
B. This fact allows us to draw an inference.
C. We may conclude that since Jesus is “the way”
He is the exclusive way to the father.
i). We say this and believe this but we may not
recognize that this is an inference.
54. WHEN WE DEAL WITH INFERENCES WE MUST BE CAREFUL.
A. A few days ago Elizabeth walked into a room
where I was.
B. She said, “I have your check.”
C. I started to draw an inference.
D. I inferred that she was talking about my
paycheck.
E. That seemed odd. Why would she have a paycheck for me?
F. I asked for some clarification.
G. She had a check from the school; it had been
written for the wrong amount.
H. I drew a tentative conclusion before I had
all the facts.
I. This tentative conclusion was wrong.
J. People often do the same thing in scripture.
K. Think about the passages which say “whole
households” were converted.
L. People read these accounts and they draw an
inference.
M. They infer that infants must have been in
those households.
N. This inference is then used to affirm that
infant baptism is right.
55. For an inference to be valid it must be based
upon known facts.
56. We do not know who (or who was not) in those
households.
57. The word “household” is the like word
“check.”
58. A wide range of meanings are possible.
59. When we think about improper inferences we
should think of Peter.
A. This apostle was invited to the
transfiguration.
B. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
C. He was seeing people who had been dead for a
long time.
D. Because of what he saw he drew an inference.
E. He inferred that it would be good to “build
three tabernacles.”
60. Peter saw a marvelous gathering of special
people and inferred that three structures should be built.
61. On this occasion he drew an inference that
was wrong.
62. In Acts 10 he failed to understand an
inference that was right.
63. As people there are times when we fail to
correctly use inference.
A. This is a tool that all of us use.
B. It is a tool that is found in scripture.
C. This tool reminds us that we must do things
as God has said.
D. Is this the commitment we have made?