The risk of adding or removing from God’s word

By Tope Banso

DON’T ADD TO THE WORD OF GOD OR SUBTRACT FROM IT

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6 New King James Version).

When God created man, He put Adam in the Garden of Eden with a clear command. He said, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17 New King James Version).

This command was not ambiguous, and God expected man to obey it. Sometimes later, God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs so that he would not be alone in the garden. Unfortunately, the serpent came to deceive Eve. “And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b New King James Version).

Eve’s reply showed that she was aware of the command God had given Adam as regards the fruits in the Garden.  “And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die’” (verses 2-3 New King James Version).

Here lies the problem: Eve added to the Word of God. God never said the day they touched the fruit in question they shall die. In any case, why touch a fruit you’ve been commanded not to eat? That would amount to tempting yourself.

Nevertheless, the point is that Eve added to the Word of God. I don’t know why she did that. Was it that she didn’t understand the command clearly? Or was it a slip of the tongue? We don’t know why. Whatever be the reason, the serpent engaged her in further discussion and convinced her to eat the fruit. She did and gave her husband, who ate it also. The end result: man fell.

Many people will regard the addition by Eve to the Word of God as insignificant. That’s the beginning of the problem with people who add to the Word of God. They consider their addition as something that could be ignored. But that’s not true. Those who think like this, go from small additions to the Word of God to outright fabrication. They invent their own message and put God’s stamp on it! This is still adding to the Word of God.

Adding to the Word of God makes whoever does so a liar. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6 New King James Version).

Everyone, including ministers of the Gospel, should regularly study the Bible and understand what God says in His Word. We should be careful not to add to His Word or subtract from it. This can happen because of ignorance of the scriptures, misinterpretation of the Word and so on. We must not make the Bible say what God is not saying.

Joshua 1:8-9 says, “Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (New King James Version).

God is watching over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). But He won’t perform what He has not written in His Word, which someone out of ignorance, laziness, wrong motives, or misguided zeal has attributed to Him.

Some ministers are guilty of adding to the Word of God or subtracting from it, either in the preaching or teaching of the Word of God, or in giving prophecies. If the Bible has not said something, don’t credit it to the Bible. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 New King James Version).

There are things one can consider as the tradition of the elders today in the body of Christ similar to that of the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus rebuked. Such traditions are believed by those ignorant as being in the Bible. But this is not so.

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,  ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?’” (Matthew 15:1-3 New King James Version).

The doctrines of a denomination or church should not be presented as Bible doctrines if they‘re not. We must differentiate between the two, especially where they don’t agree. Some denominations see themselves as holier than the others just because of their doctrines, which are not Bible doctrines. But their members think so though their leaders could know better.

There are prophets who, for different reasons, add to the messages they receive from the LORD. This shows that they lack the fear of God. Otherwise, they would have trembled at His Word and not add to it. “Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word” (Isaiah 66:5a New King James Version).

Ministers who add to His Word show their contempt for God. If God has given you a word or message for someone or some people, why add to it? Or why subtract from it? Why act as if you’re the author? Are you saying you know more than God?

Some people run into trouble when they try to interpret the prophecies, or other divine communications that they don’t understand but they speak with uneducated boldness! They end up confusing or misleading their listeners or those the messages are meant for. Declare the Word that God has given you. Keep quiet when God has stopped talking or is not talking. If you don’t understand the message, just declare it and don’t mislead your audience. Somebody else could understand the meaning or you and those concerned could pray for understanding.

Don’t add to the Word of God or subtract from it. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

God said in Deuteronomy 4:2-3, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (New King James Version).

Some people add to the Word of God through exaggeration. Be careful!
Differentiate between your opinions or views and what God says in His Word. Don’t present your opinions as if they are the scriptures.

God forbids adding to or subtracting from His Word. Again, He says in Deuteronomy 12:32, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (New King James Version).

To round off the Bible in the book of revelation, God gives a warning against adding or taking away from the book. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19 New King James Version).

Your attitude to the Word of God shows how much regard you have for God. To add to His Word or subtract from it does not show that you honour God who has magnified His word above all His name (Psalm 138:2). Don’t add to the Word of God or subtract from it.

If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.

PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to study, meditate on, and unde rstand the Word of God and not be a forgetful hearer. Help me to study, rightly dividing the word of truth, an d not to add to the Word of God or subtract from it.  Help me to be a doer of Your word. Father, I shall not add to or take away from Your Word in Jesus’ name.

This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.

(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org)

▪︎ Banso, an Abuja-based Minister, heads
Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; and
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947