"More people are troubled by what is plain in Scripture than by what is obscure"

Many readers tend to focus their anxiety and questioning not on the difficult or obscure parts of religious texts, but rather on the straightforward teachings those texts set forth. This observation points to a fundamental tension inherent in encounters with sacred or moral writing: it is often the clearest moral commands or calls to action that cause the greatest discomfort. When a passage is ambiguous or shrouded in mystery, it can be viewed with detachment, endlessly analyzed, or even set aside due to its uncertainty. There is a degree of safety in pondering the theological or symbolic puzzles found in ancient writings; they present room for interpretation and personal theorizing.

By contrast, the portions that are unquestionably clear in their demands upon human behavior force an immediate reckoning. Explicit exhortations to love one’s enemy, forgive as one has been forgiven, or give to the poor are unambiguous, leaving little room for interpretation or evasion. These direct instructions often confront people with the stark gap between ideal and reality. The discomfort arises because what must be done, or what must be avoided, is not hidden in complexity; it is laid bare, demanding a response or a rationalization for inaction.

This dynamic suggests that the real challenge lies not with the intellectual puzzles of faith, but with its ethical imperatives. People may pour energy into debating controversial or symbolic passages precisely as a way of postponing the personal cost involved in obeying what is obvious. The great teachings about compassion, sacrifice, honesty, and love can feel relentless in their simplicity, making excuses less tenable. Ultimately, the struggle is not to understand, but to act: the clarity of certain Scriptural passages exposes the distance between human willfulness and higher ideals, impelling individuals either toward transformation or toward ingenious avoidance. Thus, what is plain in Scripture can be far more arresting, unsettling, and motivating than what remains obscure.