I was referring to Isa 28. And, as you say, Jesus did something similar while here in the flesh. Paul and Ellen, too. Why do you think it's different in Isa 28?

I already pointed out that what Jesus did is almost diametrically opposed to what Ellen taught that the indoctrination of children should be. And Paul is on the hebrews case for getting stuck at debating or perhaps disputing basic theological points... And Isaiah is still on the levites case for spending more time with the wine-sack than with any kind of teaching, and chiding them that what teaching they manage to fit in between their drunken sleep comes out as incoherent mumbling.
What if you read the passage something like this?

precept upon precept, precept upon precept;
-rules and more rules, ever more rules..

line upon line, line upon line;
-repeating sentences time upon time because of an drunk haze inability to keep the thought long enough to spell it all out at once

here a little, [and] there a little
-instead of a coherent argument, the end result is a more or less random collection halfthought sentences..

Verses 7-8, the leaders of Israel are drunkards
Verse 9, whom is in a state to listen, the Lord wonders, must he go to toddlers to find a sober person?
Verse 10, precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little
Verse 11-12, very well says the Lord, you refuse to hear so I will speak in tounges(think pentecostal style) (like Jesus did speak in parables they could not understand to those who refused to listen)
Verse 13, thus the word of the Lord will be for these who will not hear precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little and they will be mighty confused through it.

Thus, nowhere near Ellen, and differing from Jesus in that the parables could be understood by those who would seek their meaning.

Right. What I'm saying is it is Jesus, not Isaiah, who is speaking to the Jews in the following passage:


Jesus stooped to make it crystal clear. The principle here involves making things very easy to understand.

MM, what you're suggesting doesn't seem to fit the context. That doesn't mean that the principle doesn't apply, just that it's not the point Isaiah was making. Isaiah was dealing with an issue that was going on in his time. Verses 9 and 10 make the point clear:

I think our differing views have now been presented satisfactory and the conclusion is that we have major differences in how we understand this text. Is there anything to add?Did He? What then about His own answer to this question?

10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'

The principle that careful study of the scriptures is important exists, but it is not made by Isaiah in this 28th chapter. Trying to shuehorn in a verse that does not apply creates a weak link to the otherwise strong chain of support for the principle in question.

Thomas, I'm saying it is Jesus who is speaking to the Jews in Isa 28 back when Isaiah wrote it - not Jesus speaking to the Jews in the NT. It was Jesus who said, "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing." It goes on to say:

30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Earlier it says:

14:3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

Mike, as I said, we must either agree to disagree or keep walzing around this topic in an neverending loop.

I'm still trying to figure out who you believe said, "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing." Also, when was it said, and to whom?

Isaiah cries out to the people (those whom will not hear) what the Lord sent him to say.

Lets try this version for emphasis, I dont think we tried it yet.

Isa 28:10-13
For it is precept by precept, precept by precept, line by line, line by line; here a little, there a little.
For with stammering lips and with a strange tongue shall it be spoken to this people;
To whom it was said: 'This is the rest, give ye rest to the weary; and this is the refreshing'; yet they would not hear.
And so the word of the LORD is unto them precept by precept, precept by precept, line by line, line by line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. {P}
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1028.htm

((Daryl, could hebrew fonts be added to the forum?))