That television evangelist Jack Van Impe ...

What does St. Matthew the 6th chapter verses 5-13 say?

I doubt that JVI has the bible memorized or that he has been challenged to prove it.

There have been a few people in history that are said to have accomplished this feat, but I think they are exaggerated claims.

I fail to see how Matt 6:5-13 is relevant to the question.

Thanks for your interesting question.

While we should be concerned about the honesty of the claims of those who seek to be our Bible teachers, isn't it even more important to be concerned about how much of God's Word we have tucked away in our own hearts?

Our very salvation depends on faith and we are told that there is only one way to acquire the faith to be saved:

"So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)

The Word of God is the Bread which provides eternal life to those the Father has given to His Son.

"But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.-Matthew 4:4

Jesus further stated:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die." (John 6:47-50) .                                                                                                                                           

Since the Word of God is the Bread and Jesus is the Bread, we will be feeding on the Word of God if we belong to Him.  Further study of this chapter reveals that if we are not feeding on this Bread, we do not belong to Christ, because if we belong to Christ we will be feeding on this Bread.

Memorizing can be a part of feeding on the Word, but memorizing and feeding on the Word are not always the same.  One can mentally memorize without actually feeding on what is memorized. 

The important thing is whether or not the Father has given us to His Son.  If the Father has given us to His Son we have eternal life and will be drawing that life from the Word as we feed on it.

Hi NurturingLife,

Thanks for the thoughtful post. I do see the difference in what you are saying. I've been watching that show with Jack Van Impe and his wife Rexella since I was a kid. It was funny to me, the whole thing and it still is....not to diminish him in anyway. It's just funny. I googled him and realized he and Rexella are in their 80's!. Maybe the Word is really giving them physical as well as spiritual energy!

So What, if Van Impe says he has memorized the bible, is that suppose to be impressive. Does Jesus Christ say the only way to God the Father is by memorizing the bible.

Hi curmudgeon Jack Van Impe has never claimed that he knows the entire Bible. he has memorised 14000 verses and almost the entire New testament. You should go to his web site and look at the memory verse section it explaines the story.

And to Kid may i sugesst that you watch Jack van impe before making coments like that. This man knows God personally and you can see the relationship he has with Jesus. Jack Van impe has not memorised so many verses to gain browny points with God He does it to prove the vallidity of scripture to the non-believer. Believe me when i say Jack van impe has a living realtionship with God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

To Kid please don't be bitter but be thankful that people are coming to the Lord through his program every day that is something we should be celebrating.

 hbuis Answered:

And to Kid may i sugesst that you watch Jack van impe before making coments like that. This man knows God personally and you can see the relationship he has with Jesus. Jack Van impe has not memorised so many verses to gain browny points with God He does it to prove the vallidity of scripture to the non-believer. Believe me when i say Jack van impe has a living realtionship with God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

To Kid please don't be bitter but be thankful that people are coming to the Lord through his program every day that is something we should be celebrating.

hbuis, I have watched  and heard what Van Impe says, I'm  not bitter at all at Jack Van Impe or anyone who believes him,  and I am thankful that people are coming to the Lord every day, I'm also great full  to God that I can discern true scripture from the false. 

This article by Steve Lumbley represents Jack Van Impe as well as could be.  We appreciate brother Steve allowing us to use his article.  We pray that it will be a blessing to you in your search for truth of the Scriptures.


There is no doubt he can rattle off chapter and verse with the best of them. Unfortunately all his knowledge of scripture has produced precious little discernment in the man that many look to as a master of Bible prophecy.He continually pleads for Christians to drop their theological ?bias? and embrace Catholics as brothers in the faith. Anyone who knows anything about the Catholic catechism knows that it is fundamentally opposed to biblical Christianity.

On his Sept 4 2004 T.V. broadcast, Van Impe told of receiving a letter from the Islamic Supreme Council of America. According to their website, the ISCA is an Islamic group dedicated to working ?closely and proactively with non-Muslim individuals and organizations to present Islam as a religion of moderation, tolerance, peace and justice.?

After showing a copy of the letter, signed by Abdul-Wahid, Van Impe says,

?He thanks me because of my love for the Muslim people and that I?m so fair. And he told my Secretary June Hazen, I too am looking with expectancy to the return of the Lord Jesus. Because when Christ returns in the Muslim religion he destroys the anti-christ and that?s what we teach in II Thessalonians 2:8?..They believe that Christ is going to set up a kingdom on earth. It?s for a shorter duration but nevertheless, they do believe it?

What Van Impe doesn?t tell you is that in the Muslim religion the Anti Christ is Jewish. According to Muslim tradition Jesus is actually a Muslim and will destroy not only the Anti Christ but all who refuse to convert to Islam. Maybe that?s why his Islamic friend is so excited about the return of Jesus. I?m also highly doubtful that Abdul Wahid referred to Jesus as ?the Lord Jesus? but those were Van Impe?s words.

He then attempts to support his stance by quoting from the Koran.

??..I?m going to read from the Koran chapter 9 verses 3 & 6, If an idolater repents and takes to prayer and renders the alms levy, allow them to go their way God is forgiving and merciful. If an idolater seeks asylum, help with you, give him protection so that he may hear God?s word and then convey him to safety. I think you ought to share that you Muslim people with Bin Laden and his crowd because that?s the other side of the story?

After showing more newspaper articles about moderate Islam, Van Impe continues,

?Well my friend who sent me this letter, Wahid, said that there are the two groups (moderate and radical Islam ed.) and there are 73 factions broken off from the two groups but many of them preach love from the Koran chapter 9 verses 4 to 6 as I already read a few moments ago, so do Christians if we?ll only practice our bibles??Thank God for the Muslims who are preaching love.?


It is a common tactic of heretics to misquote the bible and take verses out of context. Now Van Impe does the same thing with the Koran. Here?s what the Koran actually says including verse 5, most of which he conveniently left out

Koran Chapter 9 verses 1-6 (Shakir Translation)

1. This is a declaration of immunity by Allah and His Messenger towards those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement.
2. So go about in the land for four months and know that you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers
3. And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah and His Messenger are free from liability to the idolaters; therefore if you repent, it will be better for you, and if you turn back, then know that you will not weaken Allah; and announce painful punishment to those who disbelieve.
4. Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement, then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you, so fulfill their agreement to the end of their term; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).
5. So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
6. And if one of the idolaters seek protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the word of Allah, then make him attain his place of safety; this is because they are a people who do not know.

Well, that?s a little different than what Van Impe would have you believe isn?t it. You do understand that when the Koran speaks of idolaters it?s speaking of Christians, Jews, and anyone else who is not Muslim. Notice too that these so called verses Van Impe cited to attest to the love promoted by the Koran when read in context, promote no such thing.

What this chapter says is this. Muslims are allowed to make a treaty or agreement with their enemies when the enemy has an advantage. Once Muslims gain the advantage though, the treaty should be broken and the idolaters (that?s us) should be given a period of 4 months to repent or die. That?s the ?love? that Muslims have for us. We have a 4 month window of opportunity to repent from our beliefs and embrace Islam before they kill us.

I would like to remind Mr. Van Impe that true love and friendship would require that he tell his Muslim friends (and Catholics) that except they repent and believe the gospel they will surely perish. It is not love to allow someone to continue in a false belief whether that be Catholicism or Islam. If he really loved these people he would not hesitate to tell them the truth.

Unfortunately it seems that Van Impe has come to love the praise of men more that he desires the praise of God.

2Cor 6:14-17
 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

to all,

some good answers above.....lido i gave you a helpful without commet.

i like jack and his wife....

...he makes sence to me when he talks about our times and trouble.....i like her also.....they might be 80's something but i believe they both know and belive the word of God in the bible. 

 just like my pastor and his wife at my church.  they are in their 80's also and very active.    they are awesome when it comes to God's word and they are in very good health and very active with the church.....i can call either one on the phone and ask them something and they can tell me right where to go in the bible to find my answer.......jack gives us answer also straight from God's word in the bible....with how today's world and the things that are been down.

I say God bless them both and keep preaching the word and save people on t,v. and getting them to look up in there bible in God's word to see if it's true.....always believe God's word....not man's....i use to love listening to billy graham and his wife was a sweetheart just like jacks....they look like pastor's wives.....amen.

God bless y'all

dee