| A-B-C-D-E-F-G OF LEARNING WHAT SCRIPTURE MEANS |
"But go ye and learn what that meaneth...”, said Jesus about His teaching in Matthew 9:13. And
in Matthew 12:7, "But if ye had known what this meaneth...". God wants us to learn what
scripture means. However, since the beginning, a war against truth has been raging (John 8:44).
In this conflict, we are commanded to be not conformed to this world. Rather, we are to be
transformed by the word (Romans12:2). Mainly I use the KJV (1611) translation. During study I
may consult the NKJV (1982), ASV (1901) or NASB (1960), to sense the meaning. Since some
things in scripture are hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16), spiritual thinking is required (I
Corinthians 2:14-16). Therefore, let us consider the A-B-C's of how to study the scriptures.
in Matthew 12:7, "But if ye had known what this meaneth...". God wants us to learn what
scripture means. However, since the beginning, a war against truth has been raging (John 8:44).
In this conflict, we are commanded to be not conformed to this world. Rather, we are to be
transformed by the word (Romans12:2). Mainly I use the KJV (1611) translation. During study I
may consult the NKJV (1982), ASV (1901) or NASB (1960), to sense the meaning. Since some
things in scripture are hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16), spiritual thinking is required (I
Corinthians 2:14-16). Therefore, let us consider the A-B-C's of how to study the scriptures.
A is for ASK: Keep Your Mind Open. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you..." (Matthew 7:7). Ignorance and pride makes people
afraid to ask, seek, and knock (Mark 9:32). Many fail to seek God because "they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). After three years of the Master's
teaching, the apostles still needed it when Jesus "opened their understanding" of the cross (Luke
24:38,45). The gospel is understood only when one is willing to open their mind and listen. "The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction"
(Proverbs 1:7). God will "draw him" who truly seeks Christ (John 6:44). Those who go about
surmising and supposing are lost (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Those like the prophet Samuel, who would be
saved by God, have the attitude: "Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Sam 3:10). In Luke 9:44,
Jesus said: “Let these sayings sink down into your ears..."
knock, and it shall be opened unto you..." (Matthew 7:7). Ignorance and pride makes people
afraid to ask, seek, and knock (Mark 9:32). Many fail to seek God because "they loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). After three years of the Master's
teaching, the apostles still needed it when Jesus "opened their understanding" of the cross (Luke
24:38,45). The gospel is understood only when one is willing to open their mind and listen. "The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction"
(Proverbs 1:7). God will "draw him" who truly seeks Christ (John 6:44). Those who go about
surmising and supposing are lost (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Those like the prophet Samuel, who would be
saved by God, have the attitude: "Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Sam 3:10). In Luke 9:44,
Jesus said: “Let these sayings sink down into your ears..."
B is for BEG: Hunger For Spiritual Food. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.” ...”Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:3,6). Jesus said blessed are the “poor in spirit”. That literally
means “like a beggar”. Although many would be ashamed to beg for physical bread (Luke 16:3;
cf Psalm 37:25), to be saved one must be willing to beg God for spiritual food (Job 23:12).
Without God, we are in the total poverty of sin (Romans 3:10-18,23). Therefore, an honest and
good soul will come to God with the “hunger and thirst” of a beggar who has nothing.
Searching the scriptures makes a person noble (Acts 17:11). When done in humility, meditation
on God's law brings prosperity (Psalm 1:3). Without humility, knowledge and know-how are in
vain (I Timothy 6:3-4). The apostle Paul did not regard himself as having arrived, but said: "I
press on..." (Philippians 3:12-14). A know-it-all attitude, even when one is correct, quenches the
spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21); and hardens the pride (Hebrews 3:12-15); and blocks the
memory (Mark 8:14-18); and sows strife (Titus 3:9). Exalting Christ is the aim above possessing
knowledge (I Corinthians 8:1). And in Ephesians 3:14-21, we read that the purpose of gaining
knowledge is to glorify God.
kingdom of heaven.” ...”Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:3,6). Jesus said blessed are the “poor in spirit”. That literally
means “like a beggar”. Although many would be ashamed to beg for physical bread (Luke 16:3;
cf Psalm 37:25), to be saved one must be willing to beg God for spiritual food (Job 23:12).
Without God, we are in the total poverty of sin (Romans 3:10-18,23). Therefore, an honest and
good soul will come to God with the “hunger and thirst” of a beggar who has nothing.
Searching the scriptures makes a person noble (Acts 17:11). When done in humility, meditation
on God's law brings prosperity (Psalm 1:3). Without humility, knowledge and know-how are in
vain (I Timothy 6:3-4). The apostle Paul did not regard himself as having arrived, but said: "I
press on..." (Philippians 3:12-14). A know-it-all attitude, even when one is correct, quenches the
spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21); and hardens the pride (Hebrews 3:12-15); and blocks the
memory (Mark 8:14-18); and sows strife (Titus 3:9). Exalting Christ is the aim above possessing
knowledge (I Corinthians 8:1). And in Ephesians 3:14-21, we read that the purpose of gaining
knowledge is to glorify God.
C is for CAST: Who Are The Communicators? “And when she saw him, she was troubled
at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner salutation this should be” (Luke 1:29). As the
birth of Jesus was being foretold, Mary “cast in her mind” what the salutation was. Why?
Because she needed to know if this was from God. The devil can make promises. So when we
are learning the Word, we need to first know who was speaking to whom, why, and what it
meant to them. Consider the message when it was received by Adam and Eve, by the Hebrews,
by Ruth, the apostles, the Colossians, or Timothy. After we know something about what it
meant to them in those Bible times, then we are ready to more perfectly understand the meaning
to us now. In a stage production, the “cast” is the line up of characters. The people in the Bible
are part of recorded history. The Bible is true to the core (Psalm 12:6; 19:7), but not every deed
is to be imitated. When we know why God told Noah to build an ark, then we know we do not
have to build an ark, but we will follow the principle of obedience. When we know why God
sent that angel to Mary, we understand it was for something that happened once, the birth of a
Savior. And yet, when Paul preached to the philosophers at Athens, Greece (Acts 17:16-31), he
told them that God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (v.30). That command
was not only to those men then, but to all accountable people now (Acts 2:38). After we know
who was communicating and why, then we can apply what it means to us.
at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner salutation this should be” (Luke 1:29). As the
birth of Jesus was being foretold, Mary “cast in her mind” what the salutation was. Why?
Because she needed to know if this was from God. The devil can make promises. So when we
are learning the Word, we need to first know who was speaking to whom, why, and what it
meant to them. Consider the message when it was received by Adam and Eve, by the Hebrews,
by Ruth, the apostles, the Colossians, or Timothy. After we know something about what it
meant to them in those Bible times, then we are ready to more perfectly understand the meaning
to us now. In a stage production, the “cast” is the line up of characters. The people in the Bible
are part of recorded history. The Bible is true to the core (Psalm 12:6; 19:7), but not every deed
is to be imitated. When we know why God told Noah to build an ark, then we know we do not
have to build an ark, but we will follow the principle of obedience. When we know why God
sent that angel to Mary, we understand it was for something that happened once, the birth of a
Savior. And yet, when Paul preached to the philosophers at Athens, Greece (Acts 17:16-31), he
told them that God "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (v.30). That command
was not only to those men then, but to all accountable people now (Acts 2:38). After we know
who was communicating and why, then we can apply what it means to us.
D is for DIVIDE: Rightly Study The Context. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Failing to rightly divide the word can make a lifetime of study in vain. In Acts 13:27, people had
been reading the prophets every week, yet they still desired to slay the One of whom the
prophets spoke, the Savior. But rightly dividing the word approves one unto God, and builds
confidence. To "rightly divide” the word of truth means to handle scripture in the right way
(Proverbs 15:2). The wrong way is to dilute it, and deceive with dishonest intent (2 Corinthians 4:
2; 2:17). The right way is to observe the context. Context means “weave together”. The context
is the meanings that are woven together at that place in the scripture. Questions to ask are:
What? Why? When? How? Where? Who? The God-inspired author will often tell the purpose of
a Bible Book in the first chapter. For instance, in Proverbs 1:1-6, we are given the purpose of the
book of Proverbs. We can be thankful for the study convenience of Chapter, Paragraph, and
Verse divisions in Bibles today. A Bible Dictionary can divide the meaning into subjects, and
words. It can also break down the meaning of Old Testaments words given "in the Hebrew
tongue", as well as New Testament words given "in the Greek tongue" (cf. Revelation 9:11). A
Bible Handbook can tell us more about people, places, and things. Students of the word also
need to respect the time line of the Bible. This includes three religious ages: the family age from
Adam to Moses; the nation age from Moses to Christ; and the worldwide age from Christ to the
end (Romans 5:14-15; John 1:17; Hebrews 1:1-2). We can understand the meaning of a Bible
passage when we know its immediate context, its role in the Old or the New Testament, and its
place in the overall purpose of God (Romans 15:4; Galatians 3:19-29; Ephesians 3:8-11).
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Failing to rightly divide the word can make a lifetime of study in vain. In Acts 13:27, people had
been reading the prophets every week, yet they still desired to slay the One of whom the
prophets spoke, the Savior. But rightly dividing the word approves one unto God, and builds
confidence. To "rightly divide” the word of truth means to handle scripture in the right way
(Proverbs 15:2). The wrong way is to dilute it, and deceive with dishonest intent (2 Corinthians 4:
2; 2:17). The right way is to observe the context. Context means “weave together”. The context
is the meanings that are woven together at that place in the scripture. Questions to ask are:
What? Why? When? How? Where? Who? The God-inspired author will often tell the purpose of
a Bible Book in the first chapter. For instance, in Proverbs 1:1-6, we are given the purpose of the
book of Proverbs. We can be thankful for the study convenience of Chapter, Paragraph, and
Verse divisions in Bibles today. A Bible Dictionary can divide the meaning into subjects, and
words. It can also break down the meaning of Old Testaments words given "in the Hebrew
tongue", as well as New Testament words given "in the Greek tongue" (cf. Revelation 9:11). A
Bible Handbook can tell us more about people, places, and things. Students of the word also
need to respect the time line of the Bible. This includes three religious ages: the family age from
Adam to Moses; the nation age from Moses to Christ; and the worldwide age from Christ to the
end (Romans 5:14-15; John 1:17; Hebrews 1:1-2). We can understand the meaning of a Bible
passage when we know its immediate context, its role in the Old or the New Testament, and its
place in the overall purpose of God (Romans 15:4; Galatians 3:19-29; Ephesians 3:8-11).
E is for ENLARGE: Harmonize With Whole Bible. "Hear me when I call, O God of my
righteousness: Thou has enlarged me when I was in distress: have mercy upon me, and hear
my prayer" (Psalm 4:1). Humbly seeking the will of God enlarges the mind and character. All of
God's commandments are sure, and the sum of them is exceedingly broad (Psalm 119:86,96).
Those who study need to ask: "What saith the scriptures?" (Romans 4:3). A subject is
expounded not by one verse, but by all the Bible may say about it. A Bible Concordance can
direct you to any and every verse containing a certain word. Jesus is "Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13). Therefore, from the beginning
in Genesis 1:1 to the end in Revelation 22:21, scripture truth is one harmonious whole. When
viewed as a whole, the Bible is one context. So when people use pieces of scripture to pick
fights, in God's sight they are "as one that beateth the air" (1 Corinthians 9:26). Instead, when
scriptures are found difficult, use that a tool for deeper digging into God's gold mine (Proverbs
2:1-6). To those who say there is no God, or that truth cannot be known, Jesus said: "You shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). When praying to the Father,
Jesus revealed: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). As you learn the scriptures, you will know the
power of God (Matthew 22:29.
righteousness: Thou has enlarged me when I was in distress: have mercy upon me, and hear
my prayer" (Psalm 4:1). Humbly seeking the will of God enlarges the mind and character. All of
God's commandments are sure, and the sum of them is exceedingly broad (Psalm 119:86,96).
Those who study need to ask: "What saith the scriptures?" (Romans 4:3). A subject is
expounded not by one verse, but by all the Bible may say about it. A Bible Concordance can
direct you to any and every verse containing a certain word. Jesus is "Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13). Therefore, from the beginning
in Genesis 1:1 to the end in Revelation 22:21, scripture truth is one harmonious whole. When
viewed as a whole, the Bible is one context. So when people use pieces of scripture to pick
fights, in God's sight they are "as one that beateth the air" (1 Corinthians 9:26). Instead, when
scriptures are found difficult, use that a tool for deeper digging into God's gold mine (Proverbs
2:1-6). To those who say there is no God, or that truth cannot be known, Jesus said: "You shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). When praying to the Father,
Jesus revealed: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). As you learn the scriptures, you will know the
power of God (Matthew 22:29.
F is for FIGURE: Figure Out Figurative Speech. "These things have I spoken unto you in
proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall
shew you plainly of the Father" (John 16:25). In the Bible, a proverb, or a figure, symbolizes a
meaning. For instance, the first man Adam was a "figure" of the last Adam - Jesus (Roman 5:14;
1 Corinthians 15:45). The flood water under Noah's ark was a "like figure" of new testament
water baptism (1 Peter 3:21). Proverbs 1:6 says, "To understand a proverb, and the
interpretation; the words of the wide, and their dark sayings." To learn what figurative
scripture means, one must figure out what the figure means. It was good for us that Jesus
contrasted proverbs with plain speaking. Faulty thinking can lead to strange behavior, when
figurative speech is not acknowledged. Where Jesus says, "I am the door" (John 10:9), an
untaught and unstable soul may go worship a literal door! Wild people raising terror and killing
and hijacking God's name, have not rightly divided the word of truth. They may fail to figure out
figurative speech, or they may try to take away plain commands by dubbing them with a
figurative meaning. Jesus called them "thieves and robbers" (John 10:8), and said that His sheep
will not follow them. So why does the bible use proverbs, and parables, and metaphors,
allegories, numerology, hyperbole, and satire? In Matthew 13:13-17, Jesus tells the purpose of
parables. Basically, it is: 1) To reveal truth to the humble who will seek it, and 2) To conceal it
from the arrogant proud who pretend they already know enough. Those who will learn what it
means will ask, listen, read, think, learn, work, and grow. Those who refuse to be taught twist
the scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). They do not want to think, and they do not
want to change. "The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools"
(Proverbs 26:7). While "the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things," nevertheless, "The
heart of the righteous studieth to answer" (Proverbs 15:28)
proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall
shew you plainly of the Father" (John 16:25). In the Bible, a proverb, or a figure, symbolizes a
meaning. For instance, the first man Adam was a "figure" of the last Adam - Jesus (Roman 5:14;
1 Corinthians 15:45). The flood water under Noah's ark was a "like figure" of new testament
water baptism (1 Peter 3:21). Proverbs 1:6 says, "To understand a proverb, and the
interpretation; the words of the wide, and their dark sayings." To learn what figurative
scripture means, one must figure out what the figure means. It was good for us that Jesus
contrasted proverbs with plain speaking. Faulty thinking can lead to strange behavior, when
figurative speech is not acknowledged. Where Jesus says, "I am the door" (John 10:9), an
untaught and unstable soul may go worship a literal door! Wild people raising terror and killing
and hijacking God's name, have not rightly divided the word of truth. They may fail to figure out
figurative speech, or they may try to take away plain commands by dubbing them with a
figurative meaning. Jesus called them "thieves and robbers" (John 10:8), and said that His sheep
will not follow them. So why does the bible use proverbs, and parables, and metaphors,
allegories, numerology, hyperbole, and satire? In Matthew 13:13-17, Jesus tells the purpose of
parables. Basically, it is: 1) To reveal truth to the humble who will seek it, and 2) To conceal it
from the arrogant proud who pretend they already know enough. Those who will learn what it
means will ask, listen, read, think, learn, work, and grow. Those who refuse to be taught twist
the scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). They do not want to think, and they do not
want to change. "The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools"
(Proverbs 26:7). While "the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things," nevertheless, "The
heart of the righteous studieth to answer" (Proverbs 15:28)
G is for GLORY: Reap Reward For Learning. Just as sure as Jesus invites souls to learn of
Him (Matthew 11:29), so the reward of that learning is glorious (2 Corinthians 1:20). While "the
way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15), Christ eases the yoke of those who take His
upon them. How a soul learns determines where that soul will go (Revelation 22:14-21). Those
who are afraid of truth will not prove what they believe. And those who do not understand the
law have no business teaching it (1 Timothy 1:6-8). A stricter judgment is warned against those
who teach God's word to others, and so says, "Be not many masters" (James 3:1). All Christians
can help spread the gospel, but not all are ready to be teachers. Everyone is to learn. Those who
do will reap. Those who endure some spiritual thinking will reap reward that is "sweeter than
honey" and "more precious than much fine gold" (Psalm 19:10). Salvation from sin with the
hope of heaven is the eternal reward. By His gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), Christ calls true
seekers in one body and one hope (Ephesians 4:4f). Not into a sect of man (Acts 24:5,14), but
He calls into the "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16). Thus, may you "be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of
Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians
3:18-19).
Him (Matthew 11:29), so the reward of that learning is glorious (2 Corinthians 1:20). While "the
way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15), Christ eases the yoke of those who take His
upon them. How a soul learns determines where that soul will go (Revelation 22:14-21). Those
who are afraid of truth will not prove what they believe. And those who do not understand the
law have no business teaching it (1 Timothy 1:6-8). A stricter judgment is warned against those
who teach God's word to others, and so says, "Be not many masters" (James 3:1). All Christians
can help spread the gospel, but not all are ready to be teachers. Everyone is to learn. Those who
do will reap. Those who endure some spiritual thinking will reap reward that is "sweeter than
honey" and "more precious than much fine gold" (Psalm 19:10). Salvation from sin with the
hope of heaven is the eternal reward. By His gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), Christ calls true
seekers in one body and one hope (Ephesians 4:4f). Not into a sect of man (Acts 24:5,14), but
He calls into the "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16). Thus, may you "be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of
Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians
3:18-19).
| There will be no book selling falsely so-called "rapture, tribulation, armageddon, premillenialism" when self overcomes to study scripture soberly and wisely |
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #12