Reading the Bible is an important step in learning God’s Word, but reading alone does not mean we have understood what we have read. As students of the Bible, we must learn to pay attention to the meaning of Scripture, its context, and the message being communicated.
In this lesson, we will discover why understanding God’s Word matters and why we should not rush to conclusions when reading a Bible passage. We will also learn that understanding Scripture helps us distinguish what the Bible actually teaches from what people assume it teaches.
1. Reading Is Not the Same as Understanding
A person can read a Bible verse many times without fully understanding its meaning. Sometimes, we read a passage and immediately apply it to our lives without first considering what it meant in its original context.
Understanding requires us to pay attention to the words, the surrounding verses, the people being addressed, and the subject being discussed.
Scripture Reading: Acts 8:30–31 (KJV)
Acts 8:30
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Acts 8:31
“And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
These verses describe Philip meeting an Ethiopian man who was reading the prophet Isaiah. Although the man was reading the Scriptures, he needed help understanding what he was reading.
This account teaches us that reading Scripture and understanding its message are not always the same thing. We should be willing to learn, ask questions, and seek a proper understanding of God’s Word.
2. Why Understanding God’s Word Matters
Understanding Scripture helps us avoid misunderstanding biblical teachings and building our beliefs on incomplete information.
When we understand a passage in its context, we are better equipped to recognise its message and apply it responsibly.
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul instructed Timothy to study and handle the Word of truth correctly.
The phrase rightly dividing the word of truth reminds us of the importance of handling Scripture accurately rather than twisting its meaning to support our own opinions.
As we study the Bible, we should ask:
- What does this passage actually say?
- Who is speaking, and who is being addressed?
- What is the subject being discussed?
- How does the surrounding context help me understand the passage?
- Am I accepting what the Scripture says, or am I forcing it to agree with what I already believe?
These questions can help us develop a more careful and responsible approach to Bible study.
3. A Practical Example
Imagine that someone reads a single Bible verse and uses it to teach that every Christian must follow a particular rule.
Before accepting that teaching, you decide to read the verses before and after the passage. You also examine the chapter to understand the subject being discussed.
After studying the passage, you discover that the verse was addressing a specific situation and that the person’s explanation did not consider the full context.
This example demonstrates why we should not build an entire teaching on an isolated verse without examining its meaning.
Remember: A Bible verse should not be interpreted carelessly or separated from its context to make it say something the passage does not teach.
4. How Can We Grow in Understanding?
We can develop a better understanding of Scripture by practising the following:
- Read carefully: Do not rush through the passage simply to finish reading.
- Examine the context: Read the surrounding verses and, when necessary, the entire chapter.
- Ask questions: Identify the subject, the people being addressed, and the message being communicated.
- Compare Scripture with Scripture: Examine other relevant passages to gain a fuller understanding of a biblical subject.
- Remain willing to learn: Be prepared to correct your understanding when careful study reveals that you have misunderstood a passage.
Bible study is not merely about collecting verses. It involves learning to understand the message of Scripture accurately.
Remember
Reading the Bible is the beginning; understanding its message is essential. Before applying a passage, examine its context and seek to understand what it teaches. Our goal is not to make Scripture support our opinions, but to understand what Scripture actually says.