When we study the Word of God, it’s not simply so we can quote a verse at the right moment—it’s so we can live by it. Scripture was given to transform us, not just inform us. But what happens when we take a verse out of context and apply it the wrong way? 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches us that we are to “rightly divide the word of truth.” That means we must carefully consider the context of what we’re reading and seek to understand it as God intended—not as we assume, prefer, or want it to mean.

Example #1: 4 Types of Ground

In Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8 Jesus teaches us about the four types of ground where seeds are sown: the wayside, stony ground, thorny ground, and good ground. If we take this passage out of context, one might conclude that He was speaking about farming so we could “farm away,” thinking we are in the will of God. With proper context however, we understand that this passage of scripture is speaking about how we receive the word of God. It is necessary that we receive the word in our heart with understanding! 

Example #2: Nicodemus

In John 3, we meet a man named Nicodemus who was being taught something incredibly important—what it means to be born again. Out of context, he asked a valid question: how can a man be born when he is old? He thought Jesus was saying that he had to physically be born from his mother’s womb again. I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful that’s not the case! 

When we look at the passage in context and keep reading, we see that Jesus was speaking of being born again of water and the Spirit. Imagine if Nicodemus never gained that understanding—how different would his life have been? How different would ours be?

Example #3: Obedience

In Ephesians chapter 5, the Bible tells us to submit ourselves one to another. The chapter goes through different dynamics that we deal with in everyday life. It begins speaking about the church, it goes on to deal with the home, and it even touches on your masters or those over you at work. 

When it comes to obeying those that have rule over you (Heb. 13:7), context is extremely important. While a wife is told to obey her husband, that doesn’t mean that she is to disregard what her boss requires of her at work. If we don’t take these scriptures in context, we might mistakenly think that a wife must obey her boss’s instructions at home, or that she must carry out her husband’s directives while she’s on the job. That is not the case! 

Even within the church, your pastor doesn’t have the same authority over you at home, just as your husband doesn’t have the same authority over you at church. Having context for a topic like this is crucial to how we live! Understanding scripture in the proper context eliminates confusion and keeps us in the will of God! 

Keep Reading!

Not sure what a scripture means or want to make a point from it? Keep reading! Find out what was happening, taught, or explained before or after the specific scripture you are studying. Many times earlier or further in the chapter more clarity comes. Remember, context matters!