Fallen and Flawed

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 4

So now we come to our fourth installment of this Bible Study Series.

It’s been an excellent experience for me, as I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it.

Thanks to all of you for tagging along and contributing by your readership and thoughtful comments.

My ultimate purpose in this series is to glorify God in Christ by encouraging those who read to engage the Scriptures that testify to Him, and spurring them into a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus.

You are the ones who make works such as this worth the while.

Now, On to Business!

In case you’re new, we have been using the acronym T.H.I.N.C. as a our study aid.

T=Trust
H=Halting
I=Immediate Context

And now we enter the part I suspect many of you have been eagerly waiting for: The N in “T.H.I.N.C.”

Navigation

This is the part of our Scripture reading where we ask the simple, yet challenging question: “So, what?”

What does what I just read have anything to do with me?

Today I read over Matthew chapter 5 again. It’s filled with arrows that point to a beautiful truth, which causes me to at once cling to its beauty, and at the same time pricks my heart with conviction.

Chapters such as Matthew 5, 6, and 7 seem to always do this sort of thing when we read them.

They serve as a spiritual barometer to our devotion to Jesus. They never get worn out. Ever.

That is exactly what Scripture is supposed to do.

And when we read it with a willingness to be changed by it, we benefit from its instruction.

But first we must understand where Scripture is leading us in order to receive its benefits, which are not always enjoyable.

Scripture Navigation as a Two-Fold Process.

First, the writers of Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke a particular word to a particular people, for a particular reason.

This is the quality of timeliness.

Since, though, it is divinely inspired, its message is also profitable for us today. This is the quality of timelessness.

Timeliness first, them timelessness—if possible. The key is to find out what the person who penned the words was saying to the people he was writing to for what purpose.

Now, how does that purpose relate to a present-day reality and personally to you? Sometimes this is simple to figure out, other times it requires focused prayer.

Scripture Navigation as an Example

Let’s take a look at our Matthew 5 passage—the one I left off with last time.

Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

First impression: Um, Jesus . . . that’s why I need YOU! Let’s walk through the T. H. I. N. C. process real quick:

1. Trust Jesus is saying something good here.
2. Halt! Take a look, re-read, and be patient.
3. What’s the Immediate Context? Here’s the context:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

Let’s Break It Down, A, B, C:

A. The immediate context: “love your neighbor . . . love your enemies . . .” Why? “. . . so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

• Question: Is there a son of our Father in heaven who has done this that we may observe this command? (c’mon people, you know this!)

B. Why would this be a characteristic of our heavenly Father? “For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good . . . rain on the just and on the unjust.”

• Question: How does a son of our Father in heaven fit into this? Because like their Father, children of God show no partiality. (see also John 4:7-9)

C. Why is it important to not show partiality? “For if you love those who love you, what reward to do you have . . . . what more are you doing than others?”

• Question: Why would I want to do more than “others”? Because the “others” refers to people who practice evil or are outside a relationship with God (i.e. vv.46-47, “tax collectors,” “Gentiles”).

It looks as though in the immediate context Jesus is addressing a real issue: that the Jews of that day were very selfish with greeting each other, and condescending toward such oppressive “tax collectors” and pagan “Gentiles”.

Thus, Jesus tells them that their self-righteousness makes them like nothing more than the people they are condescending toward.

What do the Jews take away? “Be perfect.” Why? Because perfection in this context is in the action of love and the equality of men.

Where Does This Navigate You, the Reader?

Just as God sent blessings on you when you were far from Him, so you too ought to bless others in spite of their spiritual condition.

That is why this perfection is in the context of love, because love covers what our critical eyes cannot.

Love covers a multitude of sins.

The question you must ask yourself now is this: “Where in my life am I not loving others as Jesus said to in this verse?”

Do you know? Maybe you need to pray about it. Maybe it’s obvious to you? Only you can know.

Are you willing to share?

Are you willing to share where you need to humble yourself and love those who seem unlovable in your eyes?

To begin, I’ll share mine: There is a person I met recently (not here) that is very egotistical and arrogant. He’s difficult to love, and he’s very rude. To top it off, he’s a Christian, which makes me all the more frustrated with him. He seems hyper-religious, which really turns me off. So, I’ve been trying to make conversation with him. It’s tough, but I’m making progress.

Okay, your turn. Leave a comment.

Related posts:

1. A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 3
2. A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study-Part 2
3. A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 5

Tags: Bible, Life, Love, Study

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