Study, Meditate, and Apply

Introduction: We have already taken a look at reading the Bible in order to find out what it says and interpreting the Bible to discover what the Bible means by what it says. This week we will take a look at studying the Bible, meditating on the Bible, and applying the Bible.

Studying the Bible

In order to really understand the Bible there are a few things that limit our understanding that we must be aware of.

Language

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Sometimes you will hear me refer to a Greek word when I preach. The reason for that is there are some words that do not translate into English well. Culture influences words and because we do not live in the culture in which the Bible was written we sometimes have a hard time grasping the meaning of some words used in the Bible.

Example: Fantastic - This word used to mean “existing only in one’s imagination.” This is why we call Narnia a fantasy. It is a made up world that doesn’t really exist except in the imagination of C.S. Lewis. Today it means something that is really incredible.

Sick - This word used to mean ill. Today it means something is really amazing.

Tool - This word used to simply mean something you used towards a constructive goal. Today it can mean someone who is too stupid to realize they are being used.

Message me - This is actually a new phrase that wouldn’t have made sense years ago. Letter me?

Cell - Used to refer to where a prisoner was kept. Today is refers most often to the communication device in your pocket.

Awful - This word used to refer to something that inspired awe. Today it refers to something bad or that someone looks terrible.

1 Corinthians 4:1 NKJV

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

We might latch on to the word servant and steward and think. That’s right! Someone who serves is someone who is on their way to greatness! Or a steward is someone who takes charge of a thing or place! However, the word is the Greek word ὑπηρέτης and it refers to a third level galley slave on a ship.

In Hebrews the word perfection refers to salvation rather than spiritual maturity.

Helpful Tools: Vine’s Dictionaries, Strong’s Concordance, Young’s Concordance, or Olive Tree Bible Study app.

Culture

John 1:1 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Throughout Jewish history the Word of the Lord represented the manifestation of God. then is identifying Jesus, the incarnate Christ, as God.

History

Last weekend was Easter weekend. On Easter weekend we celebrate what Christ did for us not only on the cross but through the more powerful display of power in the resurrection. So, with the events of the passion week on our minds let’s take a look at Pilate. Have you ever wondered why Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent and then sent Him to be crucified anyway? Why was Pilate so afraid of the Jews?

Pilate was afraid of the Jews because he had made some pretty stupid political mistakes. When Pilate came to Jerusalem he came in waving banners with the image of Caesar on them. At the time, the Romans worshipped the Caesars (their term for emperor in honor of Julius Caesar). This infuriated the Jews and the priests because Caesar worship would have been idol worship and blasphemy. So he was off to a bad start. In between his bad start and the crucifixion of Christ he made a few other mistakes that almost cost him his job. By the time Jesus came to trial, Pilate already had a bad reputation with the Jews and the Roman government. When it came to Jesus, he was afraid of losing his job and the Jews were threatening to report him to Rome once again. So, he washed his hands of Jesus and told the Jews to do what they wanted as long as they didn’t report him to Rome.

Principles for Study

Literal Principle

Take the Bible at its natural, normal sense.

Example: The red chord from Rahab’s house in Jericho.

Contextual Principle

Grammatical Principle

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Grammatically, there is only one verb - μαθητεύω - which means “make disciples”. The other words such as go, baptizing, and teaching are participles describing what goes into making disciples. In other words, in order to make disciples you must go, baptize, and teach, but your main job is to make disciples. Our main job as Christians is to bring others closer to Christ.

The “No Contradictions” Principle

Meditating on the Bible

Meditation takes all the parts we just talked about and begins to form them into a timeless truth I can then apply to my life.

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NKJV

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Everywhere we go our eyes are assaulted with garbage. We must keep God’s Word before our eyes in order to think right.

Applying the Bible

Applying then is the fruit of effective Bible reading, interpretation, study, and meditation.

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 18:18–20 NKJV

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

You first read this and it says I am to make disciples of all nations.

You then interpret this and understand that the only way you can make disciples is that you go.

You then do some further study and understand that the tools I am to be going with when I make disciples is baptizing and teaching.

A true disciple maker baptizes - a disciple can only be made when they are willing to identify with Christ.

You then observe

A true disciple maker teaches - a disciple can only make disciples when they are taught how to make disciples. It is our job to teach and bring to maturity other believers.

The only application then is this - My job as a Christian is to make disciples, and the definition of making disciples is going, baptizing, and teaching.

Practical Take-Away: Get a good study Bible.