SUP 01 Understanding Context

Understanding the context of a passage means we understand WHAT is being said, TO WHOM it is being said, and what the CIRCUMSTANCES were for WHY it was being said. Further, we understand all these categories in their original setting (often, some 2,000-3,500 years or more in the past in cultures long since dead).

Context can include a lot of different things:

Cultural context (What was prevalent in the times/culture of the writer and original recipients?)

Language context (What might the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek reveal about the meaning?)

Biblical context (What does the Bible as a whole say on the overall subject this passage is working through?)

Book context (What does the rest of the particular book say or reveal about this passage?)

Immediate context (What happens immediately before and after this passage?)

Why is Context Important?

If we ignore context, we can easily miss something important.

Example:

Look John 2:1-5

John 2:1–5 NASB95

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

When we look at what Jesus said to His mother, it might shock us at first: Woman, what does that have to do with us?

In our culture, that would be a disrespectful way to speak to our mother. It would violate the principle of the commandment to Honor your father and your mother… (Exodus 20:12)

But, when we look at the response of Mary, in verse 5, she understood Jesus was willing to help in the situation.

There is obvious some cultural and probably some Biblical or even book contexts we might easily miss by simply reading with our first impressions.

Does It Matter?

Some people may be unconvinced to do the hard work of figuring out the context. Instead, some people prefer to assume the Bible means whatever they feel it means. Take the following comic scenario for a humorous example:**

Teacher: So Paul says in verse 14 that, because of His chains, others have been encouraged. What do you think he means? (Philippians 1:14)

Man 1: Oh, I know…Paul’s writing a letter, right? So this is a chain letter, like the one I just got!

Woman 1: No, no, no…you’re missing the point! I’m a chain smoker, and God is speaking to me through this to tell me I am to encourage other chain smokers!

Man 2: Well, it reminds me of that Aretha Franklin song, “Chain of Fools.” Maybe Paul means we’re fools for Christ!

Teacher: Um…those are…very interesting insights…but do you think Paul could simply be referring to his prison chains, in Rome?

**Source citation below

If we ignore the context, we might draw the wrong conclusions.

Example of Context Study

The best way to study a passage is to understand the surrounding context. We are going to practice with a passage we looked at in our introduction lesson. Matthew 7:24-27 is an illustration or parable Jesus teaches about the importance of hearing and obeying His words. He warns there is a storm that can destroy our “house of faith” if it is not built upon the right foundation.

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB95

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Without the proper context, it might be easy to misunderstand Jesus’ warning and misapply the scripture. Some misinterpretations can even lead to false confidence. What is the storm that will beat against our “house of faith”? Is it the trials of life? Is it some great event in the future? Is is unique to Christians or will everyone experience it? Will it vary in strength and intensity to others?

To get the answers about that storm, we need to understand the context. Let’s better understand Matthew ’s context (and see what that coming storm is all about).

The context begins in Matthew 7:13

Matthew 7:13–23 NASB95

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Jesus begins discussing paths and gates in Matthew 7.13-14

There are two gates which lead to life (narrow) and destruction (wide)

Next, Jesus begins discussing fruit and trees in Matthew 7:15-20

What are the trees in this context? (Matthew 7:15) The false prophets

What, therefore, must be the fruit? Their teaching

What connects these ideas?

Why might Jesus be talking first about the gates, then about these prophets/teachers?

The false teachers are who lead the people toward the wide gates of destruction

Next, Jesus gives a warning in Matthew 7:21-23

What is on that day Jesus refers to? The Judgment Day

Who are the surprised people? They thought they were going to be good

Were these people religious or not? They were religious (involved in casting out demons, etc.)

What was wrong? Why weren’t they included? They did not do the will of the Father

Context: Considering what Jesus has been saying, what is the storm referred to in Matthew 7:24-27? The storm of Judgment Day

The wide and narrow gates (destruction)

The false prophets (thrown into fire)

Those who did not do the will of the Father (will not enter)

Those who did not build upon obedience to Jesus’ word (house destroyed)

Comic found: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/errors.pdf

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