Have you had someone quote you out of context? Maybe you have listened to a news reporter that takes something someone said out of context to steer an outcome one way.
To take something out of context is to misrepresent the meaning of something spoken, an action, or a report by omitting or altering the original context in which it was spoken or done.
If we are not presented with the full picture, we can be persuaded to come to a conclusion that may not be correct.
What happens if we take scripture out of context? Let’s look at Matthew 4:1-11.
Matthew 4:1-11 KJV
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward, an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus’ ministry begins with the blessing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism. The enemy goaded Jesus by quoting Psalm 91, but it is a verse taken out of context. Jesus countered with a verse that is in context: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (v. 7).
What if Jesus did not know God’s Word? If we are not clear on God’s Word, we can be persuaded off of it.
Pay attention to the surrounding verses to understand the full meaning of a passage.
Example: Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
This passage is familiar to many people, but seldom do we put it in context. Reading the next verses, Jeremiah 29:12–13:
Then shall [you] call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And [you] shall seek me, and find me, when [you] shall search for me with all your heart.
By fully studying the bible in context, we can know God’s purpose for our lives. Seek to find, ask to receive, knock and it would be opened unto you (Matt. 7:7)
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