Bible Study Explained
The news this week, like any week, can leave us in a distracted and anxious frame of mind. The more you hear about the events of this world and our human reaction to them and attempt to make sense of them, the more you realise how scarce truth is. We need truth - we crave it - but how can we know it, when even the Bible gets distorted and abused by unreliable human influence. The Scripture shows us what it is and how to study it, when we do what it teaches us, we have truth, love, joy and peace.
Scripture
Luke 24:25-32 ESV And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. [28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Through the Scripture
Foolish and slow to believe
The disciples walking with Jesus were kept from recognising Him, but nobody was keeping them from believing in Him except themselves. We are wonderful and complex creations but sin has marred us and left our minds and emotions in an unreliable state. We need someone to show us where we are right and wrong because we can’t do so on our own. What we know and believe must constantly be checked against the truth, but where can we find the truth? Scripture reveals us to ourselves.
Luke 24:25-26 ESV And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Psalms 139:23-24 ESV Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! [24] And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
All the Scriptures concerning Himself
Jesus read and taught from the Old Testament. The New Testament was being lived and spoken out during His ministry. So is the Old Testament still relevant, now that we have the New? Jesus showed that “all the Scriptures” were about Him. All Scripture reveals Jesus Christ. If the all the Old Testament is about Jesus and was used by Him to change peoples hearts and reveal the truth, especially Himself, then how should we read the Old Testament?
Luke 24:27 ESV And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
John 5:46-47 ESV For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
John 2:22 ESV When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Carried along by the Holy Spirit
If all of the Old Testament is about Jesus - when it was written long before His birth, then it must have been given to us by God. If God gave it to us and it reveals Him, then Scripture is God revealing Himself. What does the Bible say about the nature of Scripture and how God gave it to us?
2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 27:14-15 ESV But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. [15] And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.
Breathed out by God for training
The nature and source of Scripture is confirmed in 2 Timothy, but also what it’s here for. Scripture teaches, corrects and trains us in righteousness, that is how to live the right way with God. When we know the truth about God, ourselves and Jesus Christ and what He’s done for us, then we’re able to make sound decisions and changes based on the actual truth - not our perceptions of it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Psalms 33:6 ESV By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Genesis 1:14-19 ESV And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, [15] and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. [16] And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. [17] And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, [18] to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Their eyes opened afterwards
It’s amazing to realise that Jesus first revealed Himself from the Scriptures before He did so in person. He could have just showed them His scars and proved His resurrection, but He chose to first reveal Himself in the Bible, and then in the flesh. Why did He do this? The Bible authenticates any and every experience. If it confirms to Scripture we can trust it. This way of discerning the truth also glorifies God and reminds us of His power, wisdom and love.
Luke 24:28-30 ESV So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
Burning hearts
The world can make our hearts cold, numb and distraught with anxiety. We need our hearts reset, cleaned and filled with love, joy and peace. This happens when Jesus speaks to us through the Bible. It’s the primary way that we hear His voice and grown in faith in Him.
Luke 24:32 ESV They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Romans 10:17 ESV So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Being with the God of peace
Philippians reminds us that the right thoughts lead to the right actions and put us in a place of intimacy with God. The right thoughts come from filling our minds with the truth. Where can we get life changing truth at any time and in any place? We’re so blessed to have free access to the Word of God, how are we going to make the most of that privilege? Reading the Bible and finding answers from it to Who God is, who we are and Who Jesus is and What He’s done for us, will change our lives daily and continually.
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.