1. BOOK BY BOOK: GREAT THEMES OF THE BOOK
– Read an entire book to see flow and message.
– Example: Philippians – Theme of joy in Christ.
2. EXEGETICAL: PASSAGES OR VERSES
– Choose a passage or verse and deep dive into it.
3. TOPICAL: CHOOSE A THEME
– E.g., Gifts of the Holy Spirit
– Collect verses across the Bible and build understanding.
TOOLS FOR STUDY:
– Bible (including other translations)
– Notebook
– Bible Commentary – Passage study
– Bible Dictionary – Word, character, and topical studies
– Greek/Hebrew Concordance – Original word meanings
– Bible Maps
PRINCIPLES OF STUDYING THE WORD:
1. PRAY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE
– The Bible is spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:10–14). We need the Spirit to illuminate truth, convict us, and apply God’s Word to our hearts.
2. READ IN CONTEXT
– The Bible wasn’t written in chapter and verse.
– What went before and after?
– What is the theme of the whole book?
– What is the theme of the whole section?
– What is the cultural background and understanding?
3. SEEK THE AUTHOR’S MEANING
– What was the author saying to them – NOT what am I wanting to get out of it.
4. LET THE WORD INTERPRET THE WORD
– Scripture interprets scripture.
– Let the whole counsel of God guide interpretation (Acts 20:27).
– E.g., “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7)
– If you only read this verse, you might think: God promises to give me anything I ask for, no questions asked. But when you bring in the whole counsel of God, the picture fills out:
– John 14:13–14 – Jesus says we are to ask in His name (aligned with His character and will).
– 1 John 5:14 – We are heard when we ask according to God’s will.
– James 4:3 – Some prayers go unanswered because we ask with wrong motives, just to satisfy ourselves.
– Matthew 6:33 – Our first pursuit should be God’s kingdom, not our personal wish list.
5. MOVE FROM KNOWLEDGE TO REVELATION & APPLICATION
– Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1).
6. STUDY IN COMMUNITY
– When something is more difficult to understand or controversial, never interpret on your own.
– The Bible was written for a community of believers, not just for an individual.
– YouTube is not a community!!!
EXAMPLE OF AN EXEGETICAL STUDY: MATTHEW 9:9–13 (ESV) — JESUS CALLS MATTHEW & EATS WITH SINNERS
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
PARALLEL ACCOUNTS: Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32 (Luke names him “Levi”).
1. CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
– BEFORE AND AFTER
– 9:1–8 – Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy and he tells a paralyzed man his sins are forgiven.
– 9:14–17 – Pharisees accuse Jesus and disciples of not upholding the law by not fasting.
– Our text – Pharisees accuse Jesus of eating with sinners and tax collectors.
– Point – Jesus is radically redefining what relationship with God looks like.
– TAX COLLECTORS: Worked within a Roman tax-farming system; often overcharged, seen as collaborators and unclean. Social and religious stigma was intense.
– TABLE FELLOWSHIP: To eat with someone implied solidarity and acceptance. For a teacher to recline with the ritually suspect risked defilement and scandal.
– PHARISEES: Lay movement devoted to Torah faithfulness and boundary-keeping (purity, separation). From their perspective, Jesus blurred necessary boundaries.
2. KEY WORDS/PHRASES
– MATTHEW: Greek for “Gift of God” – Also called Levi (Luke) – One of the 12 disciples – Wrote the book of Matthew.
– TAX BOOTH/TAX COLLECTORS: Hirelings of the Roman Governor – Cheated people of their money – Despised as thieves and hated.
– FOLLOW ME: A Rabbinic call to leave everything and follow in the footsteps of the teacher.
– PHARISEES: Religious elite.
– GO AND LEARN: A rabbinic idiom telling students to study Scripture more carefully.
– THOSE WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED OF A PHYSICIAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE SICK.
– I DESIRE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE: Quoted from Hosea 6:6 – used multiple times in the Old and New Testaments.
– MERCY: Steadfast love, covenant love.
3. OBSERVATIONS (WHAT THE TEXT SAYS)
1. THE CALL OF MATTHEW
– Jesus invites Matthew, a tax collector – a sinner – to follow him.
– Jesus took the initiative.
– Matthew responds by leaving his “old life” behind.
2. JESUS EATS A MEAL WITH TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS
– This speaks of the mission of Jesus – He came for a sinful, broken world.
– Builds relationship.
3. THE PHARISEES QUESTION JESUS’ CHOICE
– They question his moral integrity.
– They don’t get His mission.
– They are more interested in their regulations than in understanding the heart of the Father – Luke 15 Older Brother.
4. JESUS CHALLENGES THE HEART OF THE PHARISEES
– Jesus self-identifies as the physician who seeks the sick.
– Hosea’s context: Israel kept sacrifices but lacked steadfast love (ḥesed). God rejects ritual without covenant loyalty and justice.
– Mercy over ritual (sacrifice): By citing Hosea 6:6 (also Matthew 12:7), Jesus elevates covenant mercy over mere ritual compliance. True worship bears merciful fruit.
4. APPLICATIONS
1. We are called to follow Jesus: Am I following or dictating? Have I left everything behind to follow Him?
2. Our mission is to sinners: Am I engaged in the mission – it may be uncomfortable.
3. Mercy over ritual: Am I pursuing a relationship with Jesus or simply following rituals?
4. Who do I identify with? Pharisee or sinner – self-righteousness or redeemed by the grace of God?
5. What is this showing me about who God is? He loves the lost, the broken, the despised, the rejected. He opposes the religious. (Don’t confuse this with the thought: God loves me as I am, so I can do anything I want.) Is there a “Pharisee” in me?
5. WHAT IS THE MAIN POINT?
Jesus demonstrates that His mission is to call sinners, not the self-righteous, showing that God desires mercy toward the broken over empty religious ritual.