Context matters. If we learn to read the Bible as a book—and not as loosely collected inspirational stories or proverbial sayings—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages don’t actually mean what we’ve always assumed. Here is a list of every “context matters” post on this blog.
Murray Barnes (2007), Creative Commons
Narrative
- God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1–19)
- Moses’ shining face (Ex 34:29-35, 2 Cor 3:7-18)
- Valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
- A bruised reed (Isaiah 42:1-4, Matt 12:15-21)
- Two tries to heal the blind (Mark 8:22-26)
- The widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44)
- Peace on earth (Luke 2:13-14)
- Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
Sayings of Jesus
- You have heard that it was said…but I say to you (Matt 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43)
- The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:7-15)
- Judge not, Golden Rule (Matt 7:1, 12)
- Ask, seek, knock (Matt 7:7-11)
- Depart from me; I never knew you (Matt 7:23)
- Where two or three are gathered in my name (Matt 18:20)
- Parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30)
- The widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44)
- Leave the dead to bury their own dead (Luke 9:60)
- My cross to bear (Luke 14:27)
- Count the cost (Luke 14:28)
- The prodigal son (Luke 15)
- Jesus came to give abundant life (John 10:10)
- Apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5)
- In the world but not of the world (John 17)
Epistles
- All things work together for good (Rom 8:28)
- Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20)
- God won’t give you more than you can handle (1 Cor 10:13)
- The love chapter (1 Cor 13)
- O death, where is your sting? (1 Cor 15:55)
- Moses’ shining face (Ex 34:29-35, 2 Cor 3:7-18)
- The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23)
- By grace you have been saved (Eph 2:1-10)
- The whole armor of God (Eph 6:10-20)
- He who began a good work in you (Phil 1:6)
- Forgetting what lies behind (Phil 3:13)
- Rejoice in the Lord, don’t be anxious, the peace of God, whatever is true (Phil 4:4-9)
- I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
- Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22)
- The man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:1-4)
- Chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15)
- The unashamed, approved worker (2 Tim 2:15)
- The God-breathed Scripture (2 Tim 3:16)
- The living and active word (Heb 4:12)
- Faith hall of fame (Heb 11:1-40)
- Quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19)
- The weaker vessel (1 Pet 3:7)
- Always prepared to make a defense (1 Pet 3:15)
- Cast all your cares on him (1 Pet 5:7)
- Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18)
Pentateuch
- Ten Commandments (Ex 20, Deut 5)
- Moses’ shining face (Ex 34:29-35, 2 Cor 3:7-18)
Poetry
- My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps 22:1)
- Taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8)
- God will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4)
- Refrain from anger (Ps 37:8)
- The cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50:10)
- For everything there is a season (Eccl 3:1-8)
- God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:22-23)
Prophecy
- Precept upon precept (Isaiah 28)
- A bruised reed (Isaiah 42:1-4, Matthew 12:15-21)
- With his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)
- God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8–9)
- Righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)
- The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)
- The most commonly overlooked life advice (Jeremiah 25:27-28)
- Valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
- Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8)
