The Word of God Is an Instruction Manual—Part I

There are several common pitfalls in Bible reading that you must avoid. The first is proof-texting, which is taking the text out of its context. Another is reading a passage of Scripture literally when you should understand it figuratively, and vice versa. For example, when Jesus tells us, " If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away," He is using Hebraic hyperbole to make a point (Matthew 5:29). He is telling us that we must not allow anything to get in the way of our relationship with God.

Other pitfalls include ignoring the historical and cultural context of the Biblical passage, trying to understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit, and failing to practically apply the Scriptures to your life. There is no end to the damage we can do to ourselves and others if we are unaware of these pitfalls and fail to guard against them. In order to understand God’s instruction manual rightly, we must read it prayerfully, carefully, and with ever-increasing understanding. Only then can we know the Truth that sets us free.