How To Interpret Scripture
Observation
Interpretation
Correlation
Application
John 15:6 “If anyone doesn’t remain in me, he’s like a branch that’s thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Always consider the historical context
John 13:1-5 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:6-9 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Rarely do you know and understand what God is doing in your life when he’s doing it. It is usually only in retrospect, looking back and going, now I see what God was doing in that circumstance.
John 13:10-11 "Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.”
John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
John 14:12-14 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
John 14:31 “Come now; let’s leave this place.”
John 15:11 "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Interpretation means you define the key words
I must interpret unclear verses with clear ones
John 15:4 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”
John 15:8 “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:11 "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Look for the most obvious meaning in the text
Remaining in Christ produces answered prayer.
Answered prayer brings glory to God.
Answered prayer gives me complete joy.
I bear fruit by asking in prayer.
Matthew 7:24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.”