Faith

How to study the Bible (6)

30 October 2024
Angeline Koh
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Matthew 6:24-34

Introduction to the Bible Episode 6– Demo

I planned to explain HOW to study the Bible today. But I decided to SHOW you my Bible study instead.

I hope it will make the How-To steps less abstract.

Here are the 3 steps on how to study a passage

  1. Read the text
    • F.O.T.O. – Focus on the obvious
    • Ask the 5W 1H questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How)
  2. Analyse the text
    • Look for the key words (repeated words)
    • Note all instructions
  3. Title the text
    • The paragraphs (as this is a short passage, I did not do titles for paragraphs)
    • The passage

Today’s study

You need this passage in front of you for reference Matthew 6:24-34, ESV.
Ask God to speak to you as you study the passage.
Read the passage at least 3 times to get the overall big idea.

Answer the questions on your own before looking at my answers (arrow). No cheating! My answers are here to give you an idea of how I do my own study. Dig deeper to find YOUR treasures.

(1) F.O.T.O. focus on the obvious.
  1. Verse 24 No one (no exceptions) can serve two masters
  2. He will hate one and love the other
  3. OR he will be devoted to one and despise the other (both are saying the same thing. When something is repeated, it means it is important. Pay attention.)
  4. You cannot serve God and money (So what are the two masters we cannot love at the same time?)

Ask the 5W1H questions.

(2) WHO
  1. Who spoke these words?
    • Jesus
  2. Who are these words directed to?
    The crowds and his disciples.
    • Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying… (Matthew 5:1-2)
    • “Anxious” is repeated 5 times (v25, 27, 28, 31, 34)… People who are anxious about their lives, what to eat and drink, what to wear, how long they live…
    • Your heavenly Father knows is repeated 2 times (v26, 32)… that means it’s directed to God’s children
  3. Who else is mentioned?
    • Gentiles, non-Jew, people who do not know God
(3) WHAT (Content)
  1. What are they anxious about?
    • Their lives: how long you live
    • Food: what you eat or drink
    • Clothes: what you wear
  2. What is mentioned? How does God take care of them?
    • Look at the birds of the air
    • Consider the lilies of the field
    • The grass of the field
  3. What questions does Jesus asks them?
    • Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
    • Are you not of more value than they?
    • And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
    • Why are you anxious about clothing?
    • Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
    • What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 
(4) WHERE/WHEN (Context)
  1. Where did Jesus minister?
    • Jesus’ ministered to the people around Galilee and the Decapolis (Ten Cities), and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
  2. When did Jesus deliver this message?
    • At the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 5–7)
Region around Israel – map edited from Bible History Outline (left)
Original source not found. Earliest post from blogger Terry Mulberry, 2014 (right)
(5) WHY (Provides the reason behind the passage or teaching. Without a “why”, it is like playing a game without a goal posts)

Why are we to not worry?

  • Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
  • Are you not of more value than they?
  • Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life
  • Why are you anxious about clothing?
  • Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
  • Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all
  • Tomorrow will be anxious for itself
  • Sufficient for the day is its own trouble
(6) KEY VERSE (main theme or idea)

A key verse captures the main theme or idea presented in the passage. In this case, Matthew 6:33 is the point Jesus was driving at: Put God first because he already knows and will provide all the essentials) you need.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

(7) A TITLE (the “big” idea)

Sometimes a passage has many points and sub-points. Coming up with a title forces you to focus on what the passage is about. Here are some examples. See if you can come up with yours.

  1. The cure for anxiety
  2. You cannot love God and money
  3. Put God first
  4. ___________ (Your title)
  5. ___________ (Another possible title)
(8) LET’S UNPACK Matthew 6:33
  1. What are we to do instead of worrying?
    • But = a linking word used to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said, or to introduce something which adds to what you have just said. So in contrast to being anxious, we are to…
    • seek = zētéō: to look for, chase after, pursue. In the Greek, this seek is an ongoing action, i.e. a regular, long-term way of doing something as an ongoing lifestyle. The process-action must happen again-and-again over multiple situations or repeatedly(progressively) in thesame scenario.
    • first = foremost, before everything else.
  2. What do we learn about God?
    • the kingdom of = basileía: the realm in which a king sovereignly rules. Where does God rule?
    • God = theós: the supreme being as the owner and sustainer of all things. The creator and owner of all things.
    • and his righteousness = dikaiosýnē: judicial approval, what is deemed right by the God (i.e. after His examination, what is approved in His eyes).
  3. What does God promise us when we seek his kingdom and righteousness first?
    • and all these things will be added to you.
  4. Other names of God in the passage
    • v24 Master – kýrios a person exercising absolute ownership rights; lord (Lord)
    • v26, 32 your heavenly Father – patēr: father; one who imparts life. He is YOUR father.

An example of what my study worksheet looks like