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Context is Key

Context is Key

Thibodeaux was driving his car past Boudreaux's house and saw a sign out front that read: "Boat For Sale".

So Thibodeaux marches up to Boudreaux's front porch and raps hard on the door. When Boudreaux opens it Thibodeaux says, "Boudreaux! How long we ban frands?"

Boudreaux says, "Well....................All our lives, Thibodeaux."

Thibodeaux says, "Why don't you told me you gotta boat?"

Boudreaux says, "I ant gotta boat!"

Thibodeaux says, "Da'sign say 'Boat for Sale'."

Boudreaux says, "Oh-No Thibodeaux! See dat old '72 Ford pickem'up truck over dare?"

Thibodeaux says, "Yas, I see dat old pickem'up truck."

Boudreaux says, "See dat '76 Cheverlet see-dan?"

Thibodeaux says, "Yas, I see dat see-dan."

Boudreaux says, "Well, dey boat for sale."

Context is super important. This joke cracks me up every time because I have spoken to people just like this. I grew up in Louisiana, and my family was from Arkansas. If one of my family members was talking about "abode", it was either a piece of wood used to build something or a winged creature with feathers that flew through the sky.

How would we know that if we hadn't taken time to get to know that person? How could we decipher their "code" if we hadn't looked at the context.

This may seem rather obvious, but let's look at the next example:

"Immediately after the distress of those days
" 'the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,

and all the nations of the earth will mourn.

They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky,

with power and great glory."

Matthew 24:29-30


What is this passage about? I know many people who swear that this is talking about the end of time. There is a whole theology that stems from this chapter about when Jesus returns at the end of time to set up His kingdom.

However, let's look at the context. This passage comes in a discourse immediately following this passage:

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.

"Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately.

"Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Matthew 24:1-3

Do you see the context? Jesus and his disciples are talking bout the destruction of the temple. They were talking about buildings being destroyed. This passage is NOT talking about the end of the world after all.

As you study the bible be sure to pay attention to context. Without it you will be easily confused.

If you'd like to study more about this or anything else regarding the salvation Jesus brings freely to you, feel free to contact me at 334-6626 or via email at mrjdobbs@gmail.com. God bless you as you study His Word.