In context

I have always known that it is important to read verses in context. (reading the Bible in context means to read the verses before and after the verse you are reading in order to get a clear idea of what the verse is saying.) Today while I was reading Matthew, I again realized just how important it is to read in context! Without the verses before and after we would have a pretty screwed up message! For example, Matthew 5:28 says, "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." That doesn't sound to much like something God would say, it doesn't sound like a Biblical principle in the least. But you have to read further! The next verse says, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." with both verses together we can see that Jesus is saying that although we have always been told to take revenge, we should turn the other cheek and forget about revenge. This happens again in Matthew 5 when Jesus is talking about how we should treat our enemies, in the first verse (43) it says, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’" This sounds like Jesus is telling us to hate our enemies, but in verse 44 He says, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" Now we see the whole picture: we have been told to hate our enemies, but God wants us to love our enemies and do good to them!  Make sure you know what God is saying in the verse you read! Reading the bible in context is very important! Without context we would be lost and confused! Never read just one verse, always read it in context!