Application is key when reading the Bible.

The Apostle James famously wrote “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

But here’s a bit of irony: sometimes people fail to do what James says because they don’t hear what James says. Many people think James is advocating for doing over hearing. But read his words again; he’s arguing for doing over not doing. Good actions don’t come from avoiding the word but from applying it, including James 1:22.

Biblical scholar J. P. Fokkelman warns about this in Reading Biblical Narrative: An Introductory Guide:

After some reading and searching we like to have a finished interpretation in front of us and are (too) easily satisfied with a total picture based on only partial observations of the textual characteristics. In this way we commit ourselves, and forget to check our results rigorously against the text itself once more, some time during the procedure.

This reminds us to be careful about jumping to conclusions. If we don’t, our ignorance, bias, and laziness will get the better of us. And mishearing can lead to misdeeds.

Instead, check your conclusions. The next time you read the Bible and arrive at some conclusion about what you’ve read, ask yourself: What exactly in this passage makes me think what I think? What might I be missing?