Weekly Study Guide

The Jewish religious leaders studied the Old Testament with great diligence. They believed that anyone who could understand the words of the text would gain a share in the world to come. They regarded those who were ignorant of the Law as being under a curse (7:49). Similarly, many people today think of Bible study as an end in itself, rather than a means to gaining knowledge of God and developing godliness. It seems that a veil covered the minds of these Jewish scholars (2 Cor. 3:15), preventing them from recognizing that Jesus is the Promised One. We want our study of God’s word to serve as a catalyst for godliness and spiritual growth, not just an end in itself.