Jesus gave a good example of how to draw the meanings out of the scriptures in Matthew. In Matthew 13: 24-30 Jesus gives a parable, and the disciples come to Him and ask for an explanation to which Jesus gives in 36-43. Jesus also done the same thing in the previous parable, Matthew 13:3-9 and explained it in 18-23.

For the purpose of this study we will look at:

Matthew 22: 1-14

Questions: Who is the king? What is the marriage? Who is the son?

In order to understand scripture it is good to know who is being addressed and what the subjects are. Then you can ask questions such as:

How does this apply to me?

What lessons are there in this for me?

The purpose in asking questions while studying is to gain a better and deeper understanding of the scriptures you are reading. The questions will probe what you are looking at and make it more than just a story or words on a page. It is the basic aide in helping you to understand better and therefore apply what you read.

Not all verses will be able to be broken down in this way so as I mentioned in the introduction don't try to make something where it is not possible. If a verse is not able to be broken down then leave it and go on to the next one.

Questions: Who are the servants? Who are them that were bidden? What is the wedding?

Questions: Who are the other servants? What is the dinner? What is the meaning of the oxen and fatlings being killed?

Questions: How do people make light of the Gospel and Salvation?

Questions: Who is the remnant? Who are the servants that were miss-treated and slew?

Questions: Who was the army? What city was burned?

Questions: Who are these servants? Who are not worthy?

Questions: Who are to go? Who does this apply to today?

Questions: How many are we to gather? "Good and bad", are we to be selective?

Questions: What is the wedding garment?

Vs.12 - And he saith unto him, Friend, how comest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Questions: Where might this be taking place? What does this say about judging?

Questions: Who are these servants? Are these the same servants as mentioned earlier? Where is this person cast?

Vs.14 - For many are called, but few are chosen.

Questions: What is this verse saying?

I hope that this gives you an idea of how to try to squeeze understanding out of the scriptures by asking questions. As I said earlier, this cannot be done with all verses. You can also formulate your own questions for the verses that may help you.

Below I would like to insert the answers into the verses to give you an idea of how this works.

Vs.5 - But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

Vs.9 - Go yea therefore into the highways, and as many as yea shall find, bid to the marriage.

Vs.12 - And he saith unto him, Friend, how comest thee in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Vs.14 - For many are called, but few are chosen.

The parables are full of rich spiritual content and are excellent for this type of study. The purpose is to ask questions of what you are reading to dig deeper than the surface to find the spiritual content and gain more understanding. Each lesson will get easier as this method is practiced and understood.