Many readers treat the Old Testament simply as a historical book of heavy laws. This method produces confusion and fear.

Accurate interpretation requires you to translate the Old Testament into a revelation of Jesus. You must depend on the Holy Spirit to teach you and unveil Christ directly in the text.

Historical context determines meaning. Miles Coverdale, an early translator of the English Bible, instructed readers to strictly identify who is speaking, who is receiving the message, and the specific circumstances surrounding the text.

"Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,"1 Corinthians 10:32 (NKJV)

When God looks at the earth, He divides humanity into three distinct categories: the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of God. You must know which specific group a passage addresses. For example, the Church is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have received the gospel. When you locate Jesus in the Old Testament and respect the historical context, the text stops being a threat and becomes a source of hope.

A rule without a relationship is merely a burden.