Bible Study And "Shaking The Apple Tree"

Martin Luther, an iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation, is attributed to have made the following statements with regard to his personal Bible study:

“I study my Bible like I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig.

Then I look under every leaf. I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb–study book after book.

Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings” (source).

Beloved, have we shook the apple tree lately? (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11 KJV).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets