It is possible to read a book without understanding the purpose for which it was written. Indeed, much reading is done on this level by many persons. But it is not possible to study a book without dealing with this primary question. This is true of any document. If an article has been written to argue a legal point, we would not turn to it to find religious inspiration. It was just not written for that purpose. Again, if a verse was composed as love poetry, we would not turn