Many of us begin a new Bible reading plan at the start of the year. With a few clicks on the Internet, one can find all kinds of helpful reading plans: chronological, daily New Testament and Psalms, plans that go in the order in which someone supposes the books were written, and on and on it goes. A great turning point in my own faith came when I did a New Testament in 30 days plan; I have printed it in the opposing column [below, paul].
As Christians, we are people of the Book. Though the Bible doesn’t say much in the way of commanding or demanding that we read it, what it does say assumes that believers are consistent readers of it.
We find powerful examples of this in the Gospel of Matthew. In addition to the many occasions upon which Jesus quotes from the Old Testament (which, of course, at the time, was the only Scripture the Jews possessed), twice Jesus cites the ignorance of the Scriptures as the cause of Jewish failures.
In Matthew 19, the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask him a question about divorce. The rabbis had long debated the question and two prevailing opinions held sway. By asking the question, the Pharisees hoped, at the least, to weaken Jesus’ popularity with the people by dividing them. Jesus answers, not by first going to the Law of Moses, but to the order of creation. But he also introduces his answer with these words, “Have you not read?” (v. 4).
Jesus knew very well the Pharisees had indeed read the book of Genesis. His words here called them to greater study.
The second occasion appears in Matthew 22, this time with the Sadducees. Using a question about Levirate marriage, the Sadducees hoped to show the absurdity of the resurrection – a doctrine they denied. Jesus’ response packs a serious punch: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (v. 29). He goes on to use the same phrase he used with the Pharisees, “have you not read?” (v. 31).
The Gospel writers note the authority with which Jesus speaks during his ministry (cf. Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22, 27; Luke 4:32, 36). Yet, Jesus also appeals to Scripture and assumes God’s people have read it! Is it any wonder, then, that we should be people of the Book?
Clay Leonard
