Spurgeon: June PM
* 06/09/PM
"Search the Scriptures."
--John 5:39
The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict,
close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are
seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We
must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to
a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must
deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy
Scripture requires searching --much of it can only be learned
by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for
strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter
hangs upon every word, yea, upon every title of Scripture.
Tertullian exclaims, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures." No
man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must
dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the
word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim
searching . They are the writings of God, bearing the divine
stamp and imprimatur-- who shall dare to treat them with levity?
He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid
that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses
against us in the great day of account. The word of God will
repay searching . God does not bid us sift a mountain of chaff
with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is
winnowed corn--we have but to open the granary door and find it.
Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under
the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows
with splendour of revelation, like a vast temple paved with
wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner
of gems. No merchandise like the merchandise of Scripture truth.
Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus : "They are they which
testify of Me." No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible
readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all
things. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his
Saviour.