The Duty and Advantage of Searching the Scriptures
J. Bennett, D. D. John 5:31-40 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.… The supreme Authority in religion here sweeps away(1) the dishonourable reflections of the infidel; (2) the servile restraints of the superstitious; (3) the wild fancies of the enthusiast. For how can Christianity be accused of conspiring to keep the world in ignorance when its injunction is, Read and investigate, making it therefore a duty to learn to read and to reason? How can it be charged with enslaving the mind by delivering it over to priestcraft, when its Author commanded a promiscuous audience to search for themselves? How can it be charged with fanaticism, when we are charged to bring all our sentiments and feelings to an inspired standard to be regulated? No! the most formidable foe to ignorance, and the most active stimulant to knowledge; that which best secures for the awakened mind the full enjoyment of its rights and the freedom of its inquiries, and the best safeguard against the perversion of our reason is the Bible. I. To THE BIBLE Christ points while He says, "Search," etc. 1. The Scriptures are a mine of wealth. 2. We should therefore search them as men digging for hid treasure. (1) This suggests that its discoveries do not all lie on the surface to be obtained by a casual glance. Books partake of the qualities of their author. If the mind be profound, so will be the writing. What depths then may be expected in a volume inspired by God. (2) Yet with all this depth there is the utmost simplicity. The Scriptures first instruct our childhood, and to the last engage the mature reflections of old age; before we can understand any other book we may read this to profit; and after we have exhausted all others, we still find something here to learn. (3) But if searching implies difficulty, then careful and frequent perusal is required; and this should be accompanied with the comparison of one part of Scripture with another, and with the use of every available help and with prayer. (4) This searching does not preclude hearing. II. The Saviour here points TO OURSELVES and reminds us of our professed principles. "In these Scriptures ye think ye have eternal life." He appeals — 1. To the principle that in the Scriptures we have eternal life. How fondly we cling to life; yet we must soon part with it. We aspire, therefore, to a continuance after this present state, and nothing short of eternity can satisfy our cravings. What then will discover and guarantee this to us? Not the speculations of reason, but the revelation of God. This discloses to us the duration and blessedness of eternal life. What a motive then to search it to find this pearl of great price. 2. To persons, for "you yourselves judge that you have eternal life in the Scriptures": (1) to those who neglect it altogether; (2) to those who keep it as a gilded toy; (3) to those who only read it on Sundays; (4) to those who pay no more honour to it than they do to their catechism, prayer book, or favourite author; (5) to those who study it superficially or partially, or for the support of their own private views. III. The Saviour here points TO HIMSELF as He says, "These Scriptures testify of Me." Note — 1. The fact that we have here the testimony of Jesus. This is declared to be "the spirit of prophecy," or the soul of revelation. As the single principle of gravitation throws light on the whole system of the universe, so the discovery of Christ and His salvation explains the whole record of Scripture. 2. The argument which thence arises — (1) That the Scriptures by testifying of Christ afford us eternal life. He whom they reveal came not only to convince us of the fact and the grandeur of our immortality, "I came that ye might have life," etc. (2) That the Scriptures deserve to be diligently searched. What folly for a man who yearns for heaven to neglect the only means of getting there! (J. Bennett, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. WEB: "If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.