DAILY TEXT, Today Sunday, January 28, 2024, Have you not read? (Matt. 12:3).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Sunday January 28, 2024

Have they not read? (Matt. 12:3).

The Pharisees read the Word of God with a bad attitude. Jesus made that clear when he asked them if they had not read what the Scriptures said (Matt. 12:1-7). On that occasion, the Pharisees accused Jesus' disciples of violating the Sabbath law. To answer them, Jesus mentioned two examples from Scripture and quoted from a verse from Hosea. Thus he demonstrated that the Pharisees did not understand the purpose of that law and that they had acted without compassion. These men read the Word of God, but it did not influence them. Because? Because they were proud and read it only to criticize others. Their bad attitude prevented them from understanding the true meaning of what they read (Matt. 23:23; John 5:39, 40). In Matthew 19:4-6 there is another account in which Jesus asked the Pharisees if they had not read what the Scriptures said. Although they knew the creation story, they overlooked what God thought about marriage. Jesus' words teach us that we must read the Bible with the correct attitude. Let's not copy the Pharisees. Rather, let us be humble and let Jehovah teach us. w23.02 12 paras. 12, 13.11. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, how can we search for spiritual treasures in the Bible?

How can we find those treasures that are in the Bible? 

Let's analyze 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (read it). There he says that “all Scripture […] is useful” for four things: teaching, rebuking, rectifying things and educating. Even books of the Bible that are not mentioned so much are useful for all this. Let us analyze what we read to see what it teaches us about Jehovah, his purpose, or his principles. For a story to be useful for censorship, what should we look for in it? Anything that helps us identify and reject our bad tendencies and attitudes, and helps us remain faithful to Jehovah. Let's think about how the passage can rectify or correct a wrong point of view, perhaps something we were told in the preaching. And what should we do for a story to educate us? Look for everything that helps us think like Jehovah. If we keep these four useful ideas in mind, we will discover more spiritual treasures that will enrich our reading of the Bible.

How can we know if we are letting the Bible influence us?

The way we treat others shows whether we are letting the Bible influence us. Since the Pharisees had their hearts closed to the message of God's Word, they condemned those who were not guilty (Matt. 12:7). So let's look at how we see and treat others. For example, do we tend to talk about the good qualities of others, or do we focus on their flaws? Are we always willing to forgive, or are we critical and resentful? Our responses will reveal whether we are letting the Bible influence what we think, feel, and do.​—1 Tim. 4:12, 15; Heb. 4:12.

How did Jesus feel about the Holy Scriptures?

Jesus loved the Holy Scriptures. In fact, Psalm 40:8 predicted how much he would value them: “It is my pleasure to do your will, O my God, and your law is deep within me.” Appreciating them so much helped him be happy and continue serving Jehovah. We will achieve the same result if we strive to read God's Word and love it (Ps. 1:1-3).

What do you plan to do to get the most out of reading the Bible? 

Jesus' words and example motivate us to improve our Bible reading and study habits. To better understand what we read, let us pray to Jehovah, read slowly, ask ourselves questions, and take brief notes. To read with discernment, let us calmly analyze the story and consult our publications. To know the Scriptures better, let us search for spiritual treasures in their pages, even in the lesser-known stories. And, to let the Word of God influence us, let us always read it with the right attitude. If we do all this, we will get the most out of our Bible reading and draw closer to Jehovah.​—Ps. 119:17, 18; James 4:8.

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