"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
"Jesus said unto him, It is written."—Matt. 4:7.
We cannot fail to be struck, in the course of the Savior's
public teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times,
He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, "Verily, verily, I
say unto you," He often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives intimation
of some impending event in His own momentous life, "These things must come to
pass, that the Scriptures be fulfilled, which says." He commands His
people to "search the Scriptures;" but He sets the example, by searching and
submitting to them Himself. Whether He drives the money-changers from their
sacrilegious traffic in the temple, or foils his great adversary on the mount
of temptation, he does so with the same weapon, "It is written." When
He rises from the grave, the theme of His first discourse is one impressive
tribute to the value and authority of the same sacred oracles. The disciples
on the road to Emmaus listen to nothing but a Bible lesson. "He
expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning
Himself."
How momentous the instruction herein conveyed! The
necessity of the absolute subjection of the mind to God's written Word—making
churches, creeds, ministers, books, religious opinion, all subordinate and
subservient to Scripture; rebuking the philosophy, falsely so called, that
would distort the plain statements of Revelation, and bring them to the bar of
proud Reason.
If an infallible Redeemer, "a law to Himself," was
submissive in all respects to the "written law," shall fallible man
refuse to sit with the teachableness of a little child, and listen to the
Divine message? There may be, there is, in the Bible, what Reason
staggers at: "we have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep." But,
"Thus says the Lord," is enough. Faith does not first ask what the bread
is made of, but eats it. It does not analyze the components of the
living stream, but with joy draws the water from "the wells of salvation."
Reader! take that Word as "the lamp to your feet, and the
light to your path." In days when false lights are hung out, there is the more
need of keeping the eye steadily fixed on the unerring beacon. Make the Bible
the arbiter in all difficulties—the ultimate court of appeal. Like Mary, "sit
at the feet of Jesus," willing only to learn of Him. How many perplexities it
would save you! how many fatal steps in life it would prevent—how many tears!
"It is a great matter," says the noblest of modern Christian philosophers,
"when the mind dwells on any passage of Scripture, just to think how true it
is." (Chalmer's Life).
In every dubious question, when the foot is trembling on
debatable ground, knowing not whether to advance or recede, make this the
final criterion, "What says the Scripture?" The world may remonstrate—erring
friends may disapprove—Satan may tempt—ingenious arguments may explain away;
but, with our finger on the revealed page, let the words of our Great Example
be ever a divine formula for our guidance—"This commandment have I
received of my Father!"
"Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind."