John 5:39

The Greek word translated here as search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are earnestly pursuing game. We must not be satisfied with merely giving a superficial reading to a chapter or two; instead, 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, indeed, upon every title of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, “I adore the fullness of the Scriptures.” No one who merely skims the book of God can profit from it; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden 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 would dare to treat them with levity? Anyone 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 on the great day of account.

The Word of God will repay searching. God does not ask us to sift a mountain of chaff with only a grain of wheat here and there in it; rather, the Bible is winnowed grain—we only have to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows on 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 kinds of gems. No merchandise is 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 on Bible readers than this: the one who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy is the one who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour.