Bible study is a necessity, not an optional luxury!

Luke 6:1-5

On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?” But Jesus stood up for them. “Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions.” Then he said, “The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”

Food for thought!

In Corinthians 4:6 Paul advises us to “Follow what the Scriptures say.” He is telling us to read the Bible. Why? Because one day Jesus will ask us, as he did with the Pharisees in today's gospel, if we ever read the Bible. In fact, Jesus likes to ask men this same question. For instance:

• In Mark 12:10 Jesus asked: "Have you not read this Scripture: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone';"
• In Matthew 19:4 Jesus asked: "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female;"
• In Matthew 12:3 Jesus asked: "Have you not read what David did…"
• In Matthew 12:5 Jesus asked: "Or have you not read in the law…" 
• In Matthew 21:16 Jesus asked: "Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes'…" 
• In Matthew 21:42 Jesus asked: "Did you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone…" 
• In Matthew 22:29 Jesus said: "Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power!"
• In Matthew 22:31 Jesus asked: "But now, as to whether there is a resurrection of the dead, don’t you ever read the Scriptures?"
• In John 5:39 Jesus said: "You search the Scriptures, for you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to me!"

Jesus held and holds people responsible for reading and knowing the Scriptures. Why? Because in John 17:17 He prays to the Father: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." So, we are sanctified by God's Word. This is why Peter exhorts us too: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). So, we grow by God's Word.

Peter told Jesus that He had "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). These words are now in the Bible, and they are more precious than any earthly treasure. Don't ignore God's gracious gift of His Word, because as St. Jerome taught "ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Jesus himself."  Indeed, serious Bible study is a necessity, not an optional luxury.