HAVE YOU NEVER READ?

On several different occasions Jesus used this phrase when speaking to the people. Once the Pharisees complained that the disciples were picking heads of wheat on the Sabbath. Jesus reminded them of the story when David and his men were hungry they went into the house of God and ate the bread that only the priests were allowed to eat.

Read the story in Matthew 12:1-8.

On another occasion, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, who were trying to trap him, if the Law allowed a man to divorce his wife. Once again Jesus began His answer by asking if they had ever read the Scripture.

This story is found in Matthew 19:1-12.

Jesus also asked the question in Matthew 21:42 as He was teaching the parable of the tenants in the Vineyard, and again in Matthew 22:31 when He spoke to the people about the dead rising to life.

The Pharisees surely knew the Scriptures that Jesus was referring to. They had indeed read these Scriptures, and they were not ignorant as to what the Lord was saying.

With apologies to my homiletics professor, Samuel Hogan, (who taught us to never lift a text from a passage to preach a sermon), I would like to “lift” these words of Jesus (have you never read) to bring forth encouraging promises from the Lord's Word.

I'm sure that you are familiar with all or most of these passages, but perhaps a reminder is necessary. It certainly won't hurt us to see what the Word has to teach us. And it would be wise to look at these Scriptures and hide them in our hearts.

Be encouraged by what the Word of God has to say to you today. His Word is eternal and true. Don't let the devil or anyone rob you of the joy of the Lord's salvation.

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you as you study His Word. Amen!

If you are being tempted, have you never read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 4:15, 16? “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)
“...we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us be brave, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” (Good News Bible)

If you have sinned, have you never read 1 John 1:9? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) See also Matthew 12:31.

If you are troubled by past sins, have you never read Psalm 103:12? “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.” (Good News Bible)

If you have doubts about your salvation, have you never read John 5:24 and 1 John 5:11-13? “I am telling you the truth: whoever hears my words and believes in him who sent me has eternal life. He will not be judged, but has already passed from death to life.” (Good News Bible)

“The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life: whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I am writing this to you so that you may know (italics mine) you have eternal life—you that believe in the Son of God. (Good News Bible)

If you are afraid of the future, have you never read Matthew 6:34, Matthew 28:20b, and Hebrews 13:5b? “So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.” (Good News Bible)

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

“God has said, I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” (Good News Bible)

If you are concerned that your prayers aren't being heard by the Lord have you never read 1 Peter 3:12 and Matthew 6:8b? “For the Lord watches over the righteous, and listens to their prayers.” (Good News Bible)

“Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.” (Good News Bible)

If you have doubts about your faith in God have you never read Luke 17:5,6? “The apostles said to the Lord, 'Make our faith greater.' The Lord
answered, 'If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea and it would obey you.'”

If you are feeling discouraged have you never read 2 Corinthians 4:14, 16, 17? “We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence...For this reason we never become discouraged...And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.” (Good News Bible)

If you are feeling overwhelmed and are experiencing stress have you never read Matthew 11:28-30? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

If you are feeling useless and inferior have you never read 1 Peter 2:9,10? “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (NIV)