Why was it Written?When Jesus was alone, weak, and being tempted by Satan, three times He said, "It is written..." and, once uttered, that was the end of the matter--Satan left Him for the time. (Luke 4:1-13) But if the SPOKEN Word of God has all Authority to accomplish the intention of God (see Genesis 1--"And God said..."!!) then what was God's purpose in directing that what He spoke should be written down? |
And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of
prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard
this, and began seeking how to destroy Him. (Mk 11:17–18)
1. A written document ensures unchanging permanence for future generations.
2. A written document gives equal access to its objective message.
3. The written Scriptures demonstrate the condition of the heart responding to it.
Unchanging Permanence.
Equal Access.
The written Word is there.
The religious Leaders and the Chief Priest were supposed to be on board with the same standard, living according to the same rule of life. So if they had equal access, why weren't they living with the same love for God and others that Jesus had?
Heart Condition.
“Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Mk 12:9–11).
Again, He shows through His question that although they could recite the passage from Isaiah, they had no thought that it could be remotely connected to their own response to God: they were the rejectors! After He asked the question, they got it! But rather than be grieved by the hate in their heart toward God, they continued working out a way to get rid of the Messenger shining the light on their true condition.
It is not enough to merely have a passing acknowledgement of the Scriptures, it was WRITTEN so that we might have an anchored trust, an equal access, and a contrite response to God's will.