Are You a Berean?

Acts 17:11 “Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” (From the Berean Standard Translation)

Noble-minded: noble character (NIV), fair-minded (NKJV), receptive (NRSV)

What made them ”more noble” (KJV)?

1. They received the word spoken with great eagerness, with readiness of mind.

2. They examined the Scriptures:

- everyday

- to see if these teachings were true, to find out if they were so.

Lately more and more, I hear this Scripture quoted by Christians right before they begin their attack on some minister or ministry they’ve found fault with. So often it’s used to qualify their “ministry” of seeking out wolves in sheep’s clothing and tearing down false doctrines.

Over time, I’ve I learned that when I hear someone lead with this Scripture (ironically, as I just did) to almost immediately shut them off. It seems it’s just one way to express pride in their nobility while justifying their false motives. After all, for them it’s so much easier to blow someone else’s candle out than to make their own burn brighter. Harsh, I know, but true.

Yes, we definitely should seek to be like the Bereans! We certainly should seek a noble mindset. It begins by looking at what the Bereans were noted for.

First, they received the word spoken with “eagerness”.

“Ah brother! That’s not what the King James Version says! You’re using one of those false versions!”

And so it begins. The irony is not lost on us who are true Bereans.

First, a Berean RECEIVES the word with all “readiness of mind. (KJV)” Is that better? If you fail to listen to what is spoken —not merely hearing it — but actually listening to hear it, you’re disqualified as a Berean. Nothing else you hear will have any benefit to you. Stop. Think about it. Ready to move on?

Mark 4: 24 “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye HEAR; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that HEAR shall more be given.”

Notice what Acts 17:11 doesn’t say? It doesn’t say the Bereans heard the word spoken with a critical, defensive, guarded mindset. They were not looking for error. They were simply hearing what was spoken with eagerness. Why? They weren’t afraid to hear; they were noble minded.

Secondly, a Berean studies the Scriptures DAILY.

Having (past tense) read the Bible from cover to cover does not make you a Berean. I worked with a “pastor” like this once. He read the Bible 30 years ago, and because he was a self described genius, he remembered what he read. And it was impressive, I suppose, but he never realized how stuck he was in the dogma of the past and couldn’t grasp why he was so ineffectual in ministry. Now he spends his days saying, “Oh the man I could have been if only…” (No, I am not talking about anyone reading this or anyone you know, ok?)

The Bible is progressive illumination. I use the word illumination and not revelation for a reason. Revelation speaks of things not yet known (revealed). But illumination speaks of things revealed but not yet seen. It was always right there in the Word, but we are just now seeing it. That is why we meditate on the word. Daily.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Finally, they received the word spoken with readiness of mind and studied the Scriptures daily, to see if what was taught was TRUE.

What were they actually looking for? Lies? No. They were looking for TRUTH. They were looking for truth in everything. Because they understood John 8:32 “… ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Here is the beauty of always seeking the Truth rather than looking for lies. When you become acquainted with Truth, and you’ve been set free by the knowledge of Truth, lies will be self evident. Have you ever eaten walnuts and suddenly bitten into a bad one, a bad grape, or taken a sip of sour milk?

People who consistently seek out the error in the words in others (or just merely seek to find error in others) are like people who go around drinking sour milk regularly so they can be sure to recognize it when they taste it by accident.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

How is it that we are to show ourselves approved of God? Study.

Rightly dividing what? The Word of Truth.

The Word of what? Truth.

In summary, we are Bereans when we receive the word with readiness of mind, daily studying the Scriptures, looking for and armed with Truth.

That’s you, Berean!

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