Charles Spurgeon on How to Read the Bibleনমুনা

Some, under the pretense of being taught of the Spirit of God, refuse to be instructed by books or by living men. This is no honoring of the Spirit of God; it is a disrespect to Him, for if He gives to some of His servants more light than to others—and it is clear He does—then they are bound to give that light to others and to use it for the good of the church. But if the other part of the church refuses to receive that light, to what end did the Spirit of God give it? This would imply that there is a mistake somewhere in the economy of gifts and graces, which is managed by the Holy Spirit. It cannot be so. The Lord Jesus Christ pleases to give more knowledge of His Word and more insight into it to some of His servants than to others, and it is ours joyfully to accept the knowledge which He gives in such ways as He chooses to give it.

It would be most wicked of us to say, “We will not have the heavenly treasure that exists in earthen vessels. If God will give us the heavenly treasure out of His own hand, but not through the earthen vessel, we will have it; but we think we are too wise, too heavenly minded, too spiritual altogether to care for jewels when they are placed in earthen pots. We will not hear anybody, and we will not read anything except the book itself, neither will we accept any light, except that which comes in through a crack in our own roof. We will not see by another man’s candle; we would sooner remain in the dark.”

Brethren, do not let us fall into such folly. Let the light come from God, and though a child shall bring it, we will joyfully accept it. If any one of His servants, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, shall have received light from Him, behold, “all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:22–23). Therefore, accept of the light God has kindled and ask for grace that you may turn that light upon the Word so that when you read it, you may understand it.

I do not want to say anything that is too severe because it is not strictly true—let your own consciences speak, but still, I make bold to enquire: Do not many of you read the Bible in a hurried way—just a little bit, and off you go? Do you not soon forget what you have read and lose what little effect it seemed to have? How few of you are resolved to get at its soul, its juice, its life, its essence, and to drink in its meaning! Well, if you do not do that, I tell you again, your reading is miserable, dead, unprofitable reading; it is not reading at all, the name would be misapplied. May the blessed Spirit give you repentance touching this thing.