“Have you not read?”
When Jesus was asked a question about marriage, His answer began with, “Have you not read?” (Matthew 19:4–5). He pointed His listeners back to the authority of the Word of God—beginning in Genesis because next He quotes the text of Genesis 1:27 and 2:24! According to Jesus, Scripture has authority, and it’s the foundation for how we think about everything, including marriage.
And what about the Old Testament? Over and over we read, “Thus says the Lord,” or “The Word of the Lord came to,” or something similar. We’re told that the Old Testament is not just the words of men—it’s the Word of God. Again, the authority of the Word of God is emphasized.
So what do we make of pastors who claim God got it wrong or the Bible is just a book about God? Well, we take what they say, and we compare it against the authority of the Word of God! Rather than trusting fallible human beings, we start with God’s Word in every area.
Today, we hear statements like this:
“I’m of the opinion that we need a third testament because the Bible has become problematic. I said, then we need to pull that page out. [People responded] ‘Well, you can’t do it, it’s the Word of God.’ I said, no, it’s words about God. Come on now. Is it the word of God? No.”
“I am completely frustrated with the ways in which the text speaks to the kind of vitriolic God”
“If that’s what Paul meant, if Paul really meant that, then he was wrong. Like at the end of the day, I don’t care.”
I would hate to be in their shoes standing before the living God! Imagine what God is going to say to them!
My father was a wonderful Christian man, and he would never knowingly compromise God’s Word. I will never forget as a young person growing up when my father was reading and teaching the Bible. Whenever he came to verses where he read, “It is written,” “thus sayeth the Lord,” or “have you not read?” he would light up and talk to us about the authority of the Word of God.
These supposed “pastors”—and I say supposed because they are false shepherds leading the sheep astray—don’t like what the Bible says. They would prefer to rewrite it according to their own liking. It reminds me of Genesis 3, where the devil tempted Eve not to trust God’s Word and to become her own god.
These people may carry the title of pastor, but that doesn’t mean they are Christians. I want to warn these supposed pastors:
Deuteronomy 4:2 reads, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 12:32 states, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”
Proverbs 30:5-6 cautions, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”
Every person who desires to subtract from the Bible and add their own words should take these verses to heart.
Revelation 22:18-19 further declares, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Wow, there’s a warning! These supposed Christian leaders in the church that are leading people astray are false shepherds, mocking and denigrating God’s Word. They are looking at God’s Word as fallible, and their own word is infallible.
Yes, Scripture has authority—Jesus said so!
