Within the narrative of the Book of Acts, Luke speaks of the Berean Jews’ reception of Paul’s teaching:

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so”  (Acts 17.11 – NASU).

For several generations Henry Thayer’s New Testament Greek lexicon was within every preacher’s reach as he studied his Greek New Testament. This man was a renowned scholar and had few equals. Although dated in many respects, gems of truth are still mined from his lexicon, and I still pull his work off my shelf from time to time.

A rule professor Thayer challenged his Cambridge students with was this: “Follow truth if it takes you over Niagara.”

We might say it a little differently today: “Follow truth wherever it leads you.” Often, people are frightened by this challenge. It seems to be more comfortable to follow what we’ve always believed, and never examine things for ourselves. If it is new they think it is wrong. When a preacher friend of mine started his first full time work, an elder told him if he heard anything he hadn’t ever heard before it was most likely wrong. While I’m sure the elder meant well, that attitude has a tendency to foster closed mindedness. Through years of diligent and independent study, I have discovered biblical truths I had not necessarily heard when I was younger.

People, like those in Jesus’ day, often search the Scriptures to support their own viewpoints. Proof texts are gathered to bolster a preconceived idea (John 5.39). Jesus describes the Pharisees as set in their ways and not open to truth. “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better’” (Luke 5.39 – nkjv).

Alfred Plummer noted, “The prejudiced person will not even try the new, or admit that it has any merits. He knows that the old is pleasant, and suits him; and that is enough; he is not going to change.” Jesus’ teaching was too revolutionary to them, although it wasn’t. It was new because God was revealing complete truth through His Son, and the Pharisaical mindset would not accept that!

Today, if we are strict “traditionalists,” or we are closed-minded and will not honestly examine the Scriptures, may this devotional cause us to pause and ask ourselves if we are willing to follow truth–even over Niagara Falls, if need be! [-Adapted, BTW]