11. The Religious Leaders, When Knowing Scripture Is Not Enough

They knew the Scriptures better than almost anyone.

They studied every command. They debated every interpretation. They memorized long passages. They could identify error and defend correct doctrine.

Yet when the One promised by those Scriptures stood directly in front of them, they refused to follow Him.

Jesus said:

“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.”, John 5:39-40 WEB

What a terrifying possibility:

We can know the Bible and still resist the Jesus of the Bible.

We can study His commands without obeying them.

We can defend the Great Commission without making disciples.

We can explain prayer without praying.

We can teach sacrificial love while protecting our comfort.

We can discuss surrender while refusing to surrender.

The religious leaders were not far from the truth intellectually. They were surrounded by it.

But Scripture was never intended merely to fill our minds with information. It was given to lead us to Jesus, and following Jesus always calls us to obedience.

The question is not simply:

“How much of the Bible do I know?”

The deeper question is:

“How much of what I know am I actually obeying?”

Jesus did not say, “Go and accumulate biblical knowledge.”

He said:

“Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.”, Matthew 28:19-20 WEB

There is an enormous difference between teaching people what Jesus commanded and training them to obey what Jesus commanded.

One produces informed believers.

The other produces multiplying disciples.

Have we mistaken Bible study for discipleship?

Have we become satisfied with learning more while obeying little?

Do we know Jesus’ command to make disciples, but still have no one we are intentionally discipling?

If Scripture does not lead us to Jesus, surrender, obedience, and multiplication, we may be repeating the tragedy of the religious leaders: studying the words while resisting the One who spoke them.

Do not merely admire the truth.

Do not merely discuss the truth.

Do not merely defend the truth.

Come to Jesus. Obey what He says. Then help someone else do the same.

Bible knowledge can bring us close to Jesus without ever producing obedience.

But true disciples do not merely know His Word.

They put it into practice, and teach others to do the same.

Today’s challenge: Identify one command of Jesus you already know but have not fully obeyed. Obey it, and invite someone else to join you.