On Paul’s second missionary journey, he and Silas went to Berea, a town in a province called Macedonia. This area was known for its extreme poverty. As he was proclaiming Christ to them, Paul found an attitude among the people who were eager to learn from God’s word. Notice the words of Acts 17:11. “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.”
The Bereans are described as “more noble minded” than those of Thessalonica, where Paul had been before coming to Berea. It was there that Paul and Silas had suffered great persecution. Soon they would suffer more difficulties as the Thessalonian Jews followed them to Berea (verse 13).
These Bereans were not called “noble” due to their ancestry, but because they were eager to see if what they were being taught was the truth. This would be accomplished by their daily examination of the Scriptures, which was referred to as a noble (or righteous) act.
They did not blindly accept the message that Paul preached to them as truth. Instead, they examined it. They checked his message by comparing it with written Scripture. Only then would they accept or reject it.
From such a careful examination, many believed the Gospel, receiving it with great eagerness. They searched the Scriptures closely because they did not want to be led astray. These people intended to obey God, but they wanted to be sure they did so correctly. It was their attitude toward the word of God, and the life changing response it brought, which caused them to be described as noble minded.
To be considered noble by God is a very great honor. It comes by seeking God according to His Scripture. Only in this way can we come to know Him, His will for us and the life He offers through His Son.
Too frequently, people who seek to be religious today will be all too eager to accept whatever they have heard from someone else about God. This acceptance will often find them endeavoring to obey God from what they have heard. Without first checking with the Bible to see if the instruction they have been given is really true or not, is a dangerous act.
These may be very in love with the Lord. With the very best of intentions, they will be seeking eternal life in heaven. But without giving personal examination of what the Bible actually says, many can be led astray while believing heaven will be theirs one day. Isn’t it important that we endeavor to be sure, just as those of Berea were?
What did Jesus say about this? Speaking to religious people, He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
In Matthew 7:13, 14, Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
If we imitate the example of the Bereans in being noble minded, we will be sure to give careful examination of the Scriptures. Colossians 3:1-4 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Are you examining the Scriptures daily? Are you willing to obey the Lord in all He commands (Mark 16:16)? By searching through God’s word every day, we will come to know His commandments.
When we obey His commandments truthfully, He promises to us the hope of eternal life. When you stand before the Lord in the Day of Judgment, will He be able to refer to you as being “noble minded?”