Why Should We Read the New Testament?

Charles Dickens once said, “The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known to the world.” What an endorsement! Do you agree? The New Testament is a “critically acclaimed” book which is still the world’s best seller. We may want to read it for that reason alone. But, there are also other reasons why we should read the New Testament.

We should read it in order to obey our Lord’s command. Our Master sent the Holy Spirit to inspire the Apostle Paul to say these words to His servants at the city of Colossae. “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16) It seems obvious that our Lord wanted all His disciples to read every inspired letter.

We should also read the New Testament because He expects us to do so. When the Pharisees began arguing with Jesus, He asked them, “Have you not read what David did…Or have you not read in the Law…?” (Matthew 12:3, 5. See also 19:4; 21:16, 42; 22:31-32) He expected the Pharisees who were debating God’s will for their lives to have been acquainted with the Old Testament. Does He expect any less from His disciples under the New Testament?

We should also read the New Testament because Jesus did. Since His life was an example of how to live right before God, we are told to “follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) Besides leaving us an example of suffering for God’s will, He also gave us an example of reading about God’s will. In Luke 4:16, it says of Jesus “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.” He left us a custom of being acquainted with what God has written.

There are at least two additional reasons we should read the New Testament. First, if we do, we will understand God’s plan for man. Ephesians 3:4 says, “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ.” Reading gives us insight into God’s mind and God’s plans for us. Secondly, if we read the New Testament, we will be blessed. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” Although the public reader appears to be the one who is blessed here, you will also notice that so are those “who hear” and those “who keep what is written in it.” The same blessings await us today if we read the New Testament and keep what it says!

Ronaldo Ricardo Guzmán