The law God gave to the Israelites through Moses often gives emphasis to the need for it to be read aloud. Moses commanded the law to be read at the end of every seven years, so that all may hear and fear God (Deut. 31:10-13). Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses at Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal (Josh. 8:33-35). When a copy of a book of the law was found, Josiah repented and had the words of the Law read in the hearing of all the people (2 Kings 23:1-3). After the exile, Ezra along with some assistants read and explained the law to the people so that they understood (Neh. 8:5, 7, 8).
If the law of Moses was to be read aloud, how much more important it is for the last will and testament of Jesus Christ to be read aloud? We should pay even closer attention to the New Testament as it is a great salvation spoken by the Lord Himself (Heb. 2:1-4). Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32). The words Jesus has spoken are spirit and life (John 6:63). As Peter recognized, we can go to no other than Jesus for the words of eternal life (John 6:68). God has indeed spoken to us by His Son, and we must hear Him (Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 1:1, 2).
Jesus said those who read publicly are blessed as well as those who “hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). Paul wanted the letters to Colossae and Laodicea to be exchanged and read aloud” (Col. 4:16). First Thessalonians came with a solemn charge that it was be read before all the holy brothers (1 Thess. 5:27). Why? Because what Paul wrote were the commandments of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 14:37). The one who has the commandments of Jesus and keeps them truly loves the Lord (John 14:15, 21). When the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ—which was revealed to Paul who wrote to congregations and individuals—was read then people could understand (Eph. 3:3, 4). Paul exhorted Timothy to public reading of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13). The first-century custom seems to have been reading aloud even in private as Philip heard the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah (Acts 8:30). The Ethiopian was traveling in his own private chariot and yet still read aloud.
Spoken messages as well as writings were being given by the apostles in the first century as the New Testament was being produced (2 Thess. 2:2, 15). Now, God has preserved for us the faith, the whole system of truth, in the writings, or Scriptures, written in the first century (Jude 3). It is serious to fail to obey the written apostolic instruction of the letters of the New Testament (2 Thess. 3:14). Why? The apostles were guided by the Spirit in being reminded of all Jesus taught while on earth as well as being guided in all truth, including many things the disciples of Jesus could not bear while He was on earth (John 14:26; 16:12, 13). Thus, the words of every book of the New Testament are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The public reading of the Scriptures is tremendously important. We are thankful for the young men of the congregation who take this responsibility so seriously and do such a fine job of reading God’s word before His people.
-Mark Day
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