The Test of Real Knowledge

Real knowledge of the Bible is to live it out everyday. God lives and exists in each and every one of us especially to those who are least, last and lost.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”-Matthew25:31-46

I have a cousin who belongs to an institution. Its members claim that their institution is a religion. But it cannot be so because the institution's category is a corporation that practices fellowship. Anyway, my cousin - who happens to be a deacon in that institution - claims that they have won every Bible debate over a Catholic. My father and siblings opt not to comment about it. Perhaps because they do not want to antagonize him and because they do not want to engage in a Bible debate should they protest. But if I was there, I would protest calmly and teach fervently. I wouldn't engage myself in a debate but I would teach. For me, every Christian - for as long as s/he follows Christ - cannot boast of winning a Bible debate because to do so is contrary to the example, life and teaching of Jesus on Humility. If Jesus humbled Himself, we should too. Knowledge of the Bible is ideal. Gaining knowledge of God by feeding the intellect with it, is good and ideal. But, the Bible and Jesus' life are summarized into two - Love of God and love of neighbor. The 2 greatest commandments - Love of God and love of neighbor - are enough defense already. Therefore, real knowledge of the Bible and of God, is the actual living out of the 2 greatest commandments of Love everyday. As St. Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 13, "If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing." To feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome strangers, to visit the sick and in prison are some acts of love. What have we done to show our love for God and neighbor?

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