Prioritizing Regular Review of Teachings and Examples Biblically
Scripture commands believers to examine themselves with diligence and holy awe. Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5), and requires self-examination before communion (1 Corinthians 11:28) [1]. This practice must be engaged in "with diligent search" (Psalm 77:6; Lamentations 3:40) and "with prayer for divine searching" (Psalm 26:2; 139:23-24), always "with purpose of amendment" [1]. The difficulty of such examination stems from the heart's deceitfulness (Jeremiah 17:9), yet its advantages are substantial: preventing divine judgment, producing assurance, and maintaining a clear conscience before God (1 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 6:4; 1 John 3:20-22) [1].
The Pattern of Diligent Attention
God requires diligence in multiple dimensions of spiritual life. Believers must be diligent in "seeking him" (1 Chronicles 22:19; Hebrews 11:6), "obeying him" (Deuteronomy 6:17; 11:13), and "hearkening to him" (Isaiah 55:2) [2]. This extends to "cultivating Christian graces" (2 Peter 1:5), "keeping the heart" (Proverbs 4:23), and "making our call, &c, sure" (2 Peter 1:10) [2]. Christ himself modeled this diligence (Mark 1:35; Luke 2:49) [2].
The psalmist demonstrates the connection between understanding and meditation: "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27) [5]. Paul instructs Timothy to "give attention to the reading of the holy Writings, to comforting the saints, and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13) [6]. The author of Hebrews urges believers to press beyond elementary teachings toward maturity (Hebrews 6:1) [3], while simultaneously warning them to look "diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God" (Hebrews 12:15) [7].
Mutual Oversight in the Community
John Gill interprets Hebrews 12:14's call to "looking diligently" as applicable not merely to church officers but to "the several members of the church, whose business it is to watch over one another" [9]. This communal dimension of review extends the responsibility beyond individual self-examination to corporate vigilance regarding doctrine and conduct.
Josephus records that Moses commanded the Israelites to teach the laws to their children "as the first thing they are taught," ensuring that divine instruction would be continually before their minds [8]. Matthew Henry notes that reviewing God's providences should "quicken and engage" believers to "duty and obedience" [10]. Regular review prevents departure from God and leads believers to seek him in prayer, particularly through affliction (Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Hosea 5:14-15) [4].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Hebrews “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, -- Hebrews 6:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
- Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:13 (BBE) — Till I come, give attention to the reading of the holy Writings, to comforting the saints, and to teaching.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 12:15 (YLT) — looking diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up may give trouble, and through this many may be defiled;”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 7: so there may always be within their minds that intention of the laws which they have despised and broken, and have thereby been the causes of their own mischief. Let the children also learn the laws, as the first thing they are taught, which will be the best thing they can be taught, and will be the cause of their future felicity. 13. Let every one commemorate before God the benefits which he bestowed upon them at their deliverance out of the land of Egypt, and this twice every day, both when the day begins and when the hour of s”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 12:14: Looking diligently,.... Acting the part of bishops, or overseers, as the word signifies; and so this exhortation either respects officers of the church of the Hebrews, whose business it was more especially to inspect into the principles and practices of the members of it, and take care that they did not imbibe false doctrines, or live immoral lives; or rather the several members of the church, whose business it is to watch over one another, since this epistle seems to be written to the whole church. Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and lo”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 4:1: This most lively and excellent discourse is so entire, and the particulars of it are so often repeated, that we must take it altogether in the exposition of it, and endeavour to digest it into proper heads, for we cannot divide it into paragraphs. I. In general, it is the use and application of the foregoing history; it comes in by way of inference from it: Now therefore harken, O Israel, Deu 4:1. This use we should make of the review of God's providences concerning us, we should by them be quickened and engaged to duty and obedience. The histories of the year”