Let’s be honest: it is possible to know a lot about the Bible and still not truly know God. That may sound strange at first, but the Bible itself gives us examples of people who had the right information and still missed God’s heart.
Think about what happened when the wise men came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:1-2). King Herod was troubled, so he called the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Christ was to be born (Matthew 2:3-4). They did not say, “Give us some time to check.” They answered right away: “In Bethlehem of Judea” (Matthew 2:5-6). Their Bible knowledge was accurate. They knew the prophecy. They knew the place. But here is the shocking part: they did not go to Bethlehem themselves.
In other words, they pointed others in the right direction, but they stayed where they were. They were like a signpost that tells people where to go but never makes the journey itself. The wise men, who seemed to have much less Scripture knowledge, traveled a long distance to find Jesus. But the religious leaders, who knew the exact answer, did not move. That teaches us something important: knowing Bible facts is not the same as seeking the Lord with our hearts.
We see something similar later in the life of Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest, said, “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people” (John 11:50). Without fully realizing it, his words pointed to the death of Christ. Yet Caiaphas was also involved in condemning Jesus (Matthew 26:57-66). So a person can say something that sounds spiritually deep and still not truly know the heart of God.
That is a serious warning for us today. We can listen to sermons, quote verses, attend Bible studies, and still remain far from God if the truth never reaches our hearts. Jesus once told the religious leaders, “You search the Scriptures… and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Bible knowledge should not make us proud, cold, or argumentative. It should lead us to humility, obedience, love, worship, and a closer walk with God.
God promised through Jeremiah, “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). That is the difference. The Bible is not meant to stop in our heads as information. It is meant to sink into our hearts and shape the way we live. When God’s Word is written on our hearts, we do not only know about God—we begin to know Him personally.
A person may be able to explain many Bible passages and still be a stranger to God. But a person who truly knows God will not only understand His Word; they will also desire His will, trust His ways, and follow His voice. As James reminds us, we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
So let’s not be content with Bible information alone. Let’s ask God to turn knowledge into relationship, hearing into obedience, and Scripture into living truth within us. The goal is not simply to know the Bible better, but to know the God of the Bible more deeply. May we never be people who can point others to Bethlehem while refusing to go there ourselves. May our study of Scripture always lead us to Jesus, our understanding always lead us to surrender, and our knowledge always become a living walk with God. In the end, the greatest blessing is not just to know what the Bible says, but to know, love, follow, and obey the God who speaks through it.
Minister A F Green, August 2026