It is affirmed of the Jews in Berea that they “were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scripture daily, whether those things were so<\/em>” (Acts 17:11). Admit it or not, the fact is that the proclamation of truth can be rendered ineffective by the improper disposition of heart on the part of one’s auditors toward the Word preached. Since success in any endeavor is dependent to a great extent upon one’s attitude toward that endeavor, it follows that there is nothing, either in man’s quest for truth or his efforts to serve Jehovah, more important than the development and cultivation of proper attitudes toward God, His Word, and the preaching of the same.<\/p>\n In the passage before us, Luke speaks of a nobility of heart (literally, noble-minded). While the Jews in Thessalonica were void of such nobility, those in Berea were commended for enjoying the possession of it. But of what did this nobility consist? The text provides the answer to our question.<\/p>\n The first characteristic of this noble-mindedness that is mentioned is freedom from prejudice! These men received that which was taught “with all readiness of mind.<\/em>” The New American Standard Version translates the passage: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.<\/em>” Each of us needs a readiness of mind to understand and an eagerness of heart to receive the truth. This should be the disposition of every individual — but it isn’t! Many, especially in religious matters, suffer from the dreaded disease of prejudice.<\/p>\n Webster defines the term under consideration as “preconceived judgment or opinion.” Also, “an opinion … adverse to anything without grounds…” Derived as it is from the Latin words\u00a0prae<\/em>\u00a0(before) and\u00a0judicium<\/em> (judgment), prejudice may be adequately defined as being a judgment rendered either (1) before consideration of the facts or (2) in disregard to known facts. It is the lazy and\/or dishonest man’s method of reaching a conclusion. A factor in spiritual retardation, so long as it dwells within the hearts of men it will stand firmly as a mental barrier to learning, understanding, development, and unity. With hearts full of prejudice it is no wonder that many hearers refuse to accept the truth which is revealed in the pages of God’s Book as that truth as proclaimed by faithful preachers of today. Like the Thessalonians of old, they refuse to grant either time or consideration to anything with which they are not already in agreement. To examine candidly another’s arguments, to discuss calmly with others their differences, or to make needed changes in their own hearts and lives they will not do. Though it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), the gospel will not affect their salvation because their prejudice will not allow it to do so. Yes, noble-mindedness demands freedom from prejudice!<\/p>\n The second characteristic of this noble-mindedness is freedom from gullibility! A gullible man is one who is easily duped. He is the individual who accepts as truth that which is taught — without personal investigation. Now, while the Bereans were not prejudiced (they listened with an open mind), neither were they willing to accept what was taught without personal investigation (they studied their Bibles). I must emphasize again that in order to possess nobility of heart man must be free from both prejudice and gullibility. While the prejudiced man boasts of his “freedom from gullibility,” the gullible one delights in his “open-mindedness.” But it is just as ignoble and soul-condemning (because of their consequences) to be gullible as it is to be prejudiced and vice versa.<\/p>\n No teacher has the right to teach anything in religion by his own authority! If what is taught is not authorized by the Lord in the New Testament, it is not even an item in the religion of the Master and must be rejected. Never has God permitted men to devise their own religion (with God’s approval). He doesn’t today! And, I repeat, no instructor has the right to teach anything that is not authorized by God in His Word (Galatians 1:6-9;\u00a0II John 9-11).<\/p>\n Furthermore, we must never attempt to hinder one’s quest for truth, nor deny any man the right to question the truthfulness of any of our beliefs and practices. Beware the religious leader who fears and\/or refuses to permit investigation of his doctrine! Make a personal investigation. Do not be gullible! Do not be duped into embracing error! The disastrous consequences of such are eternal. Be a Berean!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Roger M. Hendricks via\u00a0The Graphic Evangelist, Vol. 21, No. 8, April 19, 1981. It is affirmed of the Jews in Berea that they “were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scripture daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1506,1612],"class_list":["post-58419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-hearing","tag-noble-minded"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40372,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/more-noble-minded\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":0},"title":"More Noble Minded","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 17:1-12 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul came to Thessalonica, a city on the coast in Macedonia, to preach the gospel \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He started out in the synagogues as was his custom. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After three weeks of effort he convinced a few of the Jews, but large number of Greeks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83213,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/love-of-the-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":1},"title":"Love of the Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Everyone does not want to hear God's word. Jesus lets each person determine their destiny and therefore lets each person pick his own interest in truth or error. He did not waste time \"casting pearls before swine\" (Matt.7:6). When a person reveals that they have no\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69434,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/examine-the-scriptures\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":2},"title":"Examine the Scriptures","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer We are familiar with the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17:11: \"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.\" The primacy of Scripture is key to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/open-bible-300x225.avif","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":58162,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/more-fair-minded\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":3},"title":"More Fair-Minded","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 20, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bryan Matthew Dockens \"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":85441,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-test-of-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":4},"title":"The Test of Love","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton The Lord allows the false teachers to test your heart. Have you ever thought about it that way? Maybe you are supposed to love the Lord your God enough to check behind every teacher and preacher to see if they are telling the truth, and your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57460,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-intolerance-and-lies-of-open-mindedness\/","url_meta":{"origin":58419,"position":5},"title":"The Intolerance and Lies of Open-Mindedness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 30, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer We've all heard it: we don't accept a particular viewpoint so, therefore, we are closed-minded bigots trapped inside some blind faith and hope fostered by an ancient, cultish superstition. Those who make such charges are, of course, open-minded, loving, tolerant, compassionate people who are willing to accept\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Argue.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58419\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Freedom from Prejudice<\/h2>\n
Freedom from Gullibility<\/h2>\n