Favorite Scripture Verses - And What They Reveal

Favorite Scripture Verses - And What They Reveal 

Psalm 119:97-104; Matthew 5:38-42; 7:12 NIV 

A meditation delivered electronically by Rev. Dr. Randy K. Hammer, September 13, 2020 

Text: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Something I read a few weeks ago got me to thinking about favorite Scripture verses.  Having read and studied the Bible for over 45 years, I have some favorite Bible verses, and some of you may have some favorite Bible verses as well.

But what is it that might make favorite Bible verses favorite? 

As I have thought about this over the past few weeks, I have concluded that favorite Bible verses can reveal a lot about a person.

For instance, favorite scripture verses may reveal something about a person’s beliefs or personal theology.  One whose favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish . . .” – probably holds a conservative theology and believes in the sacrificial atonement.  We used to see people hold up poster board signs at football games reading “John 3:16,” and along southern highways we used to see signs bearing the inscription, “John 3:16.”

Favorite scripture verses can reveal a lot about one’s convictions. One whose favorite verse is Amos 5:24 – “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an overflowing stream” - is likely committed to issues of social justice and equality.  This verse was one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s favorites, and it might be seen as the hallmark of his life’s work.

Favorite scripture verses can reveal a lot about one’s personality or character.  One who cites “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39) or “Be compassionate, as your Father in heaven is compassionate” (Luke 6:36 NLT) likely has a gentle, compassionate personality.

Conversely, what would it say about one who might cite the ancient verse from Exodus, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24) as their favorite verse of scripture?  It might be fun to Google that – “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” favorite Bible verse, as well as the other verses just to see what might pop up.  But wouldn’t such reveal an unforgiving, vindictive, I’m-going-to-get-even personality?  Interestingly, Matthew records that Jesus, in his teachings, cancelled out the ancient “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” principle, focusing instead on love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and compassion. Some – like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr – have found in these teachings of Jesus the inspiration for passive resistance to affect social change.

You know, one of the by products of favorite scripture verses is it can affect our daily actions as well; how we live our lives; how we relate to and treat other people.

Well, have you come up with a favorite verse from the Bible?  If so, what is it?  And what does it say about your personal beliefs, convictions, and personality or character?  And how you live your daily life and relate to others?

I have so many favorite scripture verses, it is nigh impossible for me to narrow it down to just one.  But I guess I would have to say that my favorite verse from the Hebrew Scriptures is Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love kindness [mercy] and to walk humbly with your God.”

And my favorite verse from the New Testament probably is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31).  It is worth noting that this principle is found in similar form in many of the world’s great religious traditions.  And Jesus contends that this one verse (popularly known as the Golden Rule) sums up all the Jewish Law and teachings of the Hebrew prophets.

Now, do these two verses say anything about my character and actions?  I try to make it so.  But I’ll let you be the judge as to whether they do or not.

It would be interesting if we could know the favorite scripture verse Or religious principle of every politician running for office in November, wouldn’t it?  Maybe it would help us choose candidates whose beliefs, convictions, personality and character, and actions toward others align with our own.

Yes, we might learn a lot about people if we knew what verses or religious teachings are most important to them.  And we might learn a lot about ourselves by determining our own favorite verses or religious principles and, consequently, what they reveal about us.  Amen.