Great Teaching

Astonishing Teaching

Jesus taught in the temple during the feast of booths. The Jews were astonished at his teaching. They were astonished for two reasons. The first was the depth and accuracy of His teaching. He knew more than they did about the scriptures and was able to teach it in a way that they were not able.

The second reason they were astonished is they knew He was a carpenter’s son and had not been formally trained in the scriptures. They did not understand how an “untrained” man could teach the Scriptures with such depth and accuracy.

Jesus teachings changed lives. He taught twelve ragtag boys how to change the world with the gospel. It was also long lasting. The teachings of Jesus are still being taught today. Every sermon that is preached and every Sunday school lesson that is taught, every christian theology class that is taught are Jesus teachings.

Jesus not only taught the disciples, but He also taught the crowds. His sermon on the mount is the best sermon ever given. He taught how to live with each other. He taught about anger, marriage, divorce, how to deal with our enemies, giving, faithfulness, praying, fasting, how to handle stress, judging others, how to produce fruit, how to get to heaven, and many other principles of life. Indeed Jesus teaching is astonishing

Source of Teaching

Jesus told the crowds that the source of His teaching was not from rabbinical school, but from God. It was God the Father that showed Jesus in His humanity the Scriptures. God gave Jesus a message and Jesus gave it to the people. In this way He was a prophet. God would give Jesus the words to say and Jesus would deliver them. Jesus was more then just a prophet. He is prophet, priest, and king!

Jesus message to all people was one of redemption through salvation in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus not only to tell people about this, but also to live and die for it.

Jesus got His teaching straight from the Father because of His relationship with the Father. He spent much time with Him and knew Him personally. He would only do and say as the Father instructed Him.

John 12:49–50 (NASB95)

“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

“I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

His teaching was revelation. It was a new teaching that they had never heard before, but it was 100% accurate. It carried accuracy, authority, and love with it. It was meant for the people and given by the Father.

Today’s Source of Teaching

Today preachers, Sunday School teachers, Seminary professors, and biblical scholars do not have revelation, but illumination. The difference between revelation and illumination is illumination is not original. Illumination is taking what has already been taught and teaching it in a way that others can understand. We do not have a new teaching but only what Christ has given. The source of illumination from biblical teachers today is the Holy Spirit. He is the one that sheds light on the teachings of Christ.

John 16:14–15 (NASB95)

“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

“All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

A good teacher today must spend time on his or her knees asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths of Christ teachings. It is in this that they are prepared to teach others.

Glorious Teaching

Jesus did not come to bring glory to Himself. Everything that He did and taught was for the purpose of bringing glory to the Father. He wanted the people of Israel to demonstrate to the world what a right relationship with the Father looked like, so that they would join them. God’s desire is always the defeat of sin and redemption of man.

Jesus did not seek accolades from the people for the things He taught and did. As a matter of fact, He often was persecuted for the things that He taught.

It was more important for Jesus to teach what the Father desired than what would happen to Him. His purpose was to bring glory to the Father, by teaching the people truth.

Glorious teaching today

A good Bible teacher today preaches and teaches truth in its entirety. They will not shy away from difficult teachings for the sake of keeping the congregation. They will dispense the duty to which they were called to.

If there is an uncomfortable teaching, then the preacher and teacher must teach it. Teachings on sin, divorce, sexual purity, tithing, and many others are not popular and can be quite uncomfortable. A good preacher and teacher must teach them.

A good biblical teacher must seek to bring glory to God through teaching the full word of God. They are not just to preach feel good messages to grow a church. They must teach in a way that draws people to Christ. This is what brings glory to God

2 Timothy 4:3–5 (NASB95)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Obedient Teaching

Jesus did not teach for the sake of just imparting knowledge. He wanted the people to obey His teaching. He pointed out that Moses gave good teaching of God’s law, but they refused to uphold the teaching of the law.

He pointed out that they were trying to kill Him and the Bible clearly says, “You shall not murder.” This was a direct violation of God’s teaching.

Jesus taught principles that would enhance the people’s walk with the Lord. He also taught that the only way to be right with the Lord was through Faith in Him. The law was good and meant to be adhered to, but was impossible to fulfill. Jesus came to fulfill the law and redeem is to the Father. It is only in this redeemed condition that we can obey the teachings of Christ in a way that glorifies God.

Romans 8:1–9 (NASB95)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Through faith in Jesus person can understand, live, and teach according to the truth of Christ.

Righteous Teaching

The Pharisees were angry with Jesus because He healed a man on the Sabath. They believed He violated God’s commandment by doing so. He pointed out that they circumcise people on the Sabath which could also be a violation of the Sabbath. Jesus was demonstrating that they did not understand the law of God. They had turned the law of God into something that He never intended it to be. A person can do good on the Sabath even if it is considered work.

Jesus cautions them not to be legalistic. He encourages them to judge with righteousness and not mere appearance.

Righteousness Today

We too should understand the truths of Scripture as they were intended. The Holy Spirit will reveal this to you. They will always be consistent with Scripture.