Christ as Teacher

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For his own wise purpose, the Lord veiled spiritual truths in figures and symbols. By this means, the plainest and most telling rebuke was often given to his accusers and enemies, and they could find in his words no occasion to condemn Him. In parables and comparisons He found the best method of communicating divine truth, of awakening interest and arousing inquiry. In simple language He opened to his hearers spiritual truths and precious principles, that would have passed from their minds and left scarcely a trace, had He not linked them with stirring scenes of life, experience, or nature. And afterward, when his hearers saw the object or scene with which the lesson was connected, the words of the divine Teacher would be recalled.

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The teaching of Jesus was of an entirely different order from that of the learned scribes. They professed to be expositors of the law, both written and traditional; but the formal tone of their instruction indicated that they saw in the doctrines of the sacred oracles no vital power. They offered no food for the hungry sheep and lambs. The presented no new truth, uttered no words that reached the longing of the soul. Their custom was to dwell upon the obscurities of the law, and the result of their reasoning was a jargon of absurdities, which neither the common people nor the learned could understand.

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Before the days of Christ men asked in vain, «What is truth?» The Jewish rabbis presented the requirements of the law as a wearying round of exactions, just as many in our day present it as a cold, rigid code of commands. They professed to speak to the people in the place of God; but superstition buried the light, the glory, the far-reaching claims of his law. Divine truth was thus silenced by its professed interpreters, and contention, jealousy, and prejudice divided the people that were called by the name of God. Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Even Judea was shrouded in gloom, although the voice of God spoke to the people in his oracles.

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Then was a teacher sent from God, even Him who was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Christ came to unveil divine truth to the world, to restore it in all its original freshness and beauty. He gave fresh manna to the hungry soul. He presented the pure, rich truths of heaven to shine amid the moral darkness and gloom of earth. God had said, «Let there be light,» and the light of the glory of God was revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

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Jesus taught as one having authority. He spake as never man spake. There was no hesitancy in his manner, not the shadow of a doubt in his utterances. He spoke as one who fully understood his subject. He could have opened mysteries which patriarchs and prophets desired to look into, which human curiosity had been impatiently desirous of understanding. But when men could not discern the most simple, plainly-stated truths, how could they understand the deep mysteries of God? Jesus did not disdain to repeat old, familiar truths; for He was the author of these truths. Truths which had been lost sight of, which had been misplaced, misinterpreted, and disconnected from their true position, He separated from the companionship of error; and, showing them as precious jewels in their own bright lustre, He reset them in their proper framework, and commanded them to stand fast forever. What a work was this! It was one which finite man could not do, nor even comprehend. Only the divine Hand could take the truth, which, from its connection with error, had been serving the cause of the enemy of God and man, and place it where it would glorify God and be the salvation of humanity.

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It was Christ who spoke the law on Mount Sinai, and He knew the bearing of all its precepts, the glory and majesty of the law of heaven. In his sermon on the mount, Christ defined the law, and sought to inculcate on the minds of his hearers its far-reaching claims. His instructions came as a new revelation to the people; and the teachers of the law, the scribes and the Pharisees, as well as the common people, were astonished at his doctrine. The words of Christ were not new, and yet they came with the force of revelation; for they presented the truth in its proper light, and not in the light in which the teachers had set it before the people. He showed no regard for the traditions and commandments of men, but opened their eyes to behold wondrous things out of God’s law. The law of God is immeasurable in breadth, dignity, and glory. It has been the foundation of his throne from the beginning; and as long as the heavens and the earth remain, through the ceaseless ages of eternity, it will be the great standard of righteousness, holy, just, and good. And yet the religious world have set aside this law, as did the Jews, to exalt the traditions and commandments of men.

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The Jewish economy was the gospel in figure, a presentation of Christianity which was to be developed as fast as the minds of the people could comprehend spiritual light. Christ was manifested as the Saviour of men, the embodiment of this light. To know Him, to be instructed by Him is true wisdom. A man may have a knowledge of the Scriptures which will not make him wise unto salvation. If his knowledge, begun in ambition, is carried forward in pride, he flatters himself in vain that he is a Christian. The fruit of the Spirit is «love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.» Neither talent, eloquence, nor selfish study of the Scriptures, will produce love to God or conformity to the image of Christ. Nothing but divine power can regenerate the human heart and character, and imbue the soul with the love of Christ, which will ever manifest itself in love to those for whom He died.