The Command of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The record of the four gospels is that the Lord Jesus Christ was continually teaching and preaching everywhere he went. This is so pervasive in the four gospels that it would be impossible to reasonably suggest otherwise. Matthew twice mentions this in a summary form as what Jesus did, along with the healing of sickness and disease, as he traveled around the countryside (Matthew 4:23, 9:35). We know that his teaching was not only done within the formal setting of the synagogues, but also in the temple courtyard, in the public markets, in private homes, on the mountainside, and on the sea shore; at public feast days, at feasts an at private dinners. In short, everywhere he went.
The ways in which Jesus communicated are varied. At times, he addressed large crowds in a monolog – at least, we have no record of any interaction with his listeners at these times. At other times, we have record of much interaction with the crowd, or portions of the crowd, and we learn much from these exchanges. The fact that some of these exchanges were negative in tone does not take away from the fact that the exchange itself was part of the method of teaching.
The same is true of his teaching of those who believed in Him and were closest to Him. Some teaching is recorded as a monolog while at other times the teaching is intense with exchange of ideas…questions and answers flying back and forth. And these interchanges show a willingness on the part of Jesus to address the many questions, doubts, and lack of understanding on the part of the disciples. He was available and open to questions. In fact, it is through these questions and answers that we have some of the most penetrating insight into reality and the mind of God.
It is fascinating to me that it is through Jesus’ answers to the questions of the disciples in Matthew 13 that we today are able to understand the true meaning behind the parables. If the questions had not been asked, would we be able to discern the meaning of the parables today? I wonder if we understand the value of the preservation of the New Testament writings.
I used to think that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things simple and easy to understand. But such is not the case. The parables were used to hide things from people…from those who were dull of hearing and whose hearts were closed (Matthew 13:11-17). And the disciples didn’t understand either! But…they were able to ask questions of the source of all wisdom, and they had the distinct privilege of having answers revealed to them. Such is the privilege of those who abide in Him.
The questions in John 13 and 14 received both answers and gentle rebukes. But the fact is that Jesus could be approached and questioned. This is a great comfort.
Hughes Oliphant Old, in his book “The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church”, says this in his discussion of Jesus’ teaching in the temple in Mark 11 and 12:
“Another significant element in this series of sermons is dialogue. Various people brought questions to Jesus, and Jesus gave them answers. We in our day do not associate this sort of dialogue with preaching. In fact, in our day even teaching, with its formal lectures, is often far removed from dialogue. This does not seem to be the case with many of the sermons reported to us in both Old Testament and New Testament. The daily teaching of Jesus in the Temple as it is reported in all four Gospels obviously allowed for questions. How this was done we hesitate to say. Were the listeners allowed or even expected to ask questions after the preaching of a formal sermon, or were they given that liberty during the course of the sermon?
However these questions fit into the teaching and preaching ministry of Jesus, it is clear that Jesus was glad to take up the topics of the day and discuss them….” (Page 121)
Old goes on to discuss the topics Jesus addressed during his teaching in the temple recorded in Mark 11 and 12. They included paying taxes to Caesar (asked by the Pharisees and Herodians), whether or not the dead are raised to eternal life (asked by the Sadducees), and a cardinal question on how the scriptures were to be interpreted – what does the Scripture all boil down to? (asked by a scribe). Old points out that in addressing these questions, Jesus shows considerable skill in steering clear of embroilment in mundane concerns – he wasn’t a current events preacher, waving a newspaper in his hand. At the same time, he was most willing to engage in the furnace of theological controversy of his day, giving clear and precise answers which decided against the Sadducees and for the Pharisees (in the question about the resurrection). He did not hold himself aloof from the theological discussion within the temple precincts but engaged in interpreting the Scriptures by giving a very clear answer to the scribe.
This informs me of the need to engage people’s questions and doubts, the need to engage the theological questions of the time. In this we are at a distinct disadvantage, the need for applying the scriptures to the real life issues we face today. The gospels also record that Jesus, being the Son of God, saw into the hearts of the men that he was interacting with. That faculty sets Him apart from all other men, even those filled with and inspired so strongly by the Holy Spirit. And that enabled him to penetrate to the root of matters quickly and incisively. No other “teacher” has ever had that ability or advantage. However, Jesus commanded his disciples to teach the nations, and He sent the Holy Spirit to enable them.
Jesus was focused on teaching and preaching the Word. And Matthew records that before he ascended, Jesus gathered the eleven together and gave them the same charge (Matthew 28:18-20):
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Thus, we need to take up this charge of teaching in humility, trusting that Jesus will be with us always, keeping focused on what Jesus commanded us to do.
I have touched on the concept of including dialogue and questions in the teaching and preaching of the Word. I acknowledge that this is challenging in today’s paradigms and needs much further study. I intend to develop the thought in further studies.
Have you ever been in a church assembly in which there was interaction with the teaching…opportunity for others to add something? I have been and found it a real blessing. In fact, I would have to say that the parts (the initial teaching, the additions and clarifications of others, and the penetrating questions and their answers) all combined to make whole greater than the sum of the individual parts.
