MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
For several weeks, we’ve looked at the teachings of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Last week’s article focused on parables and metaphors. Today, as we consider some of His other methods of teaching, I want to acknowledge Everett F Harrison for his writings on the subject. Most of the scriptures here will come from the Book of Matthew, and I encourage you to look up references for verses that are not printed.
• Proverbs: As in the Old Testament book of the same name, they express a simple truth based on common experience or observation. Examples include, “‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’” (Matthew 6:21); also Matthew 12:33 or Matthew 15:14 or Matthew 7:1.
• Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement to drive home a point. Two memorable examples are found in Matthew 7:3-5 about a speck in a brother’s eye - and in Matthew 19:23-26 regarding a camel entering the eye of a needle. The point of His second hyperbole is that “‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
• Axiom or epigram - sayings that express guidance and rules for living are found in Matthew 22:21, “‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.’” Also in the well-known version of the Golden Rule that Jesus spoke, found in Matthew 7:12.
• Paradox was frequently used by Jesus. “‘Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it’” (Matthew 16:25). And “‘The last shall be first, and the first last’” (Matthew 20:16).
• Debate or argument is a well-developed approach which creates a problem of logic, and which Jesus employed masterfully. Matthew 21:23-27 is an example, when He talked with chief priests and elders, who ended up admitting, “‘We do not know.’” Similarly, He met with Sadducees who contrived a story of a woman married successively to seven brothers, in order to try to trap Jesus on the issue of resurrection (Matthew 22:31-33). The multitudes, when they heard His argument, “were astonished at His teaching”. Another debate was with Pharisees after He’d put the Sadducees to silence (Matthew 22:34-45). The passage concludes with the words, “And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question” (Matthew 22:46).
• A method which may not be familiar is an a fortiori statement, based on a stronger or widely accepted previous argument. Jesus demonstrated this in Matthew 7:9-11. ‘“What man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!’”
• Repetition was another effective way of teaching. In the Beatitudes (Matthew chapter 5), Jesus used “blessed” after “blessed” to build hope. His message culminated with, “‘Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you’” (Matthew 5:12).
• Contrast was used numerous times in Matthew chapter 5: “‘You have heard that the ancients were told...’” and then, “‘But I say to you...’”. Two chapters later, Jesus talked of two foundations, one laid by a wise man and one by a foolish man, and what happened when rains and winds came to beat against the houses (Matthew 7:24-27).
• The use of poetry creates memorable, effective passages such as Matthew 7:7. “‘Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.’” His teaching provides masterful literature, but beyond that, it communicates significant content in a way that drives home truth, and etches word pictures in our memories.
All of the above methods illustrate that Jesus was a master teacher. But more important was the “why” of His teaching. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “‘the Son of Man came to teach.’” Rather, “‘the Son of Man came ... to give His life a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45). The purpose of His instruction was to bring news of Himself.
He granted forgiveness by His words, as to the paralytic in Mark chapter 2, the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 7, and on the cross, when He uttered, “‘Father, forgive them...’” (Luke 23:34). However, His words find their effectiveness only in the fact that He died for our sins. And conversely, the meaning of the cross would be hard to understand without His teaching. The Holy Spirit continues to teach the church, and His communication always agrees with the instruction of Jesus. Jesus told the disciples, “‘the Helper, the Holy Spirit ... will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you’” (John 14:26).
The words of Jesus are filled with destiny, His and our own, and they hold both death and life. More than speaking for God, He carries out the will of God and delivers the redemption which all of scripture foretold. His teachings are a message, demonstrated and fulfilled.
