Jesus was the greatest human teacher to ever live because his knowledge was beyond what any human could possibly attain. Believers have much that we can learn from him as we seek to effectively communicate the Word of God. One of the most important aspects of being a good teacher is simply being known as a teacher by others.
| Matt 8:19
19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
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Matt 9:11
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” |
Matt 12:38
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
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Matt 19:16
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
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| Matthew 22:16 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. |
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If people consider us as people who have an accurate knowledge of God’s Word, they will view us as a dependable source for biblical insights. Unbelievers can prove to be very curious about the Bible. Even an atheist may have many questions they want to be answered.
Another important aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry was his love for people. He considered his listeners when he taught. He spoke to them in a way that the message would get into their hearts, the place that motivates people. He skillfully used illustrations and questions and engaged people of any age.
Why Was Jesus an Effective Teacher?
Recall from the Gospel of John the Jewish religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus’ effectiveness with people. So much so, they conspired to arrest him because some people exclaimed, “This really is the Prophet.”41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” (John 7:40-41) However, what happened when the Temple officers were sent out to arrest Jesus?
John 7:45-46 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
The Jewish religious leaders taught by quoting other highly-esteemed Jewish leaders of the past and their present. They also quoted oral traditions from ancient rabbis, using them as their authority. Meanwhile, Jesus taught them with God’s authority: “What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” John 12:50
Jesus Kept Things Simple
Matthew 6:25-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Jesus Used Unassailable Logic
Matthew 7:24-27 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Jesus Used Meaningful Illustrations
Matthew 7:3-5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Jesus Used Object Lessons
John 13:2-16 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Jesus Used Scripture
Jesus quoted from the Hebrew Old Testament over 120 times, and from over 20 of the 39 books. When asked which commandment was the greatest, he summed it up this way, as he quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18,
Matthew 22:37-40 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus Set the Example
In John chapter 13, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet because they showed a haughty spirit. When he said he set the example for them by washing their feet, it was not to show we must literally wash other peoples’ feet, but we must demonstrate a humble walk with God.
John 13:14-15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Jesus Had Empathy for Our Human Imperfection
Jesus knew the disciples’ imperfections. John tells us that Jesus, “he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:25) Of course, Jesus was divine, and possessed foreknowledge, but he knew humanity: the way we think, the way we feel, what we believe, our urges, and desires. Therefore, believers also will become effective at grasping what is in those to whom we evangelize.
Matthew 12:25 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
Luke 6:8 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there.
John 1:48 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
John 4:18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
John 6:61 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?
Jesus Had Understanding
Matthew 13:10-23 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’”
16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
John 16:4, 12 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
| Mark 9:35
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” |
Mark 10:43-44
43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. |
When Jesus spoke, he treated his listeners with deep respect and understanding, making allowances for their imperfection. He never gave them more than they could handle. When believers engage someone in a conversation about the Bible, do not talk too fast. Do not use religious terminology without defining it. Do not overwhelm the listener with too much information. View them as an equal because they very well could be a future brother or sister in Christ. Keep it simple by using illustrations to make the point. We want people to listen to us and to think, leaving a deep issue to ponder until we speak with them again.
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REVIEW QUESTION:
Why was Jesus an effective teacher? |
| Reasoning From The Scriptures: Using several Scriptures, effectively communicate why _________ is not biblical or is biblical. The director or assistant direct will assign a subject.[1] |
[1] The Evangelism Program Director or Assistant Director will select the topic.
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