Mark 6:34: “Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”
The very act of Yeshua teaching the crowds is listed as an act of compassion. Like a flock of sheep who wander around aimlessly and need direction, Yeshua saw the desperate need in the community and compassionately taught them the things of God.
Teaching people the right ways according to God’s revealed word is an honor and a great responsibility.
James 3:1 – Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
This is based on the principle that Yeshua taught:
Luke 12:48 – “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
Regardless of this important caution, this should not dissuade anyone from compassionately sharing what they have learned with others. We are all growing and moving toward greater and greater truth, and we should always be willing to demonstrate to others what we know and have experienced.
1 Peter 3:15-16 – …in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…
This indicates that our sharing should be coming from a place of compassionately wanting others to understand more about God‘s purpose and plan, rather than just trying to win arguments about doctrinal minutia.
Bringing people to an understanding of the nature of who God is and what he desires for his people should lead them to a place where God himself teaches and instructs them, and they can then be motivated directly from the heart.
This should be the goal of every teacher of the word: to put themselves out of a job when a follower of Yeshua matures to learn directly from God. However, in another sense, the work is never done, as they should continually reach out to keep the process moving forward with the others who are just beginning to learn the truth about God.
This is our goal and our mission in life, whether we are formally a teacher or not. All believers should desire others to come to the closer knowledge of the truth of God and closer in relationship with him.
Matthew 5:19: “Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. “
Our goal should be to bring all people to the place of being able to discern God’s voice. Then will be fulfilled the purpose and plan of God from eternity past.
Hebrews 8:11: “They will not teach every man his fellow citizen,
and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest.”1 John 2:27: “As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.”
If you enjoy these daily blog posts, be sure to visit the growing archive of the Core of the Bible podcast. Each week we take a more in-depth look at one of the various topics presented in the daily blog. You can view the podcast archive at https://core-of-the-bible.simplecast.com/ or your favorite podcast streaming service. Questions or comments? Feel free to email me directly at coreofthebible@gmail.com.
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