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Nov. 2,2007; The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher

Focus Text: Matthew 21.45-46

“Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” (Matthew 21.45-46).

It is a clear fact that Jesus could read the thoughts and innermost secrets of men’s hearts if He chose to do so. Sometimes people silently thought things around Him and He miraculously “intercepted” their thoughts and revealed them unto them (see Matthew 9.24; 12.25; Luke 6.8). I bring this fact up as background for discussing the focus verses. Did Jesus know the hearts of the men who were confronting Him? The answer to this question is undeniably, “Yes!” Whether He knew their thoughts miraculously or by ordinary human senses is a moot point; He knew them. Yet, in spite of knowing their spiritual conditions, He took the time to tell the two parables that resulted from His confrontation with them. Maybe it was because there was one or more among them for which there was still hope; maybe it was so that He could positively influence His followers that surrounded Him at that time. Whatever the case, He took the time, expended the energy, and endangered Himself even further than before – all for the purpose of teaching!

The focus text reveals an interesting effect that He had on the temple leaders and the common people. The chief priests and Pharisees sought to “lay hands on Him.” Stated another way, it was their intention to seize Him or arrest Him; the Revised Standard Version makes their intentions clear with the rendering, “But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.” So while the spiritually elite of the day fomented hatred for Him, the average man took Him to be a prophet. The deep divide that existed between the reaction of the spiritual leaders and the common man is somewhat typical of the effects that truth has on the hearts of men and women. The differing results that truth has is not caused by a difference in truth; it is caused by a difference in the hearer’s heart!

In spite of results, Jesus continued to preach and teach the truth. From the standpoint of results, He knew that His ability to change any person’s heart was totally dependent upon the willingness of that individual to change his/her own heart; yet, He kept on preaching! Unlike some of the prophets before Him (e.g. Elijah and Jonah), He never showed the slightest bit or discouragement, or indicated an inclination of giving up; His mind was totally focused on the objective of pleasing the Father. Within these facts there is a great lesson for us. Here it is: Our success or failure as a teacher is not measured by the results that we have on our audiences. Rather, our success or failure in such matters is measured by how fully we please God in presenting the gospel to our hearers. We can take heart in the fact that Jesus, the greatest Teacher ever to live, could not be successful in every case, that is, if success be defined by counting the noses of those who were converted as compared to those who were not!

What is our motive in teaching others? Is it driven by a carnal definition of success? If so, we will needlessly suffer mentally and emotionally as a result. Our motives in teaching must be aligned with the Master Teacher, i.e. with a view toward pleasing God and God alone!

Questions:

1. What could Jesus have done or said to convert the chief priests and Pharisees in the focus text?

2. Why was He unable to convert them? Was this due to some failure on His part? Why or why not?

3. How is success defined for a gospel teacher/preacher? (see Galatians 1.10)?

4. If we are to avoid discouragement as a teacher of truth, list some things that are absolutely essential to achieve that end. God gives the increase; what is our role (see 1 Corinthians 3.6)?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One