Some Favorite Scriptures on Teaching

Lessons on Teaching
by Tammie Friberg

You might say that everyone is a teacher in some regard as others watch what we do and what we say, how we handle difficult situations, how we spend our time and money, as well as what we truly value. The Apostle Paul takes note of this kind of teaching when he wrote his friend Timothy saying, "You have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me..." (2 Tim. 3:10-11, HCSB). Note that Paul not only taught by his words, but by how he conducted his life even in the midst of suffering and persecution.
Below I have included some of my favorite Scriptures about teaching in the Bible. I find these intriguing. See if you can guess who is speaking or who it is about, and the setting of the following Scriptures. Answers follow this section below.

Scriptures:
1. "Let my teaching fall like rain and my word settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender plants. For I will proclaim the LORD's name, Declare the greatness of our God! The Rock--His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true."

2.The Scriptures say of him, "...The gracious hand of his God was upon him, because _______ had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel."

3. I love this one, "...Look! the men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people."

4. Many Scriptures contain phrases such as, "__________ went about teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom..."; " __________ went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom." "Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news..." ; etc.

5. "...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..."

6. "These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men."

7. "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

8. "He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat."

9. "He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making His way to Jerusalem."

10. "They must teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean."

11. "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith."
12. "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?..Again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you"

13. "Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather."

14. "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord, and see how they're doing."

15. "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths."

16. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature--for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil."

Answers:
1. (Deut. 32:2-4 HCSB). What beautiful words, and spoken by a true teacher. Can you guess who said it? This person was about to die and was trying to leave the teachings of the LORD in the hands of the people. But, the people had been rebelling and even with this person's leadership, it was hard to see if they would continue listening to God's ways when he was no longer with them. It was Moses who said these words to the people of Israel the same day the LORD told him to go to Mt. Nebo where he would die. Moses' carried a burden for the people of God. He said these words because he wanted them to remember the things God had taught them, to nourish themselves on them, and to teach their children these things so that their devotion would remain with the Lord. He experienced the burden of teachers...to establish the people theologically and obediently so that they would be strong enough to withstand temptations through the discipline of daily spiritual nourishment.

2. (Ezra 7:9-10--HCSB) This passage of Scripture is describing Ezra. It was Ezra who led the people of God back to the Promise Land after exile (sometimes called, the Second Exodus). He had the same teaching heart as Moses in the first Exodus. God's gracious had was with him! Great leaders were those who stood before their people and taught them God's ways.

3. (Acts 5:25-HCSB). This took place when Peter and the apostles had been put in jail and an angel had released, instructing them to go teach in the temple again. After being arrested again for teaching in the temple, they said to the Sanhedrin, "We must obey God rather than man."

4. (Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35;Acts 5:42- HCSB). These are a few of the Scriptures describing a traveling type of teaching ministry. Note that Jesus and the early apostles were dedicated to this traveling type of teaching ministry.

5. (Matt. 28:20- HCSB). The last phrase of the Great Commission. It is the one most commonly left out in the practice of modern day missions. Our job is not finished with witnessing, it includes teaching as well.

6. (Mark 7:6-7; Isaiah 29:13--HCSB). Jesus and Isaiah both quoted these words of God. We must never forget that the tendency to replace God's teachings and mandates with men's is true through the days of the Bible. We are not exempt from the same mistake today.

7. (2 Tim. 2:2--HCSB). Paul encouraged Timothy with these words. Teaching is a stewardship. This passage has become one of the central purpose statements in discipleship ministries such as the Navigators.

8. (Luke 5:3-4-HCSB--the great fish catch, the call of the first disciples). God brought teaching opportunities to Jesus. God will bring opportunities to us to teach in unlikely places also.

9. (Luke 13:22-HCSB). It is interesting Jesus was teaching everywhere He went and also pressing toward his own death.

10. (Ezekiel 44:23--HCSB). This is the Lord's charge to the priests. Is it not part of the job of teachers also to teach discernment?

11. (1 Tim. 1:5--HCSB--Paul, in a discussion against false teachers and false doctrine).

12. (Gal. 4:16, 19--HCSB). Paul was speaking to the Galatians, whom he had reproved greatly. The "theory" that people should always, "feel good" after we have taught them is indicative that our culture has a problem with honesty and pride.

13. (Matt. 24:28--HCSB) Jesus was teaching on the popularity of false prophets, i.e. the carcasses. Some people believe the greatest teachers are those with large crowds. But this may not be true.

14. (Acts 15:35-36-HCSB). This was right before Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement and split ways. Paul and Barnabas establishing a ministry going from one place to another strengthening the churches and checking on them from time to time.

15. (2 Tim. 4:3-4--HCSB) Paul describes well the crowd mentality to choose teachers or pastors that do not challenge the status quo. Note his exhortation following in verses 5-6a, "But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelists, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering..." We must remain true to what the Lord has taught us in His Word and fulfill our teaching ministry, even though we might ourselves consider our work to be poured out on the ground to no avail. Yet to God it is our offering!

16. (Hebrews 5:12-14). Paul is addressing the problem of immaturity in the church. It is interesting that he describes those who have trained their senses (plural) to discern right and wrong, as those who have moved into maturity. Mature believers have to some degree, paid attention to their spiritual eyes, ears, touch, smell, and taste in regards to various teachings, and activities. Those who are mature must be careful who they teach the more mature lessons to in the body of Christ. Meat is not appropriate for babes.

Remember that we are all teachers every minute of every day. May the Lord be honored in your life and bless your teaching with much fruit in the lives of those in your care.