Lesson 10: His Teaching (1)

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Until now we have taken a chronological approach to the life of Jesus. For the next several lessons, we will take more of a topical approach, analyzing his teaching, miracles, and some major events. Near the end of our study, we will go back to a chronological approach as we study the Lord’s last days on earth.

JOHN 7:46

1. Just a few months before his death, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, “went up into the temple and began teaching” (John 7:14). The content of this teaching is not revealed.
2. John records the response of the crowd: “The Jews therefore marveled, saying, ‘How is it that his man has learning, when he has never studied?’” (15).
   1. They can’t figure out how Jesus has come to know so much since he had not been formally trained. Many seemed to know that Jesus had been raised as a carpenter (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). He had not been to rabbinical school.
   2. Jesus answered their question, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me” (John 7:16).
3. Their amazement at his teaching led to speculation about his identity (25-27). Some asked, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” (31).
4. When the Pharisees heard the chatter, they wanted to put a stop to it, so they marshaled a unit of officers to arrest Jesus (32). But before they apprehended him, they listened to him: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…” (37).
5. The discussion among the people continued, with some claiming that Jesus was “the prophet” (40; cf. Deut. 18:15-19), and others, “the Christ” (41). There was no consensus, only division (43).
6. The empty-handed officers return to face the anger of their bosses (45). Their explanation of their failure to bring Jesus was, “No one ever spoke like this man” (46).

MATTHEW 7:28-29; MARK 1:22; LUKE 4:32

1. Matthew 7:28 reveals the impact of the Sermon on the Mount. “When Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching…”
2. Verse 29 states the reason for such astonishment. “…for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”
   1. The scribes and Pharisees in the days of Jesus took pride in lining up behind their favorite rabbis. Their teaching of the Law was saturated in quotations from other teachers.
   2. To depart from the established orthodoxy of the past was practically unheard of.
      18. Josephus wrote of the Pharisees, “They also pay a respect to such as are in years; nor are they so bold as to contradict them in anything which they have introduced” (Antiquities of the Jews 18.1.3).
      19. In other words, they felt that it was not their place (or anyone else’s) to contradict the conclusions of their mentors.
   3. So, when Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you” (Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39, 43-44), it blew their minds.
3. What was it about the Lord’s teaching that blew people away? I believe it included both his content and methodology. We will explore both in coming lessons.