July-September
Throughout the Bible, there are many instances in which we can see Jesus Christ teaching multitudes, families, and disciples. Some of the most well-known examples of Jesus’ teaching are found in the Sermon on the Mount. The four Gospels are full of Christ’s teachings, but it can feel difficult to relate them to ourselves in our present day. How can Jesus teach you nowadays? How can He be my teacher today when all His teachings are so many years old?
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) explains, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” According to historical and cultural context, human nature, and the principle of biblical interpretation, Jesus’ teachings are just as relevant and applicable today as when they were first given.
Although the Jewish (and worldwide) culture during the time of Jesus was vastly different from today, His teachings still apply because they transcend culture and time periods. Jesus created every human heart from the beginning of time, and His messages were tailored for the human heart. The core identity of humanity has never changed—no matter how many ages have passed. There is something fundamentally the same about humans in every generation. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Let us take, for example, the teaching Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount as an example of how His teachings transcend time and differences. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). People were spread over the hill and down the valley to hear Him—thousands of them. That was probably the first time certain people in starkly different classes came together and stayed together for hours. Gladiators standing by Jews dressed in sackcloth, standing by religious separatists, standing by women and children, standing by apostatized Jews (tax collectors) etc. . . . You get the picture. Enemies—together—listening to Jesus. His teaching not only transcends time periods, but also any differences between people. His teaching was love; that the kingdom of God has an infrastructure of selflessness. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, WEB). Thus, the teachings of Jesus apply to every generation and culture because the human heart remains fundamentally the same no matter how much time passes.
Some may make the objection: “The Bible was written thousands of years ago by random men. It’s not inspired by God.” Yes, it may be strange to imagine several bearded men wearing togas being the authors of the Bible. However, those several men (many of whom lived in different generations) are not the authors of the Bible. They simply wrote what was being put within their understanding by the Holy Spirit. How does one know if it’s the Holy Spirit who truly inspired these writers? As previously mentioned, among the writers of the Bible were many people who had never met! Yet miraculously, all their writings synchronize and connect effortlessly—even while centuries lay between some of the writings. Take the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Psalms for example; the symbols and proclaimed prophecies all perfectly describe and attach to the later recorded events that took place (in fact, hundreds of years later). The Bible is composed of thousands of witnesses with their written biographies and records testifying of Jesus. Not one of them produces a contradicting narrative. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The teachings of Scripture all align and support each other with amazing accuracy. This is not to say that there aren’t mysteries in the Bible. Deep questions often arise, showing the traces of a divine mind. These examples are not a product of mere human thought. The Holy Spirit is the source. God is the author. “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3, ESV).
In continuation, one cannot interpret the Bible without using the biblical principle of interpretation. It is true that there are nearly a thousand translations of the entire Bible and interpretations. But do you think that a caring, conscientious God would give people His words as a guide and not give them a principle by which to understand how they apply? The ultimate sign of the Bible’s divine origin is the fact that it is its own interpreter. Can you imagine God communicating something and leaving it to humans to explain? That would be so confusing! Of course, we need to reason through our study of the Bible because we are slow to understand, but the Spirit of God opens things to our understanding. If at one spot one may have a burning question, some other area of the Bible will explain the answer. The Bible is its own interpreter and thus shows it is divinely inspired by God. “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV).
Lastly, it is important to consider what God has been trying to teach you personally. What has He been trying to reveal to you? What kind of events have shaped you, and guided you to the place where you now are? Whether you have ever tried speaking to God, or even tested His existence, the Bible actually encourages you to do so. “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7, ESV). God isn’t just a teacher of the past. He is here now, and is using everything to bring you face to face with His passionate love. He is wooing and alluring the hearts of all men, just as He naturally did when His sandals touched the earth. He wants to be more than just your teacher. He wants to be the lover of your soul, if you will let Him. When studied in its historical and cultural context, and also using the biblical principle of interpretation, the teachings of Jesus stand in astonishing relevance for our lives. His words are applicable today. Christ wants to be your teacher as much as He desires to be mine. May we all accept Him into our lives as the psalmist David wrote, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalm 31:5).