Originally posted: 04/21/2019
“Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 Tell us then, what do You think?…” (22:16-17).
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, but not in answer to His invitation. Desperate to see Him and His influence removed, these religious leaders came to test Him in an attempt to trap Him; in hopes the authorities would do what they themselves had thus far been unable to do: rid themselves of the Truthful Teacher Who had been disrupting their way of life.
And while they thought they were testing Jesus, they in fact were the ones being tested. Consider the Truthful Teacher’s explanation to His disciples when asked why He spoke in parables:
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear,” (Matthew 13:10-16).
Consider Him, the Truthful Teacher
- The Truthful Teacher often speaks in parables.
- Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying… (22:1).
- The Truthful Teacher unveils the future.
- “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son… 14 For many are called, but few are chosen,” (22:2-14).
- The Truthful Teacher perceives and identifies all that is within the heart of man.
- But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?” (22:18).
- But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God,” (22:29).
- The Truthful Teacher discloses His great commandment.
- “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets,” (22:36-40).
- The Truthful Teacher silences His critics.
- But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees… (22:34).
- No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question, (22:46).
How do we respond to Him, the Truthful Teacher?
- As His disciples, we have the unmatched privilege to approach the Truthful Teacher with our questions and concerns. Let us take full opportunity of His amazing gift and go to Him daily with gratitude and insatiable hunger to know Him more, convinced He is faithful to do what He has promised.
- “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance;” (Matthew 13:12).
- Our Truthful Teacher has revealed the definitive future of all mankind. Have we accepted His invitation to come to the marriage feast of the King’s Son? The invitation is extended to all, but only those dressed in proper attire may come in; those dressed in the washed robes made righteous by the blood of the Lamb.
- and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— (Colossians 3:10).
- Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14…And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” (Revelation 7:13-14).
- It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, (Revelation 19:8).
- We cannot hide from the Truthful Teacher; He knows our hearts. There is coming a day we will all give an account. Let us come to His powerful Word daily, willing to be examined, laid bare, and receive His correction.
- For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer, (Hebrews 4:12-13).
- The Truthful Teacher has clearly disclosed His great commandment. Let us ask Him to test our love for Him; a love we only have because He loved us first. A closer look at how we love others will reveal the true measure of our love for Him.
- “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” (John 13:35).
- We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also, (1 John 4:19-21).
- “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” (John 13:35).
- There is coming a day when all will swear allegiance to the Truthful Teacher and all rebellious objections will be silenced. Let us use our voices of faith to answer His invitation of grace and call upon Him while He may be found.
- “I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.’
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame,” (Isaiah 45:23-24). - Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon, (Isaiah 55:6-7).
- “I have sworn by Myself,
If you have questions about your relationship with Jesus Christ, please do not let another day pass. You can have His absolute assurance of salvation today.
…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation, (Romans 10:9-10).
If you would like to discuss this further, you can email me at plantingplace@gmail.com.
Lord Jesus, we thank You for making the way for us to come to the Father.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of faith, that we may live with You forever.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You alone are the Truthful Teacher and You alone are the way to Eternal Life. We thank You for making the way for us to bow our knee and confess You as Lord, that You would be exalted in our lives!
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, (Philippians 2:10-11).