Preach and Teach God’s Word

BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS OF PREACH AND TEACH

Preach: to herald, to make proclamation, proclaim, announce publicly, publish an announcement

“Simply regards to making known, without any reference to the contents,

and not including the idea of teaching.”

Teach: to give instruction or direction, to train

English, Greek and Aramaic words for Preach, Teach, Preacher, Teacher, and Apt to teach:

English	Greek	Aramaic
PREACH	Kerussō: To herald, proclaim, announce	Keraz: Proclaim, declare, announce
TEACH	Didaskō: To give instruction or direction	Yileph: Train, instruct
PREACHER	Kerux: One who proclaims or announces	Karuza: proclaimer
TEACHER	Didaskalos: One who gives continuous instruction	Malpana: Able to teach; adept at teaching
APT TO TEACH	Didakitos: Skilled in teaching I Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24	Malpana: Able to teach; adept at teaching

To preach and to teach are used frequently together in the Scriptures. Both are done in the moving of God’s Word, and often they are done together:

MGI Matthew 11:1 And it happened that when Jesus completed directing the twelve disciples, he went away from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

MGI Acts 5:42 And they did not cease to teach every day in the temple and at home and to preach about our Lord Jesus Christ.

MGI Acts 20:20 And I did not avoid what was profitable for your lives to preach to you and teach in the streets and in houses,

MGI Colossians 1:28 [It is] him we preach and teach and make known to every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man mature in Jesus Christ.

MGI Acts 15:35 Now Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and were teaching and preaching the word of God with many others.

MGI Acts 28:31 And he was preaching about the kingdom of God and teaching boldly about our Lord Jesus Christ without hindrance.

To preach and to teach are used together in the Scriptures along with healing.

MGI Matthew 9:35 And Jesus journeyed into all the cities and into the villages and was teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all their diseases and all their pains

MGI Matthew 4:23 And Jesus traveled around in all Galilee and taught in their synagogues and preached the gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease and sickness among the people.

God’s Word declares that our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles of the first century, and many believers both preached and taught the Word of God. It also tells us that the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was all about preaching, and teaching, and healing. Both the proclaiming of the gospel and the instruction in the Scriptures involve utilizing the power of God.

In the use of language, at times, a word may become “predefined” by what we have heard of the word or its use in a particular way. “Preach” may be one of those words. We have heard the saying “Don’t preach to me.” Some feel that to preach is to “convince men to change their way of thinking to your way of thinking.” Preach can have a negative connotation to some. However, the proper definition from God’s Word of preach is simply to announce, or to declare.

A preacher is one who announces or declares. By definition, the news anchor on the 6 o’clock news is a preacher. He or she is someone who announces the news.

MGI Luke 8:39 "Return to your house and report what God has done for you." And he went and was preaching in the whole city what Jesus had done for him.

This man, after he was healed by Jesus, went into the city and announced to the whole place what Jesus had done for him! He was announcing the news: I am healed.

Fortunately, we have the good news (the gospel of Jesus Christ) to announce! We will look at the Scriptures to see how God’s Word defines what it is to preach, how to preach, and who is to preach. We will also look to see how God’s Word defines what it is to teach, how to teach, and who is to teach.

PREACH THE GOSPEL

What is preaching? It is to announce and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

MGI Acts 8:4 And those who were scattered, traveled around and preached the word of God.

To proclaim the Word of God

MGI Acts 8:5 Now Philip went down to a city of the Samaritans and was preaching to them about Christ.

To proclaim Christ.

MGI Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth and from this same scripture began to preach to him about our Lord Jesus.

To proclaim the Lord Jesus.

MGI Acts 9:20 And immediately, he was preaching in the synagogues of the Judeans about Jesus, that he was the Son of God.

To proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God

MGI Acts 26:20 but I preached from the first to those of Damascus and to those who were in Jerusalem and in all the villages of Judea and also to the Gentiles. I preached that they should repent and should turn back to God and should perform works that are suitable to repentance.

To proclaim repentance

MGI Acts 28:31 And he was preaching about the kingdom of God and teaching boldly about our Lord Jesus Christ without hindrance.

To proclaim the kingdom of God

MGI Romans 10:8 BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY? THE ANSWER IS NEAR TO YOU, TO YOUR MOUTH AND TO YOUR HEART, WHICH IS THE WORD OF FAITH THAT WE PREACH.

To proclaim “The Word of Faith” (which is Romans 10: 9,10- how to get born again)

MGI Ephesians 6:19 [and] also for me, that the word may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, that I would boldly preach the mystery of the gospel,

To proclaim the mystery of the gospel (the One Body of Christ)

MGI Philippians 1:18 And in this I rejoiced and am rejoicing, that in every way, whether in pretext or with truthfulness, Christ is preached.

To proclaim Christ

MGI 1 John 1:5 And this is the gospel that we heard from him and we preach to you, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.

To proclaim the good news that God is light

As defined, to preach is to announce, to declare. In the moving of God’s Word, we are to announce and to declare the Word of God, Christ, the Lord Jesus, repentance, the kingdom of God, the Word of Faith, the Mystery, that God is light, and many other topics. The simplicity of the message is to declare what the gospel says. It is an announcement of the goodness of God. The message is simple; the message is clear; the message is the good news of Christ. It is not an in-depth report. It is not an in-depth instruction; it is the announcement and declaration of the Word of God and of Christ.

Preaching and healing are linked together in the Word of God

MGI Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

To proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick

MGI Acts 4:29-30 

²⁹ And also now, LORD, look and see their threats and allow your servants to boldly preach your word,

³⁰ while you extend your hand for healings and mighty works and signs to be [done] in the name of your holy Son, Jesus."

To boldly proclaim the Word and to heal, and mighty works, and signs to be done.

MGI Acts 8:5-7 

⁵ Now Philip went down to a city of the Samaritans and was preaching to them about Christ.

⁶ And when they heard his word, the men who were there listened to him and were persuaded by all that he said, because they saw the signs that he did.

⁷ For many, who were possessed with unclean spirits, cried out with a loud voice, and they came out of them. And others, paralytics and lame, were healed.

To proclaim Christ, to cast out devils and to heal

MGI Matthew 9:35 And Jesus journeyed into all the cities and into the villages and was teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all their diseases and all their pains

To proclaim the gospel and to heal all

The proclamation of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is closely associated with the demonstration of the power of God. Jesus sent his disciples to preach and to heal. The first recorded prayer of the church asked God for boldness to preach the Word and to heal with mighty works and signs. Philip went to Samaria to proclaim Christ to the people there, and they listened to him because he did exactly what they had prayed to do: preach Christ boldly and demonstrate the power of God. The ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ could be summarized by Matthew 9:35- teach and preach and heal. Healing is not incidental to the proclamation of the gospel; it is integral and essential to the announcement and proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ. To preach is to announce, to proclaim the greatness of the Word of God and of Christ, and, in addition, to demonstrate the power of God.

How to Preach the Word of God

MGI 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach, not with wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

To preach is not to proclaim with the wisdom of words.

It is not from the intellect of men.

MGI 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus our Lord, and [we preach] of ourselves that we are your servants because of Jesus,

To preach is not to proclaim one’s self, or a group, but to proclaim Christ.

MGI 1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not by persuasion of words of wisdom, but by demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

To preach is not to proclaim by persuasion of words of wisdom, but by the demonstration of the spirit and of power, like we read in the others verses about healing.

MGI 1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our preaching to you was not only in words, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with true conviction. Also, you know how we were among you on your account.

To preach is not to proclaim only in words, but also with the power of God.

The proclamation of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not with the wisdom of man; it is not a proclaiming of one’s self, or of one’s church, but it is the announcement of Jesus Christ and the demonstration of the power of God.

MGI Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached in every place and our Lord was helping them and establishing their words by the signs that they were doing.

The believers of the early church went everywhere proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and their words were established by the power of God being utilized. Preaching, or announcing, the gospel, is not to be done only in word, but also in the demonstration of the power of God. This is clear from the Scriptures.

Preaching by the spirit of God

MGI Acts 2:14  Afterward, Simon Peter stood up with the eleven apostles and raised his voice and said to them, "Men, Judeans, and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and listen to my words.

On this day, the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other eleven Apostles had received the gift of holy spirit, and they had spoken in tongues. They were now filled with the spirit of God. Peter is now addressing the group assembled in the temple to announce and to proclaim to them what had just occurred in the outpouring of the spirit upon them.

Peter “raised his voice” and said to them. “Raised his voice” is a figure of speech. He did more than just talk loudly. “Raised his voice” is the figure periphrasis, where a description of something is used instead of the action itself. Without the figure, the Word would have simply stated, “Peter spoke to them, or Peter said to them”. The figure is emphatic. Then he told them to “listen to my words.”

He was beginning to proclaim to them, to preach to them, to announce to them, what had just occurred. He was speaking by the inspiration of God.

MGI Acts 2:22-24 

²² Men, sons of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was shown to you by God with miracles and with signs and with mighty works that God did among you by his hand, as you know,

²³ this [man], who was set apart for this by the foreknowledge and will of God, you delivered into the hands of ungodly [men] and you crucified and you killed.

²⁴ But God raised him and released the cords of Sheol, because it was not possible that he should be held captive in Sheol.

Peter proclaimed to them Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead. This is the first declaration of Jesus Christ in the new church. Peter is declaring, announcing, and proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised him from the dead. Sound familiar? Well, it should: it is THE WORD OF FAITH that we preach; here on the first day, and now, in our day. We preach Christ!

In verses 25-28 Peter quotes David, from the Psalms, concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter knew the Scriptures; Peter had learned the Scriptures; Peter was prepared in the Scriptures. And he was proclaiming Christ to them by the spirit of God, and he knew and understood the Word of God.

MGI Acts 4:8-12 

⁸ Then Simon Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of the house of Israel, hear [me].

⁹ If today we are judged by you concerning the good [thing] that happened to the sick man, by what [means] this [man] was healed,

¹⁰ let this be known to you and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by that same [one], behold, this [man] stands before you whole.

¹¹ This is THE STONE THAT YOU BUILDERS REJECTED AND HE HAS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER.

¹² And there is no deliverance by another man, for there is no other name under heaven that is given to men by which it is possible to have life."

Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit and said unto them…” We already knew that Peter was filled with the spirit. God’s Word told us that in Acts 2:4. The Scriptures are not reminding us that Peter was born again; they are telling us HOW he is going to speak to them about Christ. He was “filled with the Holy Spirit and said...” Peter was speaking by the spirit of God. Peter was preaching not with the words of man’s wisdom, but he was demonstrating the spirit of God. Peter quotes the Scriptures in this proclamation; he knew the Word; he is quoting the Word. He had prepared himself in the Word, and now he is preaching the Word of God by the power of God: exactly what they had prayed for; exactly how men and women are supposed to preach the gospel.

MGI Acts 4:29-33 

²⁹ And also now, LORD, look and see their threats and allow your servants to boldly preach your word,

³⁰ while you extend your hand for healings and mighty works and signs to be [done] in the name of your holy Son, Jesus."

³¹ And after they had prayed and made [this] request, the place in which they were gathered was shaken and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and were boldly speaking the word of God.

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and were boldly speaking the Word of God.” These were believers already; they were not born-again, again. They were filled! They were demonstrating the spirit and the power of God! They were filled and they spoke the Word of God; they preached Christ by the power of God within them. Acts 6:8-10 is very clear.

MGI Acts 6:8-10 

⁸ Now Stephen was full of grace and power and did signs and wonders among the people.

⁹ And men from the synagogue, which was called that of the Libertine, rose up, along with the Cyrenians and Alexandrians and those from Cilicia and from Asia, and they were disputing with Stephen.

¹⁰ And they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Stephen was full of grace and power, and the critics were not able to stand against “the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” How clear and how beautiful is that description of speaking God’s truth. Believers are all filled with the spirit; believers are all filled with grace and power; believers are all able to speak with the wisdom of the spirit of God.

MGI 2 Timothy 2:15 

¹⁵ And you should be diligent to present yourself maturely before God, a worker without shame, who is rightly proclaiming the word of truth.

We are to be diligent, and we should work to rightly proclaim the word of truth.

Who is to preach God’s Word?

MGI Romans 10:14-15 

¹⁴ How then will they call who have not believed in him? Or how will they believe on him whom they have not heard? Or how will they hear without a preacher?

¹⁵ Or how will they preach if they are not sent? As it is written: HOW BEAUTIFUL [ARE] THE FEET OF THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE AND OF THE MESSENGERS OF GOOD [THINGS].

No one can believe on the Lord Jesus before they hear about him. No one can hear about him without a preacher. No one can preach if they are not sent. All believers have been sent. All believers have been sent to preach, so that others can hear about the Lord Jesus Christ.

MGI Acts 16:10 And after Paul had seen this vision, immediately we wanted to leave for Macedonia, because we understood that our Lord had called us to preach to them.

God has called us to preach the gospel to all men. Here, Paul and his fellowship were called to preach the Word in Macedonia.

MGI 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

¹⁷ Everyone who is in Christ is therefore a new creation. Old [things] have passed away

¹⁸ and everything has become new from God, who reconciled us to himself in Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

¹⁹ For God was in Christ, the one who reconciled the world with his majesty and did not count to them their sins. And he placed in us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ and [it is] as if God were begging you by way of us on behalf of Christ. Therefore, we beg [you], "Be reconciled to God."

The Church, the Body of Christ, has been given the ministry of reconciliation. How shall they believe in whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach if they have not been sent? We have been sent; every believer; to preach by the power of God the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation; God has placed in us the word of reconciliation. We learn the Word of God so that we can announce the Word of God and bring others to Christ. We are filled with the spirit, so that we can announce the gospel with the wisdom of the spirit and the power of God.

TEACH THE WORD OF GOD

What is teaching the Word of God? It is to instruct and to train in the Word of God.

MGI 2 Timothy  3:16 

Every writing that was written by the Spirit is profitable for teaching and for reproof and for correction and for instruction that is about uprightness,

Every writing that was written by the Spirit- all Scripture – is profitable for teaching.

MGI Ephesians 6:4 Parents, do not anger your children, but rear them in the instruction and in the teaching of our Lord.

Parents are to give instruction and teaching of the Lord to their children.

MGI Matthew 5:19 Therefore, whoever changes one [jot] of these small commandments (and will teach so to men) will be called little in the kingdom of heaven. But all who will do and teach this [law] will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Teaching is to give instruction in the commandments of God.

MGI Mark 4:2 And he was teaching them in many parables and said in his teaching,

Teaching is to give instruction;

Here Jesus taught them the parable of the sower & the seed.

MGI Acts 16:4 And while they went among the cities, they were preaching and teaching them to be keeping the commandments which the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem had written.

Teaching is to instruct in the commandments of God.

MGI Acts 2:42 And they were steadfast in the teaching of the apostles and were fellowshipping in prayer and in the breaking [of the bread] of communion.

They were steadfast in the instruction and training of the apostles.

MGI Matthew 28:20 And teach them to keep all that I commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world." Amen.

They were to teach, to instruct, in all the things that the Lord had commanded them.

MGI 1 Timothy 4:11 These [things] teach and command.

The things that Timothy had been taught by Paul, he also was to teach and command.

What are we to teach?

We know that all of God’s Word is profitable for teaching: all of it. (2 Timothy 3:16)

There is revelation given directly to the Church which we are to teach and to instruct.

It is the administration of the Mystery, the administration of the Grace of God in which we now live.

MGI Ephesians 3:2-5

² even as you have heard of the administration of the grace of God that was given to me among you,

³ that by revelation the mystery was made known to me (as I have written to you in few [words],

⁴ so that you may be able, while you are reading, to understand my knowledge that is in the mystery of Christ),

⁵ which in other generations was not made known to men, as that which now has been revealed to his holy apostles and to his prophets spiritually,

MGI Colossians 1:25-26

²⁵ of which I am a minister, according to the administration of God that was given to me among you, that I should fully supply the word of God,

²⁶ the mystery that was hidden from ages and from generations, but now is revealed to his holy [ones].

The Apostle Paul received the revelation of the mystery that had been hid in God. It is the administration of the grace of God that he instructed and trained the believers in. He wrote, by revelation, epistles to the various churches revealing this mystery; the new birth; and all of the rights, privileges and abilities of the sons of God.

Paul also wrote epistles to leaders in the Church, regarding instruction on how and what to teach and instruct and train the church in.

MGI 2 Timothy 2:2

And those [things] that you have heard from me by way of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who are able by their hands to teach others also.

Paul told Timothy to entrust that which Timothy had heard from Paul to faithful men, who would be able to teach others. What did Timothy hear from Paul? - That which is revealed in the church epistles. What was Timothy to entrust to faithful men who would be able to teach others? The church epistles. There are also other specific commandments that Timothy was to teach others.

MGI 1 Corinthians 4:17 Because of this, I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the LORD, that he would remind you of my ways that are in Christ, according to what I teach in all the churches.

Paul sent Timothy to this church in order to remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ, and that Timothy would teach them what Paul was teaching in all the churches.

We are to teach what Paul taught, that is, the Word of God addressed to us. That would not exclude teaching others things (all Scripture), but Timothy was instructed to teach that which Paul had taught.

MGI 1 Timothy 4:6 If you teach these [things] to your brothers, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, as you grow up in the words of faith and in the good teaching that you were taught.

MGI 1 Timothy 6:2 And those who have faithful masters should not despise them, because they are their brothers. But rather, they should especially minister to them, because they are believers and beloved, in whose service they are refreshed. These [things] teach and require from them.

MGI Titus 2:2 And teach the elders that they should be watchful in their minds and should be sober and should be pure and should be sound in faith and in love and in patience.

In order to be a good minister, Timothy was to teach the things that Paul had taught. The revelation given to Paul by God was the instruction which was to be taught. To teach is to instruct, to train, to give direction. The teaching which Timothy continued in was the teaching of the Word of God that God gave Paul to teach to all men.

What is not right teaching?

MGI Acts 15:1 And men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, [saying] "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of the law, you are not able to have life."

There were men who were not teaching the right teaching of the Word of God.

MGI 1 Timothy 1:3 I begged you, when I went to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus and to charge each one that they should not teach different doctrines

There were men who were teaching different doctrines that were not according to the teaching from Paul.

MGI Romans 16:17 Now I beg you, my brothers, to beware of those who cause divisions and scandals outside of the teaching that you have learned, that you keep away from them.

The encouragement to the Romans was to stay away from those who were “outside of the teaching that you have learned.” What teaching had they learned? They learned the teaching from Paul, the administration of the grace of God.

MGI 2 Timothy 4:3 for the time will come when they will not hear sound teaching, but according to their desires, they will multiply teachers to themselves in the itching of their hearing

Sound teaching is the teaching of the Word of God; the revelation of the mystery, the revelation of the grace of God- that was given to Paul to teach all men.

MGI Ephesians 4:14 And we should not be babies, who are shaken and blown about by every wind of the deceitful teachings of men, who in their craftiness are plotting to deceive.

There are the deceitful teachings of men. These are not the right teachings of the truth.

MGI Colossians 2:8 Beware, so that no one will rob you by philosophy and by empty deception, according to the teachings of men and according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ,

MGI Colossians 2:22 For these [things] are a custom that is corrupted and are the commands and teachings of men,

The teachings of men are according to the flesh, by philosophy and the world. They are not the commandments of God, in which we are to train and instruct others.

MGI Titus 1:9 and being diligent concerning the teaching of the word of faith, so that he may also be able to encourage by his sound teaching and to reprove those who are quarrelsome.

The best means of combating the wrong teaching is by way of sound teaching. It will be the sound teaching of the Word of God that reproves and corrects those who are not teaching sound doctrine.

MGI Titus 2:1, 2 But you, speak what is suitable to sound teaching.

² And teach the elders that they should be watchful in their minds and should be sober and should be pure and should be sound in faith and in love and in patience.

Sound teaching is at the basis of all right believing of God’s Word. Unless the Word of God is taught soundly, then people may give heed to other doctrines. The teaching of the One Body of Christ, as revealed in the church epistles, is the sound doctrine. Sound teaching is to instruct the believers in the word of truth; it is to train believers in that which is addressed to the church that Paul received by revelation. All scripture is profitable for teaching, and that which is addressed to the church is especially needed for sound doctrine.

How do we teach the Word of God?

MGI 2 Timothy 2:2

And those [things] that you have heard from me by way of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who are able by their hands to teach others also.

A faithful man who is to be able to teach others must first have learned himself. Timothy was instructed to entrust “those things that you have heard of me” to others who would teach also. It is important to understand that those things were the things that Paul had received by revelation from God and that Paul had both taught and had written to the church. The same things are not the same things you have necessarily heard from your teacher; unless your teacher is Paul, i.e., the truth of the Church epistles. No man today qualifies as being Paul. Paul received the revelation from God. If we teach that which Paul taught, then, of course, you would teach the same things also. Timothy had learned directly from Paul. He had been taught by Paul.

MGI 2 Timothy 3:10-15

¹⁰ But you have followed after my teaching and after my ways and after my will and after my faith and after my long-suffering and after my love and after my patience

¹¹ and after my persecution and after my sufferings. And you know those [things] I endured in Antioch and in Iconium and in Lystra, what persecution I endured. And from all of these my Lord delivered me.

¹² Now all those who desire to live in reverence for God in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.

¹³ But evil and deceiving men will add to their evil, while deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴ Now you remain in those [things] that you learned and were assured of, for you know from whom you learned [them],

¹⁵ and that from your youth you were taught the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for life by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Timothy had followed the teaching of Paul. He also knew Paul’s ways in Christ. God instructed Timothy to “remain in those things that you learned and were assured of, for you know from whom you learned them.” The teaching of God’s Word from Paul was the gospel of God, the revelation of the Mystery. Timothy was told to teach those things.

According to the Scriptures, in order to teach others, one must first know the Word of God. He, himself, must have learned what the truth of the Word of God is, and then he will be able to teach the same to others.

MGI Matthew 7:28 And it happened that when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching.

MGI Matthew 7:29 For he was teaching them as [one having] authority and not as their scribes and the Pharisees.

The Lord Jesus Christ taught God’s Word as one having authority. The crowds were amazed at his teaching. We, also, are to teach as one having authority, with boldness and with love.

Ezra 7:10

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

KJV

Ezra was a man of God who had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. He had prepared his heart to do the law of the Lord. He had prepared his heart to teach the law of the Lord. In order to teach that which has been committed unto us, we, also, prepare our hearts to seek the Word of God, to do the Word of God, and to teach the Word of God.

Whether one prepares a teaching ahead of time to teach God’s people, or whether one declares the truths without preparing a specific teaching, that one must have first prepared their heart in the word of truth. They must know the word of truth. They are instructed to teach the word of truth.

We have read of very specific things that we are to teach: the church epistles and other commandments of God. God has directed those who teach to teach what He wants His people to know and to understand- the revelation of the mystery and the sound doctrine of the administration of the grace of God.

MGI Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth and was teaching them and said,

Jesus often taught the Word and truth of God. And “he opened his mouth” is the same figure of speech, periphrasis, that we looked at before. Jesus Christ walked with God and he listened to God. The gospel of Matthew then records three entire chapters of teaching. These teachings include seeking first the kingdom of God of Matthew 6. This teaching was instruction, it was training in the Word of God. This was not just an announcement about the kingdom of God, it was detailed instruction in righteousness.

Jesus knew what to teach from His Father. He ways did the Father’s will. Here, he “opened his mouth”, and he began to teach. God will work in his teachers to know what and how to teach the truth. If one would pray to the Father for guidance about what to teach, and God answered him, then, of course, that would be carrying out the Father’s will. Either way, God directs our steps in teaching as well as in our preaching of His Word.

MGI John 7:16 Jesus answered and said, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me

Jesus Christ always followed God’s instructions. His teaching was not his own, it was His Father’s. He taught what the Father wanted taught. For Jesus, his teaching was instruction about the kingdom of God, of the acceptable year of the Lord, of what he would accomplish for man. Jesus teaching also included that which was to come after he had finished his work.

MGI Luke 24:49

⁴⁹ and I will send to you the promise of my Father. But remain in the city, Jerusalem, until you be clothed with power from on high."

MGI Acts 1:8

⁸ But when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and also among the Samaritans, even to the ends of the earth."

Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ gave his apostles last instructions, last teaching. What he taught them about was the coming of holy spirit, power from on high.

It is power from on high that enables a teacher to teach according to the will and power of God. A teacher must have learned the Word of God; he must have been instructed in the Word of God so as to be able to teach others also, and should walk by the spirit in his teaching of the word of truth.

Who is a teacher?

We have considered some of these truths. A teacher is to be one who is faithful (faithful men who shall be able to teach others.) A teacher is one who knows the sound doctrine, that he may be able to teach others.

MGI 1 Timothy 3:2 Now it is proper for an elder to be one in whom no blemish is found and is the husband of one woman, who [is] of a watchful mind and sober and orderly and loving of strangers and able to teach

The elder is one who is “able to teach.” This means “skilled in teaching.” Someone is skilled in teaching because they have learned the truth and have been faithful. Someone is skilled in teaching because they are led by the spirit of God in their teaching.

MGI 1 Timothy 5:17 Those elders who conduct themselves well should be esteemed worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in the word and in teaching,

Some elders are those who work hard in “the word and in teaching.” Elders are to work hard in the Word- they are to search the Scriptures and grow in the knowledge of God. They are to work hard in teaching- in instructing the believers in the word of truth.

MGI 1 Corinthians 14:26 Therefore, my brothers, I say that when you are gathered, whoever of you has a psalm should speak. And he who has a teaching and he who has a revelation and he who has a tongue and he who has an interpretation, all of them should be for building up.

In the Church, all believers may have a “teaching.” All believers are able to teach; they must first know the Word so that they can teach. All believers may instruct others in the word of truth.

There are ministries in the church that God has given specifically for teaching. Naturally, it is called the ministry of a teacher.

MGI 1 Corinthians 12:28

²⁸ For God set in his church, first apostles, after them, prophets, after them, teachers, after them, workers of miracles, after them, gifts of healing and helpers and leaders and kinds of tongues.

MGI Ephesians 4: 11-12

¹¹ And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and some teachers,

¹² for the maturity of the holy [ones], for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

God has set some in the church specifically as teachers. These are ones who are very, very adept at teaching. They are energized by God to teach. They make plain, clear, and simple the Word of truth for all to understand and apply.

MGI Romans 12:7 and there is [giving] of ministering one has in his ministering, and there is [giving] of a teacher in his teaching,

Those who have the ministry of a teacher are to make every effort to give of their ministry.

MGI 2 Timothy 1:11 of which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul was chosen of God to preach and to teach the Word of God. Paul did exactly that. He preached the truth- he heralded and announced the good news. He taught the word of truth- he gave the instruction in righteousness of the church epistles that he wrote and taught for God.

What is the purpose of teaching?

MGI Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and some teachers,

¹² for the maturity of the holy [ones], for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

One of the purposes of teaching is for the maturity of the holy ones. As the holy ones mature, then they carry out the work of the ministry. As they carry out the work of the ministry, then the body of Christ is built up. Believers are unable to mature if they are not taught God’s Word.

MGI Colossians 1:28

[It is] him we preach and teach and make known to every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man mature in Jesus Christ.

Our preaching and our teaching do have a godly purpose in mind: that we may present every man mature in Christ. After the new birth, then a young believer needs to acquire knowledge of God concerning their authority in Christ as a son of God; their rights and privileges are sons of God; their abilities in the spirit and manifesting power; and many other subjects. This knowledge is acquired both by those who preach, and by those who teach. God’s will is that each believer knows fully who and what they are in Christ; that they would be mature and able to walk in His power and love.

MGI 2 Timothy 3:16-17

¹⁶ Every writing that was written by the Spirit is profitable for teaching and for reproof and for correction and for instruction that is about uprightness,

¹⁷ so that the man of God may be mature and complete for every good work.

All scripture- every writing that was written by the Spirit- is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction. The purpose of this instruction? SO THAT –the man of God may be mature and complete for every good work. God’s will is clearly that each believer grows to be mature, and a large part of that growth depends upon them being taught the word of truth.

Conclusions

The commission from the Lord Jesus Christ to his followers is to preach and to teach the Word of God.

To preach is to announce, to herald, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. One is to preach not in the words of man’s wisdom, but by the word of God and the spirit of God. Walking by the spirit and demonstrating the power of God is essential to preaching. To preach one must know the truth of the Word, and walk by the spirit in their preaching.

To teach is to give instruction and training in the word of truth. It is to teach that which God gave us to teach: the church epistles that were committed unto Paul. All scripture is profitable for teaching. We are to teach those things and to teach faithful men who will then, in turn, teach others. To teach, we must know the word of truth, and we teach that which has been committed unto us. We teach according to the word of God and are led by the spirit of God. There are also teachers whom God has set in the church for the express purpose and function of instructing the believers in the word of truth.

Robert Houk Hitchcock

June 23, 2009

rhhtx@yahoo.com

281.242.4623

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