Teachers

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." (Hebrews 5: 12 KJV)

A "New Age" teacher once said to a Christian teacher - "teachers are born, not made." The context of those remarks came in a discussion concerning the philosophy of education.

The New Age "master" (or 'teacher') was convinced that the ability to teach others, especially regarding "higher truth," was more art than skill, "teaching" being a "profession" or a "calling," a divine "gift" that is given at birth, being a natural endowment.

There is certainly much truth in the philosophical statement of the New Age teacher. Perhaps Solomon reflected it when he said - "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." (Proverbs 18: 16 KJV)

There are both natural and spiritual gifts, however. Natural gifts come in natural birth, but spiritual gifts come in spiritual birth. In both cases, Lord God gives to each person his endowments and abilities.

Yet, though some may be more "gifted" than others, when it comes to "teaching," yet all are called to be teachers, as much as they are all called to be good stewards of the things they recieve in life, and as much as they are called to be good citizens.

This is evident from the words of Paul (the writer of Hebrews) above. What he said was said to every Christian, not just to a few. All Christians are called to become teachers, though all are not called to do it functionally as an officer or leader in the church, for this specialty teaching requires a higher calling and is restricted to certain Christians who meet the apostolic criteria for such.

All Christians who are not "babes" or "novices" (I Timothy 3: 6 KJV) ought to be teachers! That is precisely what Paul is telling the Hebrew Christians.

A new Christian convert is nothing but a "student" of the faith, a "disciple," and a "newborn babe." But, babes ought to grow into adults, and not be stunted in their mature development, or to remain babes.

To be adult, naturally or spiritually, qualifies one to be a "teacher." Adults teach children, not vice versa. All students at some point become teachers of others, although they never cease being students themselves; they do, however, cease being babes and novices. Certainly, a person especially becomes a teacher when he becomes a parent.

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalm 34: 11 KJV)

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deuteronomy 6: 7; 11: 19 KJV)

This was said to the entire nation of Israel. It was to be obeyed corporately as a nation and as families, and also by every individual Israelite.

"Also in the third year of his (Jehoshaphat) reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah." (II Chronicles 17: 7 KJV)

"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." (Ezra 7: 10 KJV)

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I (Samuel the prophet) should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way." (I Samuel 12: 23 KJV)

The above three men, one a king, one a priest (or scribe), and the other a prophet, but all three "teachers" of divine truth to the chosen people. Their examples relative to a life of teaching others is to be emulated by every Christian. Every Christian is called to teach others.

The Christian and bible believer, according to the oracle of God as given by Moses (above), is someone who ought to be "talking about" God and his word and works, not just "once in awhile," but "all the time." Most people do not desire to be around someone who incessantly talks about God and religion, yet this is exactly what the Lord desires us to do! How sad that most Christian "get togethers" seem to have little discussion of the bible!

How sad that parents teach children about everything except about God! How sad that what many teach children about God and divine things are nothing but lies!

Samuel the prophet considered it a sin to both "cease praying for" and to cease "teaching" the people (sins of ommission). Oh that more today would see their own omissions in this regard as sin!

"Then said he (Jesus) unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." (Matthew 13: 52 KJV)

Ezra was such a "scribe," and oh that we had more people, and more Christians, who would follow Ezra's example, and who would heed what Jesus said about how teaching others is both a duty and a privilege and has its own rewards, both now and forever.

A "scribe" was one who was well versed in the word of God, many of them having the entire Torah memorized. Many of them were employed in the work of copying the scriptures and of preserving them. Jesus identifies every Christian as a "scribe," or who ought to be such. He is one who is "instructed unto the kingdom of heaven" and is therefore "able to teach others also," as Paul said.

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (II Timothy 2: 2 KJV)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28: 19, 20 KJV)

Thus, once a person has been taught, he should teach others. What better thing to give to another than wisdom and knowledge? To give them life-saving truth? To give them "the scriptures which are able to make one wise unto salvation"? (I Timothy 3: 15)

"Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law." (II Chronicles 15: 3 KJV)

Oh what a sad description for an era and a people! To be without God, the "true God," is to be without knowledge, and to be without teachers of truth, and without law and order. All three seem to go together.

"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?" (Proverbs 17: 16 NIV)

"Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?" (KJV)

Whichever way the Proverb is translated, the message is the same. Fools waste their money and their assets. They squander. How many people spend money to go to college when they have "no heart for it"? It is just a waste of money, despite getting a "diploma." On the other hand, how many are there who do not go to college, and yet who hunger for learning, and who obtain it by private labors? Men like Abe Lincoln?

"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." (Psalm 119: 97-100 KJV)

One must have a love for learning for its own sake for it to be of any great profit to a person. As regards divine and saving truth, it is the same. David loved God's word. He delighted in it. He also realized that it was his love and diligent study of God's word that he was wiser than his teachers, and wiser than the eldest. This was not a boast of himself but a boast of the greatness of God's word and the superlative value in the regular study of it.

"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." (Isaiah 48: 17 KJV)

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalm 32: 8 KJV)

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isaiah 54: 13 KJV)

"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6: 45 KJV)

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (I Thessalonians 4: 9 KJV)

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (I John 2: 27 KJV)

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14: 26 KJV)

To have God as one's teacher! As one's private tutor! To be a student and disciple of Jehovah! Glory of glories to ponder such a thing!

"Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?" (Job 36: 22 KJV)

Sometimes this instruction is through means of teachers whom Lord God sends, while other times the Lord teaches the heart directly.

"And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction." (Jeremiah 32: 33 KJV)

"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge...Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth...And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!" (Proverbs 5: 1, 2, 7, 11-13 KJV)

If salvation, whether temporal or eternal, be the result of ones' acquisition of wisdom and knowledge, then destruction is the the result of one's refusing it. The above words indicate this much. "Listen to God and live," that is the message. Willingly choose to be ignorant of divine truth and you will regret it, perhaps even forever.

"And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?" (Romans 2: 19-21 KJV)

"Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred." (Job 6: 24 KJV)

"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments." (Ezekiel 44: 23, 24 KJV)

Thus the Lord defines a good teacher. He is defined by what he teaches and by whether he "practices what he teaches."

"Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me." (Isaiah 43: 27 KJV)

False teachers, "teacher of lies" (Habakkuk 2: 18 KJV), are ruinous to souls! Every wise person will avoid the false teacher. These false teachers are generally discovered by their "fruits," and by their hypocrisy.

"Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." (I Timothy 1: 7 KJV)

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (II Peter 2: 1 KJV)

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (II Timothy 4: 3 KJV)

Here are more warnings against the false teachers and of those who support them. False teachers bring teachings that damn the soul.

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9: 9 KJV)

I do pray that you will become a student of the Lord today, or a better one, and not only a student, but that you will become a teacher of good things.