TEACHING AND AUTHORITY

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (9:35)

Matthew 9:35-38

Notes

• Follows an authority issue in 9:34
• Teaching, proclaiming, and healing go together.
• The exhortation to the disciples flows from Jesus compassions for the shepherdless crowds.
• How do harvest laborers help harassed and helpless shepherdless sheep?

Once again, the task of reaching is tied to authority. Mathew does not show Jesus directly responding to the Pharisees’ accusation. Rather, Jesus continues on his mission, teaching, proclaiming, and healing.

Apparently, even for Jesus, the earthly task is too large, for he tells the disciples to pray for more laborers. God gives the laborers for his own harvest.

So, what does this tell me about the task of teaching?

• Teaching is an exercise of authority. The authority is derived, for it belongs to the owner and originator: the Father.
• Teaching is a group effort for which God supplies the laborers.
• Teaching appears to be a protective task as well as a feeding task.

Tag(s): lectio christian education teaching authority

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“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/