Captivating Words
No man ever spoke like this Man!
The educated were charmed with the Messiah’s teaching, and the uneducated were always profited, for He appealed to their understanding. His illustrations were taken from the things of daily life, and although they were simple, they had in them a wonderful depth of meaning. The fowls of the air, the lilies of the field, the seed, the shepherd and his sheep—with these objects, the Messiah illustrated immortal truth; and ever afterward when His hearers chanced to see these things in nature, they recalled His words. The Messiah’s illustrations constantly repeated His lessons.
The Messiah always used the most simple language, yet His words were received by deep, unprejudiced thinkers, for they were words that tested their wisdom. Spiritual things should always be presented in simple language even though learned men are being addressed, for such are generally ignorant regarding spiritual things. The simplest language is the most eloquent. The Messiah’s words, so comforting and cheering to those that listened to them, are for us today. As a faithful shepherd knows and cares for his sheep, so the Messiah cares for His children. The Messiah knows His sheep intimately, and the suffering and helpless are objects of His special care.
The Messiah did not design that His words should return to Him void. He Himself wrote nothing; but the Spirit of God brought all His words and acts to the remembrance of His disciples, that they might be recorded for our benefit. The Messiah’s instruction was given with the greatest clearness. There was no need for anyone to misunderstand. But the religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees misconstrued and misapplied His words. The utterances which were the bread of life to starving souls were bitterness to the religious rulers.
In His sermon on the mount, the Messiah spoke as though He knew that the religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees believed the Scriptures. They were in that gathering, and the disciples were close beside their beloved Rabbi. There the Messiah declared, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” By His words, He condemned their formalism and hypocrisy. And though applying directly to those before Him, these words apply also to those of this age who do not the will of God. They are far-reaching, and come sounding down the ages to our time.