Following Jesus the Teacher

David W Palmer

(Matthew 4:22–23 NKJV) and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. {23} And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues …

Why did Jesus call his disciples to follow and observe him going all around teaching? Is teaching all that important?

(Matthew 4:16, 23 DKJV) The people who dwelt in darkness saw great light, and to them who sat in the region overshadowed by Death, light has risen (dawned) … {23} And Jesus led them around the whole Galilee region, teaching in their local synagogues …

From this passage, we are reminded that the light of God’s glorious truth was not reaching his people in Israel before Jesus went to the wilderness. Here, the Holy Spirit shows that the culprit was “Death,” the enemy’s deadly spirit; it was “overshadowing” or blocking heaven’s light from reaching God’s people. Before Jesus, no one was able to cleanse the heavens of its influence, so even the listeners to God’s word could not receive the full light of revelation from it. The Holy Spirit confirms that the enemy’s spirit is responsible for blinding eyes to the light of God’s message:

(2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV) Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

In the next passage, the Holy Spirit confirms again that this darkness, lack of light, lack of God’s knowledge is what created the whole evil world system through the sin of fallen man. In truth, this problem was so prevalent that it “blinded” people. What’s more, without revelation of God’s word, these [spiritually blinded] people could only be described as those “who do not believe”; therefore, they could not receive the benefits of God’s kingdom. This is because receiving revelation of God’s word is the only way faith can come (See: Rom. 10:17).

(Ephesians 4:17–19 NKJV) “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, {18} having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; {19} who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

After Jesus cleansed the spirit realm of this light-blocking, blindfolding influence, suddenly the same word that had been read for years in the synagogue was empowered with God’s Spirit of wisdom and revelation when Jesus taught and preached it. It entered the heart of Jesus’s listeners with power and light, changing them to believers:

(Mark 1:22 NKJV) And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

(Psalm 119:130 NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

After Jesus cleansed the heavens of evil spirits—thus removing the blindfold and “blindness of their hearts”—he began immediately to “teach” God’s word everywhere he went and to everyone who would listen. With the blindfold gone, the light of God’s word entered. This removed the dark “ignorance that was in them.” Consequently, Jesus’s audience received revelation, faith, life, and light. Those thus receiving God’s faith were then able to receive healing, freedom, life, joy, peace, and deliverance from all kinds of evil. No wonder they were grateful and celebrating.

Jesus’s intercession and teaching had produced a great result; God’s grace could be seen! (See: Acts 1:23.) This was the ideal time to take his disciples to the classroom:

(Matthew 5:1–3 DKJV) And observing the crowds, he (Jesus) went up to the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him, {2} and he opened his mouth, and began to teach them, saying: {3} “Blessed [happy and well-off now] are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus knew the importance of teaching, so he led his disciples apart to “teach them.” His classroom-style teaching for his apprentices began with what we call the beatitudes—statements of blessing.

Without wanting to detract from any other translation or teaching on the beatitudes, I would like us to reflect on this scene. One way to look at these 8 or 9 statements about the blessedness of those Jesus ministered to, is to see it in context.

Jesus made his statements as a commentary on what was “now” happening since he removed the blindfold, and turned on the light. Suddenly, his audiences had received truth, healing, miracles, joy, and God’s grace; people were happy and well off, enjoying the blessing. Jesus could truly describe what was taking place before his disciples’ eyes by saying in effect: “Now,” at long last, poverty of spirit is finally receiving the full benefits of God’s kingdom; “Now” those who mourn are receiving comfort; “Now” the pure in heart are actually seeing God, etc.:

(Matthew 5:3–10 DKJV) “Blessed [happy and well-off now are] the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

{4} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] those who mourn; for they will be comforted.

{5} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] the meek; for they will inherit the earth.

{6} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (justice); for they will be filled.

{7} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] the merciful; for they will obtain mercy.

{8} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] the pure in heart; for they will see God.

{9} Blessed [happy and well-off now are] the peacemakers; for they will be called sons of God.

Today, I believe God wants us simply to picture this scene, and to sense his excitement and joy at seeing that what he originally planned for his people was finally working as it should. As we watch and reflect on this picture in our spirits, let’s include the parts where Jesus fasted and overcame the enemy in warfare; and the part where he taught. He focused on teaching so much because he knew what the problem with humanity was: they were cut off from God’s “life” because of ignorance—due mostly to the enemy’s blindfold and overshadowing. Let’s imitate him:

(John 20:21 NKJV) Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”