March 21, 2016 - When it comes to what Jesus and the apostles found as important it always comes back to teaching and preaching the Word. In the KJV there are found 200 passages that talk about teaching and preaching in their various forms.
An amazing 200 passages contained in only 27 books of the New Testament. This is striking, for only two passages talk about Jesus feeding or entertaining people (Matt. ch. 14 & 15). Which there is no record of a third time for He told them after the second time that the food was the only reason they were looking for Him (Jn. 6:26).
Even after Jesus' rebuke of their carnal interest Jesus told them, “ Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (Jn. 6:27). Which is the Word, Jesus pointed them away from entertainment and to the Word.
As He sent out the twelve He told them, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent” (Mk. 6:11-12). And before He returned to heaven He said, “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15-16).
These are only two of 200 passages that shows what Jesus put emphasis on, teaching. The same is true with the apostles in the book of Acts. “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God” (Ac. 13:42-44).
As one reads through the New Testament all that is found is teaching and preaching. The religion of today, which is based on entertainment is foreign to the Bible. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2).
Jesus' message was one of “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). Jesus was more concerned with eternity than the present well being of the people. It would do all men well if folks would get back to putting the emphasis on teaching and preaching, than the entertaining religion of today. After all that what Jesus did.
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