MY TEACHING IS NOT MY OWN

PROCLAMATION

“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.  And the Jews marvelled, saying, ‘How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?’  Jesus answered them, and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.’ ”  John 7:14-16 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here, John records the teaching of Jesus, The Christ, at the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles and His dialogue with the Jews who did not believe Him.  Jesus went to the feast in secret because there were those there who sought to kill Him. (John 7:1 and 7:10)  The people there murmured about Him, some saying that He was good, and others saying that He was a deceiver. (John 7:12-13)  During the festival Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. (John 7:14)  The Jews were amazed at His teaching since He had not been taught.  He told them that His teaching was not His own, it came from God, The Father, who sent Him. (John 7:15-18)  Jesus told them that they do not keep the law which Moses gave them, yet they want to kill Him for His healing of the lame man on the Sabbath. (John 7:21-24)  Then He repeated that He was not there on His own authority but that God, The Father, had sent Him there. (John 7:28-29)  After that, He said that soon He would leave them and return to God, The Father, who sent Him. (John 7:33-34)  The remainder of the chapter John records the discussion of the people in the crowd who argued among themselves as to who Jesus was, whether or not He was The Messiah. (John 7:39-53)

 

APPLICATION

When we present The Word of God to others, whether it be by telling them, teaching them, or preaching to them, the purpose is to glorify God and not self.  We are presenting His Word to His people as He gives us understanding of it.  We are not to seek personal glory; we are to give God the glory.  Whether we try to console or encourage someone by quoting a verse from The Bible, or if we preach a sermon, we present the will of God to the best of our understanding.  It is only after prayerful consideration that we spread The Word of God or share God’s Word with others.  We must always be mindful of the fact that it is not about us, it is all about Him.