“My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me. If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority. The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” —John 7:16–18
Jesus divulges the mystery of His knowledge to His audience—His teaching is not His own, but rather divine. He had no need to be taught by anyone—His teaching was not learned; it was by divine revelation. Jesus was commanded by the Father what to say and how to say it. We find these words of our Lord later in John echoing the same sentiment:
“If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.” —John 12:47–50
Many people complain regarding their ability to discover truth. In our verses for today, Jesus tells us one secret key to knowledge—obedience. And as we are obedient in the simple things, we will be taught the deeper truths. Jesus is telling us that anyone who chooses to do God’s will—responding to the Word and the Spirit—will succeed in their search for the truth. In other words, those who progressively submit to divine guidelines will progressively be given divine light. As the Spirit leads us through conviction and we are obedient to change, we grow in Christlikeness–conforming to His image. This process is called sanctification. Paul tells us:
“For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” —1 Thessalonians 4:7–8
Jesus lived a perfect life; He lived the life God calls each one of us to. We are simply incapable of following His steps apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus came to portray God to all of humanity. Those who follow our Lord, through the Holy Spirit’s leading and power, are to portray God to all of humanity as well. Jesus brought God honor through His willing obedience. Likewise, we are to bring God honor through our willing obedience.
In Malachi we are told that God rebuked the Levite priests for their failure to listen to His Word and for their failure to honor His great Name:
“Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. If you do not listen and take seriously the need to honor my name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses—indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart.” —Malachi 2:1–2
The priests knew they were to honor God by the reverence of their words and their actions. Their teaching and instruction were to be true, nothing false found on their lips. By walking in peace and uprightness, they would turn many from sin.
Become More
Believers in Jesus are a royal priesthood, so termed by Peter, and called to declare His praises. Not stumbling through disobedience to the message but rather living in such a way that our lives demonstrate the peace and wisdom found in God:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9
Further Reflections
“My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me. He taught what was true; sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.” —Malachi 2:5–6
“The plain things in religion are undeniably very many. Let a man honestly attend to them, and he shall be taught the deep things of God. Whatever some may say about their inability to find out truth, you will rarely find one of them who does not know better than he practices.” —J. C. Ryle