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The Desire of Ages
All who heard the Saviour “were astonished at His doctrine: for
His word was with power.” “He taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes.”
Luke 4:32
;
Matthew 7:29
. The teaching of the
scribes and elders was cold and formal, like a lesson learned by rote.
To them the word of God possessed no vital power. Their own ideas
and traditions were substituted for its teaching. In the accustomed
round of service they professed to explain the law, but no inspiration
from God stirred their own hearts or the hearts of their hearers.
Jesus had nothing to do with the various subjects of dissension
among the Jews. It was His work to present the truth. His words shed
a flood of light upon the teachings of patriarchs and prophets, and the
Scriptures came to men as a new revelation. Never before had His
hearers perceived such a depth of meaning in the word of God.
Jesus met the people on their own ground, as one who was ac-
quainted with their perplexities. He made truth beautiful by presenting
it in the most direct and simple way. His language was pure, refined,
and clear as a running stream. His voice was as music to those who had
listened to the monotonous tones of the rabbis. But while His teaching
was simple, He spoke as one having authority. This characteristic
set His teaching in contrast with that of all others. The rabbis spoke
with doubt and hesitancy, as if the Scriptures might be interpreted
to mean one thing or exactly the opposite. The hearers were daily
involved in greater uncertainty. But Jesus taught the Scriptures as of
unquestionable authority. Whatever His subject, it was presented with
power, as if His words could not be controverted.
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Yet He was earnest, rather than vehement. He spoke as one who
had a definite purpose to fulfill. He was bringing to view the realities
of the eternal world. In every theme God was revealed. Jesus sought
to break the spell of infatuation which keeps men absorbed in earthly
things. He placed the things of this life in their true relation, as
subordinate to those of eternal interest; but He did not ignore their
importance. He taught that heaven and earth are linked together,
and that a knowledge of divine truth prepares men better to perform
the duties of everyday life. He spoke as one familiar with heaven,
conscious of His relationship to God, yet recognizing His unity with
every member of the human family.
His messages of mercy were varied to suit His audience. He knew
“how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (
Isaiah 50:4
);