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The Voice in Speech and Song
ful or sentimental. He presented no sophistries, no human opinions.
No idle tales, no false theories clothed in beautiful language, came
from His lips. The statements that He made were truths established
by personal knowledge. He foresaw the delusive doctrines that would
fill the world, but He did not unfold them. In His teachings He dwelt
upon the unchangeable principles of God’s Word. He magnified the
simple, practical truths that the common people could understand and
bring into the daily experience.—
Testimonies for the Church 8:201
.
Zeal and Certainty—When Jesus spoke, it was not with hesitating
uncertainty, with repetition of words and familiar figures. The truth
came from His lips clothed in new and interesting representations that
gave it the freshness of a new revelation.
His voice was never pitched to an unnatural key, and His words
came with an earnestness and assurance appropriate to their impor-
tance and the momentous consequences involved in their reception or
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rejection. When His doctrines were opposed, He defended them with
so great zeal and certainty as to impress His hearers that He would die,
if need be, to sustain the authority of His teachings.... When He taught,
His words came with authority; for He spoke with positive knowledge
of the truth.—
The Review and Herald, January 7, 1890
.
Truth With Freshness of a New Revelation—Truth never lan-
guished on His lips, never suffered in His hands for want of perfect
obedience to its requirements. “To this end was I born,” Christ de-
clared, “and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth.” And the mighty principles of truth fell from
His lips with the freshness of a new revelation. The truth was spoken
by Him with an earnestness proportionate to its infinite importance
and to the momentous results depending on its success.—
The S.D.A.
Bible Commentary 5:1148
.
Earnestness and Power—The words of Christ, though calmly
spoken, were uttered with an earnestness and power that stirred the
hearts of the people. They listened for a repetition of the lifeless
traditions and exactions of the rabbis, but in vain.
They “were astonished at His teaching: for He taught them as
one having authority, and not as their scribes.”
Matthew 7:28, 29
,
R.V.—
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 46, 47
.
Encouragement in Love and Tenderness—They heard Him in
love and tenderness speak encouragingly to the weak and afflicted.
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