Alfred Edersheim, a Messianic Jewish scholar, described the teachers of the law in his book the Life and Times of Jesus in these terms:
These were men who, on Sabbaths and feast-days, would come out on the Temple-terrace to teach the people, or condescend to answer their questions; who in the Synagogues would hold their puzzled hearers spell-bound by their traditional lore and subtle argumentation, or tickle the fancy of the entranced multitude, that thronged every available space, by their ingenious frivolities, their marvellous legends, or their clever sayings; but who would, if occasion required, quell an opponent by well-poised questions, or crush him beneath the sheer weight of authority.
The Pharisees could be intimidating for ordinary folk. Their intellectual prowess, their ability to ask the impenetrable question which only the learned could answer. Their trickery and sheer force of authority and presence led ordinary, uneducated people to shrink away in fear – to bow to their superior knowledge. For who were they to ever answer back to such brilliance. How could they ever riposte? So humbled, they slunk away tail between their legs and their true place in society was cemented by yet another display of glory from the teachers of the law.
Yet, when Jesus arrived. He was a teacher – and with authority. He could stand up to their argumentation and yet, he did not seem stand-offish or use his vast biblical knowledge to overwhelm his sheep. Instead, he would speak in parables and throw out questions for reflection not to condemn. People wanted to be around him because he was their defender against the glory of the Pharisees. Yet his glory was humble glory.
I studied for a number of years with Tim Chester, a well-known author and leading thinker in the UK on church and theology. Whenever I came away from speaking to him, I never came away thinking I was stupid but his willingness to ask me questions to find out my thoughts and his honesty in the limits of his own understanding on a question impressed me. For normally, those who have knowledge are very keen to show off their knowledge. We are quick to parade our learning in our Bible studies, quick to demonstrate our superior learning. Seminary students are often the worst. In apologetics, we have given the impression that to be able to talk about your faith requires a lifetime of study of all the world’s major philosophers. It requires a mind that can think in the moment with witty come-backs.
And yet, when I am in those moments, my mind goes blank. I do not have the clever response like Jesus does. I do not have the slam dunk answer that leaves my listener flawed and requesting how they can be saved. And that leads me to feel inferior. To stay silent about my faith for fear I may be humiliated in the combat, I may slink away like the crowds did before the Pharisees firmly aware of my inadequacy.
In Bible studies, we feel we are equipped if we have read every commentary or researched the passage thoroughly to be able to answer every question posed. But this is not the way of Christ. “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up” Paul says. Paul is not anti-knowledge, in fact, we should be seeking to learn and grow in understanding Scripture, theology and apologetic arguments.
But this is not a badge of merit, an entry pass into Christian ministry as if God requires your knowledge before he may use you. In Acts 4, when the disciples are hauled before those same intimidating intellectual teachers of the law, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and Peter preached the gospel boldly to them. Imagine how intimidating it must have been! But here’s what’s interesting – the Pharisees reaction:“..and they realised they were unschooled, uneducated ordinary men.” How did they realise it? They heard their accent. They heard their level of rhetorical mastery – which was non-existent! They didn’t come across as brilliant orators, magical debaters who shined with charisma. No. They had something more beautiful. They realised, “they had been with Jesus.”
If you have knowledge, do you come across to people as if you are ‘the teacher’. Do you come across as simply the fountain of truth? Do people leave your presence feeling inadequate or going, ‘this person has been with Jesus’?
And if you feel lacking in knowledge – do you immediately feel inferior, inadequate? Do you fail to speak of the gospel to others because you fear you cannot answer all their questions? Do you not speak up when discussing Scripture because you fear sounding stupid and ignorant? Then may be you need to ask yourself – have I been with Jesus? Am I pursuing Jesus? Because if I am – then that is enough. Seek to learn more. Study the Bible more. Read more books. Absolutely. We should pursue as much truth as we can. But never make a level of such knowledge a condition before which you will not step out and obey God and speak of what you do know about him to others.