What does "You speak and teach what is right" reveal about Jesus' character? Opening the Passage “So they questioned Him: ‘Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’ ” Seeing the Scene • Religious leaders send spies to trap Jesus with a politically charged question about paying taxes. • Before springing their trap, they acknowledge—perhaps insincerely, yet accurately—who He is: One who “speaks and teaches what is right.” • Even words meant as flattery declare an unshakable fact about the Lord. Unpacking “You Speak and Teach What Is Right” • “Speak” points to every word Jesus utters. Nothing careless, nothing false (John 8:45–46). • “Teach” highlights His role as Rabbi—He explains, instructs, applies (Matthew 7:28–29). • “What is right” (literally “rightly” or “correctly”) underscores moral purity and doctrinal accuracy. He never misleads (John 18:37). What This Reveals About Jesus’ Character • Pure Truthfulness – John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” – Titus 1:2 notes God “cannot lie”; Jesus, God the Son, mirrors that perfection. • Total Integrity – 1 Peter 2:22: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” – His actions line up with His words—absolute consistency. • Divine Authority – Hebrews 1:1–2: God once spoke through prophets; now He speaks “by His Son.” – Crowds marvel because He teaches “as one having authority” (Matthew 7:29). • Righteous Judgment – John 5:30: He judges “justly” because He seeks the Father’s will. – No partiality (still in Luke 20:21); He is never swayed by status or opinion. • Faithful Messenger – John 12:49: He speaks only what the Father commands. – Every word carries heaven’s endorsement—no revisions, no errors. Why This Matters Today • Confidence in the Gospels – If Jesus always speaks what is right, every red-letter word is utterly dependable. • Foundation for Doctrine – All Christian teaching stands or falls on His truthfulness (Matthew 24:35). • Model for Our Speech – Ephesians 4:25 urges, “Speak truth each one with his neighbor,” patterning after Him. • Assurance in a Confused World – Amid shifting opinions, His words remain fixed (Psalm 119:160). – Listening to Him steadies hearts and clarifies choices. Living It Out • Read the Gospels alert for the flawless wisdom in each sentence. • Measure every idea—cultural, personal, religious—against His unerring standard. • Rely on the Spirit (John 16:13) to lead into truth that Jesus already embodies and declares. |
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