As for those who assay to speak the Lord’s Word in His Name, the warning is even more dire. They must speak only what God has made known to them (1 Cor. 4.6). They must not depend on their own wisdom or art in communicating to the people of God, but must determine to search the Scriptures daily and to divide the Word of God as He intends, bringing to the people in their charge that which will edify and equip them for service (1 Tim. 2.15; 2 Tim. 3.15-17).

Pastors and teachers must exercise a careful watch over their teaching, as well as over the people entrusted to them (1 Tim. 4.16). The people must be warned against false teaching and false teachers; this is part of the duty of a shepherd in defending the flock of God (cf. 2 Pet. 2).

It is not enough, in other words, merely to teach the Scriptures faithfully. We always preach and teach into a particular context, and that context must be illuminated by our teaching, so that the people can see where the Lie is encroaching on them, and prepare themselves against it. Like our Lord Jesus, the faithful pastor or teacher must be bold to expose false teaching for what it is, and to warn the people of God away from it.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.