Teachers of Biblical Times

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Sometimes Teachers of Biblical Times Had to Learn Things the Hard Way. Some taught prophetically ... Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves ... wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Some taught legally ... And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Some were fed spiritual things, but kept it to themselves. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord ... And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Some taught others, but didn't apply it to themselves. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband ... For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. Each were destined to fail ... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours. Each had missed an important ingredient in their teaching ... Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed(s) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Some chose a path of resistance and found success. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Success Guaranteed This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.