Matthew 5 – 7; Luke 11:1-4; Luke 12:22-34; Luke 6:37-49; Luke 11:5-13; Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-17; John 4:46-54; Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35

Throughout the gospels we have smaller snippets of teaching and longer teaching discourses. Some are very similar, but not word-for-word. Sometimes we are told Jesus is in one place when He says something, yet in another gospel we are told this was taught in a different place at a different time. Critics seize upon these and pronounce them as error rendering the whole of scripture unreliable. What gives?

The truth lies in understanding not only the nature of scripture, but the nature of Jesus’ ministry. He went everywhere preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God. A kingdom is a realm within whose borders the king commands all. Before Jesus, the kingdoms of the earth were realms of territory. In Jesus, the Kingdom of God is a realm of souls. We are the “territory” ruled by the Christ.

With this teaching as the central focus of His preaching, it is no wonder that Jesus taught the same thing in different places and at different times. The wording may have been slightly different, but the message remained consistent. There is no error here. There is no problem with scripture. The problem lies within.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus calls us to look within and change our nature to conform to His own. As we do, Jesus reigns in us. To the extent we do not, Satan rules. The Law was characterized by physical sacrifices, but it always had at its heart the inward change of people to conform to God. Love God with your all and love your neighbor as yourself. The laws of sexual morality, alien strangers, compensation and restitution and worship all pointed to people conforming to God in daily life. Unfortunately, people looked exclusively to the physical components of the Law and neglected the weightier matters of inward godliness. They missed the point. When Jesus came and taught, he challenged them to see the Law through a spiritual lens. Only then would they see His sacrifice and His priesthood for what it really is. Jesus truly fulfilled the Law of Moses.

As God is a giver of blessings, Jesus calls us to give to anyone with a need. As God is a communicator, Jesus calls us to petition the Almighty. As God is a righteous judge, Jesus calls us to leave that role exclusively to God. As God is merciful, Jesus calls us to show mercy in order to receive mercy. As God is a sustainer, Jesus calls us to self-denial in trust that God will care for us. In all of these, our focus is on heaven and no longer on earth. Wherever He went preaching the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus proclaimed this inward godliness.

The Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son is the realm of saved souls. Since it cannot be seen like mountains and plains, it is a realm of faith. Jesus is God, and He proved it by His wondrous works. Jesus is a Redeemer of souls, and He teaches how God redeems us from within.

It is a shame that so many people try to find physical mistakes is physical writings about the physical life of Jesus. Their objective is to kill a physical book. Centuries before, like-minded men took as their objective to kill a physical man. In both cases they miss the spiritual truth. In both cases, their fate is to miss heaven.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!