Who is a Good Teacher?

I have been in many “Teachers Day” celebrations in Bible colleges over the years. I have enjoyed and cherished the greetings of my students. However the question I have to honestly answer is: “Am I a good teacher?” I have attempted here to derive the traits of true teachers from Matthew chapter 23 which I found useful enough for sharing.

1.     Good teachers are models

Jesus starts off with a shocking note asking his followers to obey the teachers who teach authoritatively from the Scriptures, but not to "do" what some teachers “do” because they teach what they themselves do not practice (v.1-3). I have sometimes had struggles to understand the counsel of people in authority who say “good” things, which they themselves do not follow. Such hurts should only lead us not to do the same mistake in our own lives. Did not Ezra devote himself to observe the law of the Lord, before he ventured to teach? (Ezra 7:10) Jesus, the best ever teacher, never taught anything which he did not model.

2.     Good teachers are servants

 Good teachers will not lay heavy loads on students alone. They would rather give a helping hand in carrying the loads of their students/disciples (v. 4) Jesus wants teachers to be servants to students. It sounds silly. But the secular world today has recognized the value of the “servant leadership” style Jesus taught and modeled.  It is worth following it. The early apostles were admonished not to put heavy yoke on their disciples (Acts 15:10). Jesus, a teacher himself offers not to burden his disciples but promises them to give rest (Matthew 11:28).  The greatest in God’s sight is a servant-teacher willing to help (v. 11 ).

3.     Good teachers will not be attention-seeking

The Pharisees and teachers of law of that time were proud and seeking attention from people. They took pleasure in titles (v. 5-7). Even today titles like “Dr.& Rev.” are sold for money for such “seekers of titles.” We should know that even while we live in this world, honor comes to the humble (v.12). Even otherwise, it is sensible and right to seek our recognition from God who offers to call the diligent worker as “a good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) in a life that is everlasting!

4.       Good teachers know their goal

Bible teachers are true guides and they will lead students/disciples to eternal life. They will mould them as sons and daughters of the living God.  Even evangelistic zeal, like how the pharisees had, of some teachers amounts to nothing if they are stumbling blocks to their students by their wrong modelling (v.15). They are blind guides because those who follow them cannot reach their heavenly destination. Jesus says that such teachers cannot escape their sentence to hell (v.33). Jesus spells a lot of words in condemning the legalistic, hypocritic and sinful lives of wrong teachers in verses 16-33.

5.     Good teachers hold to “head” issues

The focus of the Pharisees and teachers of the law was not on the head of the matters like: justice, mercy and faithfulness, but on tail issues like tithes. They preferred gold in place of temple, gift in place of altar. They strained the gnat (the smallest unclean creature) and swallowed camels. Observing any law minus love equals legalism. Giving tithe out of love for God is different from: “If I give tithe, God will bless me!” Jesus also compared the hypocritic teachers to white washed tombs. A hypocrite appears clean only from the outside. No wonder Jesus condemned the false teachers as hypocrites, snakes and a brood of vipers (v. 16-33). Teachers of tail issues therefore need to take time to clean the dirt that is inside of them. Good teachers will hold to head issues and model them in their lives.

A word of caution: Not many of you should presume to be teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:10). 

The message is not that the Bible discourages “teachers” but it cautions them and encourages them to be “good teachers.” Praying that God would increase the tribe of good teachers. I want to be one of them!