"The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master", said Jesus. Exegesis, understanding, meaning of the bible verse.
Jesus is the perfect teacher. Jesus teaches his disciples to be perfect as God is perfect: "The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master", Luke 6:40 .
A perfect teacher has two distinctive characteristics:
- A teacher is perfect when he teaches through the gift of counsel or prophecy: listen (perceive with attention), meditate with intuition and inspiration, decide with discernment.
There are two notable cases of this spiritual gift in the bible:
*Jesus and the denarii: "Teacher we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
He saw through their duplicity and said to them. Show me a denarious. Whose image and inscription are on it?
Caesar's they replied.
He said to them: "Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's", Luke 20:21-25
*Jesus and the prostitute:
"Teacher, this woman was caught in the acti of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them: "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her", John 8:4-7. - A teacher is perfect when he also indicates where is the teaching of error, jesus warns his disciples that the law of talion keeps away men from the path of mercy:
"You have heard that it was said that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth". But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" Matthew 5:38-42
Jesus is explaining to us that to be perfect is to be filled with the holy spirit, that is, to have the spirit as an inner teacher or master: "But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" Matthew 10:19-20
The perfect teacher has the eternal life, the disciple the hope; and between the teacher and the student there is communion: "That all of them may be one Father", John 17:21
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