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“You Ought to Be Teachers”The Watchtower—1984 | November 1
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13, 14. How did illustrations breathe life into Jesus’ words?
13 Now read Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus encourages his humble listeners to spread the truth abroad by their fine words and deeds. Perhaps this idea startled them. In those days the scribes and Pharisees were looked to as the teachers of the Jewish nation. But Jesus made the point stand out, so as to sound very reasonable. How? By using a masterly illustration. Here is a valuable teaching aid that Jesus often used: ILLUSTRATIONS.
14 Why illustrations? Because our mind thinks best in pictures. And, by drawing on familiar things, illustrations can make spiritual things easier to grasp. Thus, Jesus compared Jehovah, the Hearer of prayer, to a father who gives good things to his children. The difficult path to life was described as a narrow gate opening onto a cramped road. False prophets were likened to wolves that disguise themselves as sheep or to trees that produce rotten fruit. (Matthew 7:7-11, 13-21) These true-to-life illustrations breathed life into Jesus’ words. His lessons became memorable, unforgettable.
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“You Ought to Be Teachers”The Watchtower—1984 | November 1
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16. What kind of illustrations are particularly vivid?
16 Do not forget that illustrations can also be visual. When Jesus was asked whether it was proper to pay taxes to Caesar, he called for a coin, a denarius, and used it to illustrate his answer. (Matthew 22:17-22) When stressing the need for humility, he illustrated the point by calling over a young child. (Matthew 18:1-6) And when speaking of 100-percent devotion, he pointed to an actual widow who was giving her all—two small coins—to the temple treasury. (Mark 12:41-44)
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