Preaching and Teaching

Our Lord enshrined two distinct thoughts in His final instructions to His disciples respecting their life work - and therefore our life work. According to Luke and Mark he told them to preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations, and to preach the Gospel to the whole creation. (Luke 24. 47; Mark 16. 15). According to Matthew He also told them to teach all nations, "bidding them observe whatsoever I have commanded you". (Matt. 27. 19).

There is a world of difference between the words "preach" and "teach", and there is no reason to doubt that all three Evangelists' accounts embody part only of what Jesus said to them at His departure, and each injunction was actually spoken separately and in its own setting. We might do well, therefore, to examine more closely than we have done heretofore the differences between these several versions of His parting words.

The word "preach" is from the Greek "evangeliso", meaning "I tell good news", or from "kerusso", which means "I proclaim as a herald". "Teach", on the other hand, is from "matheteuo", which denotes the instruction of pupils or learners, the making of disciples. In the Christian way preaching comes first and is followed by teaching. The Apostles at Pentecost first proclaimed good news and went about as heralds, announcing the Kingdom of Heaven, and then settled down to teach their converts.

In the individual Christian ministry it is likely that the early years are taken up with declaring the message, telling out the good tidings of redemption that is in Christ Jesus. When the experiences of the way, and progress in the faith, has brought maturity of knowledge and character, then the believer can better teach. In general, preaching belongs to youth and teaching to mature age; preaching is the work of the morning but teaching that of the evening.