Mark 4:33-34 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

As Jesus is our ultimate example in everything, He is certainly so in teaching. The important point here is that He tailored His delivery to His audience. He didn’t distort the truth in any way, but He taught people according to their ability to receive what He was saying. At times, as John records in chapter 6, He delivered truth that greatly thinned the ranks of those following Him, but that was to counteract the ground swell of people wanting to make Him king because he had fed them. That makes it clear that He wasn’t pandering to His audience, but He was feeding them as much truth as they could handle, in ways that would stick in their minds and hearts. All too often pastors today will either preach to itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3), that is, pander to their audience, or else use such technical terminology that the majority of their audience has very little idea what they said – but they sure sounded intelligent and holy! Neither style accomplishes anything good. Preaching over the heads of the congregation doesn’t feed them or equip them, and pandering goes even worse, confirming them in sins instead of leading them out of them. God isn’t pleased with either one!

Of those two, I tend much more to the “preaching over their heads” style, and I’ve got to be careful. Even in this blog I tend to use vocabulary that confuses more than enlightens, and that doesn’t advance the kingdom of God. As someone steeped in Scripture from infancy, I often have difficulty relating truth effectively to those who have had no exposure to the Bible at all. Just the other day I was talking to some men about some things that seemed completely obvious to me, and they thanked me for sharing such deep, helpful information! I certainly need God’s help in tailoring what I say and how I say it to each situation. At the same time, I’ve got to remain an active learner myself, pressing into God for all He desires to pour into and through me. This is one of my motives for desiring a congregation of disciples, because I want to be able to pour out the Word and have it received, rather than just be like water on a duck’s back.

Father, keep me from blaming my audience! Help me seek and receive Your wisdom to tailor Your Word to each one who is hearing. I pray that Your Spirit would take the words that come from Your heart through me and illuminate them to each hearer. May I be faithful in feeding the flock, not requiring the infants to eat steak but not depriving anyone of the nutrition they need. Again I am face to face with the reality that I don’t have the wisdom for the task. I ask You to do in and through me what needs to be done, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!