#134.# His teaching was characterized by its #boldness#. He taught them as one who had authority, for he knew by inward experience the truth of all that he uttered. The Scribes were more like parrots, for they repeated the opinions of those who had gone before them, and had no true vision of things spiritual. Jesus, on the other hand, did not hesitate to quote passages from Moses, and set them aside, on his own authority. He had larger vision than had the great lawgiver, and he was well aware of that fact. "Ye have heard that it hath been said--but I say unto you," such was his confident manner of teaching. And the results of his teaching have fully substantiated his claim. #135.# In his teaching he was #infinitely tender# with confessed sin, but at the same time he was equally stern against professed holiness. No more terrible words have ever been spoken than those of the Master against the Scribes and Pharisees, on account of their hypocrisy. To read them with any adequate conception of the occasion is to feel almost terrified at their vehemence. On the other hand, no zephyr was ever more gentle than were his words to those who felt their sin and wished to abandon it. #136.# In his teaching he #made much use of parable#, for this was in reality a picture, and he knew that pictures convey truth and are remembered longer than any other form of speech. What an array of pictures his parables have hung in the galleries of our memories! Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, Ten Virgins, Lost Sheep, Unjust Judge--what are these but pictures that we cherish, and from which we gain eternal truths of the most precious nature? #137.# His teaching for the most part revolved around the idea of #the Kingdom of God on Earth, and Himself as its Center#. Let the student look up all the parables of the Kingdom and he will realize the truth of this statement. The reason why even his nearest disciples misunderstood him so, and thought that this kingdom was to be like that of David, was that they did not put the emphasis in the right place. They thought of "The _kingdom_ of God," while he thought of "The Kingdom of _God_." There is a great difference between these two forms of emphasis. The one led them to ask for places on his right and left in his kingdom; the other emphasized the truth that the Kingdom of God is within you. Thus in the midst of great excitement, this year of popularity was spent. Tours through Galilee were like triumphal processions, and the throngs were never weary of crowding on him and the disciples. Alas! that the people should not have better appreciated the inwardness of his mission, but should have taken in only that which was temporal and not eternal! Test Questions What is the second year of our Lord's life called? Where was it for the most part spent? What two chief characteristics marked this year? Over what did the Master show his power? Name the peculiarities of his healings.