CENTRAL AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

THE PEDAGOGY OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

206S1 New Testament II

Héctor Aníbal Pérez Morales

June 25, 2016

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THE PEDAGOGY OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

INTRODUCTION

This work arises from a concern in a course from last year. When

listening to the different concepts of education was the starting point,

where the restlessness or the question to the teacher woke me up, What if someone had

Wrote something about the pedagogy of Jesus? Or about teaching styles.

of Jesus and he told me that he did not know anything about this topic until that moment,

that would be specifically linked to Jesus. This is how; in this first

approach is about addressing the topic. Hoping to make a contribution to it.

what Jesus teaches us regarding: The characteristics of Pedagogy of

Jesus that are illustrated in the gospel of Luke. And thus discover the Different.

types of teaching or pedagogical methods of Jesus. With a brief development

from pedagogy to Jerusalem, And at the same time, some methods of the

the pedagogy of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke and is useful

for the Church of today.

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I. The characteristics of the Pedagogy of Jesus that are illustrated in the

Gospel of Luke

It is necessary to make the following explanation before addressing this

theme. That as part of the next work it must first be understood what

it is called pedagogy. According to the dictionary, it gives the following definition:

pedagogy. n.1Science that studies the methodology and techniques that are

applied to teaching and education, especially early childhood:

contemporary pedagogy is related to psychology and with the

sociology.

Educational practice or teaching method in a field

advertising pedagogy; sports pedagogy; (fig)

pedagogy of leisure; (fig) pedagogy of culture.

Quality of things and people that educate, teach or

effectively and pedagogically instruct in a field

determined: to lack pedagogy.1

So when the pedagogy of Jesus is mentioned (not only is it

focused on teaching children, as pedagogy is understood today in

day, although Jesus said:17I truly tell you, that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God

like a child, he will not enter it.2-3rather it will be developing the

educational practices or methods of teaching of Jesus, and in some cases

qualities of his teaching or pedagogical approach.

1
Núria Lucena Cayuela, Ed., General Dictionary of the Spanish Language Vox, 1997.
2
́
Reina Valera Revised (1960), (Miami: United Bible Societies, 1998), Lk 18:17.
3
All biblical texts will be taken from the Reina Valera Version, revised by
1960, except in cases where otherwise indicated.
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And to understand it better, the following will be developed:

a. The wisdom of Jesus: The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as

a person who from a young age begins to teach, and at the age of twelve

he is teaching the teachers in the temple.

46
And it happened that three days later they found him in the temple, sitting in

among the doctors of the law, listening to them and asking them questions.47And all the

Those who listened to him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.4

In Luke chapter 2 verse52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in

grace with God and men.5

The intellectual knowledge that Jesus had at his young age came from the

wisdom. Regarding this, Samuel Vila describes it as follows:

As for wisdom, it strives, through the

observation, experience, and reflection, in getting to know the

men and God. The Law and the prophecy, which come from

directly from Jehovah, they express His very Word. The

wisdom, expression of good human sense, is also a

gift from God.6”

So we can say that Jesus was manifesting at his young age.

a knowledge in her teaching, very different from that of the teachers of her

they were used to. It is interesting that Luke gives in these verses, or

You can notice Jesus with some characteristics that are very useful in

pedagogy, since he made use of questions and answers. This can be seen

4
Ibíd., Lc 2.46–47.
5
Ibid., Lk 2:52.
6
Samuel Vila Ventura, New Illustrated Biblical Dictionary, 1985, 1030.
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the Gospel of Luke when it narrates in chapter 2, because although Jesus

He taught, he asked the law doctors questions. It could be said that Jesus in

based on those questions, I would respond. Now, it can be said that:

Jesus' pedagogy while in the temple was based on questions that perhaps were not

he received a response, and probably he himself was responding to his listeners.

b. Jesus knew the scriptures.

In Luke's narrative, Jesus is presented as a person who grew up

in Jewish culture. And Lucas makes it clear in each of his presentations, in

As for Jesus, he taught us. He reveals where his knowledge came from,

intelligence or wisdom. He is still in the midst of the trial that Jesus is going through in the

desert, the gospel of Luke in its chapter 4, comments on what the response was

from Jesus to Satan in each of the temptations that he threw at Jesus. And

In each of them is the following statement: 'Jesus,'

answering, he said: "It is written:7"or rather" said this. This shows that Jesus

knew the Mosaic law, and that although he was in a situation that

it seemed difficult, he was able to overcome it because he knew the law by heart, since this was

basic for the Jews, this is mentioned by several authors or scholars of the ancient

testament, referring to the shema (Deut. 6:1-8). It is interesting to note that in each

one of the claims that Satan makes is something he says to Jesus. It's as if he

they were doing an interrogation and Jesus responds to each of his

pretensions to Satan. This is as if I were giving a lesson to the

the same Satan, of what he came to do on earth.

7
́
King James Version Revised (1960), (Miami: United Bible Societies, 1998), Lc 4.4.
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It can be said that Jesus uses pedagogy with Satan to show him the

mistaken that this still understood the law of God. And the importance of knowing and

understand the word of God.

c. Jesus teaches based on questions.

When the religious leaders of Jesus' time wanted to test him

they asked questions that they thought were difficult to answer. But Jesus

He always answered them with another question. Luke 10:25-42 Likewise, also

when he healed a sick person, he would ask them what they wanted to be done.

sick responded. Luke 18:41 The questions were part of his teaching

(educational pedagogy). And generally, people were always amazed.

that he was answering some question. When asked, 'What traits of his character and

pedagogical methods make Jesus the extraordinary teacher he was during

his earthly ministry?8The examples of how Jesus used the...

II. Different types of teaching or pedagogical methods of Jesus

We find them in the following:

[Link] teaches to pray.

The ministry of Jesus was very intense. He was keeping a large crowd.

with his teachings. But at the same time he dedicated time to his closest circle.

who were the twelve disciples, so much so that to stay standing, he

he taught by example. That is why the disciples realize that

It was what Jesus did and they ask him to teach them to pray. Luke 11:1-13. As a result

This can be seen in the Acts as the disciples had prayer meetings.

8
Robert Stein, Jesus the Messiah: A Study of the Life of Christ, eds. Nelson Araujo Ozuna
Anabel Fernández Ortz, and Dorcas González Bataller, Contemporary Theological Collection,
(Barcelona: Clie, 2006), 167.
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[Link] denounces evil and injustice.

In the time of Jesus, it was common for the people to live under oppression.

Romania. As a result, acts of evil and injustice occurred. The response

by some revolutionary Jews, uprisings had been made to

defend his nation as narrated by Josephus in the wars of the Jews in his

second volume. But Luke shows Jesus who primarily demands...

religious figures of their time, since they were the main authors of evil and

injustices. So for this reason, Jesus warns them against hypocrisy.

and of greed. Luke 11:29-12:21. This is how Jesus proclaims the different

actions

c. The Teaching (parables) of Jesus.

The main teachings of Jesus were given while he was on his way to

Jerusalem. And Luke shares with us those moments when Jesus speaks and does so with

sixteen parables of which thirteen are unique in their gospel. We can

mention the following:

a. Parables of Jesus in the gospel of Luke

The boys of the square Lucas 7:31–35

2. The forgiven debtors Luke 7:41–43

3. The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25–37

4. The Inopportune Friend Luke 11:5–8

5. The rich fool Luke 12:16–21

6. The barren fig tree Luke 13:6–9

7. The Great Dinner Luke 14:15–24

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8. The unfinished tower and the rushed war Luke 14:28–33

9. The Lost Sheep Matthew 18:12–14 (Luke 15:4–7)

10. The Lost Coin Luke 15:8–10

11. The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11–32

12. The Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-9

13. The duty of the servant Luke 17:7–10

14. The Widow and the Unjust Judge Luke 18:1–8

15. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9–14

The Ten Minas Luke 19:11–279

At this point, it is when Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and where a arises.

series of teachings. That even their own disciples find difficult to understand. They

They approached him to ask what he meant by his parables. Luke 11:22-

14:24. This shows how Jesus was very creative in teaching both

multitudes like his close group of disciples. The use of parables of

Jesus reflects the use to teach an eternal truth with everyday situations.

Roberto Fricke writes the following: "It would be difficult to read the parables of Jesus without

to recognize that its most important theme is what is called the kingdom of

God. Many of his parables begin with 'What is the kingdom of like'

God? What shall I compare it to?” (Luke 13:18) or “What shall I compare the kingdom of

God?10(It again shows the use of questions)

Luis Bravo says the following regarding the pedagogy of parables:

9
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Eds., The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Expository Commentary
New Testament, Volume 1: Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, (Puebla: Editions The
Americas, A.C., 1995), 357. (found with the help of the notes from Professor José Antonio
Moreno on page 4
10
Roberto Fricke S., The Parables of Jesus: An Application for Today, (El Paso: World
Hispano, 2005), 245.
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The parables, on the other hand, were expressed orally, in a medium

socio-cultural of peasants and fishermen, mostly illiterate, and

that with difficulty they could turn to someone to write it for them

remember them better. That is to say, they were learned by heart and repeated from

the way they were incorporated into the culture of the early Christians, from

where it started its transmission11.

Likewise, add regarding:

Contemporary cognitive psychology shows that learning does not

consists of a passive assimilation process of information. All

A person who learns something has a prior cognitive framework with networks.

semantics of meaning where new knowledge is assimilated.

As a result, for a new learning to remain in the

memory must be incorporated into the semantic networks themselves, and

to attribute to them a meaning similar to the other knowledge that already

they possess.

This shows that Jesus assimilated this entire process by narrating each one of

the parables. And when people developed them, they were left with the impact of their

way of teaching. Nevertheless, they found it difficult to understand, as it was also one

of the purposes of Jesus.10And he said: It is given to you to know the

mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to the others in parables, so that seeing they do not

see, and hearing do not understand.12

11
Bravo Luis, 'The Pedagogy of Parables. A Psychological Perspective' Journal
Theology and Life, 43, no. 4, (2002): 503-511

12
́
Reina Valera Revised (1960), (Miami: United Bible Societies, 1998), Luke 8:10.
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So it can be said that Jesus spoke the parable to

to awaken the interest in his disciples more than the crowd understood, the

parables were intended to awaken curiosity in their disciples, as

they were the only ones who approached him to ask about what he said.

III. A brief development of pedagogy on the way to Jerusalem

On the way back to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

18:31. This is Jesus' opportunity to help his disciples who

they understand the purpose of their coming, but also their way of departing. A

the time shows that Jesus had a deep interest in his disciples

understand their mission.

In the homes, Luke 10:38, 11:37, Jesus visited many households,

where he ministered to many people. But also, it was a space where he

he made use to give a teaching. So much so that in a large part of his visits

to homes, always left her audience mostly unsettled who were the

hosts. And in this part Jesus used family resources such as the

the case of Martha, Luke 10:38-41. By showing her what was most important.

c. In the synagogue Luke 13:10, Jesus visited many during his journey

synagogues, as Matthew also recounts:23And Jesus went throughout all Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and

healing all sickness and all disease among the people.13This was a

space where Jesus also developed his teaching, with which he was

13
́
Reina Valera Revised (1960), (Miami: United Bible Societies, 1998), Mt 4.23.
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cause of discomfort for the priests who found the way of

his teaching. Luke 13:14.

In the towns and cities Luke 10:1, 13:17, 18:43, 19:1. It is very

interesting to note that the ministry of education (cultural pedagogy) of

Jesus was very intense, he attended to the needs of marginalized people.

by the religious society, (and it was reflected in the parables: "13But when

hold a banquet, call the poor, the lame, the crippled, and the blind14)

he moved to different places and regions of ancient Palestine. In each

The place he visited left a mark that was hard to forget.

As is the case of Blind Bartimaeus, Luke 18:35-43.

The teachings of Jesus were not limited to time as the

he taught whether it was day or night. Luke 13:10, 14, 31. 17:34, 18:7. For

Jesus, we noticed that he spent every moment making the most of it.

time was not something that made it impossible for Jesus to make disciples, since

from his pedagogical teaching, he expressed the importance of

to announce what God was conveying to his disciples while teaching them.

IV. Some methods of Jesus' pedagogy can be found in the

Gospel of Luke and they are useful for the Church today

a. The Follow Me method... For Jesus, it was of utmost importance in

his teaching that his disciples dedicate time to follow him. Luke 9:59,

18:22. At this point, Jesus recruited his disciples and suggested that they

they would follow. This entails the importance of recruiting the disciples or

learners and guide them in a way that they can learn effectively.
14
Luke 14:13.
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natural and then they could do what they were taught. Luke

-24:47.

b. The method on the way... By following him they could know his

teachings (pedagogical practice) while they were on the way, he taught them to

serving, praying, and all this while being in constant motion of a

place to another, this is where his (pedagogical) teachings emerged. Lucas

9:57, 10:4, 10:38, 13:36, 18:35. This process invites his disciples to;

through their teachings, there exists a pedagogy aimed at the formation of the

people to induce profound changes in their lives, from actions

daily.

The church has forgotten that it is on the journey where the most can be done.

achieve in terms of teaching (instructing, educating, pedagogically) the new

generations. In everyday moments, such as; school, play, the

home visits, etc.

c. The parables as a method.

At this point, José M. Martínez comments as follows:

Jesus, the great Master, could not be indifferent to this element.

to pedagogical. Practically all of his great teachings

he presented by using it. The term parabole we find

forty-eight times in the synoptics in relation to teachings of

Jesus. And we could still point out a good number of texts

parabolic in which the word does not appear explicitly.15

15
Martnez M. José 'Biblical Hermeneutics', (Barcelona Clie, 1984) Page 449
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This was a way that Luke presents how Jesus made good use

of the parables. Both for the teaching of his disciples and for the

different groups of his time. But mainly his disciples, who were

in most of those who were troubled by their questions or the way of their

teachings. And generally, it was where Jesus delved into knowledge.

previous knowledge that they had, and with this prior knowledge, he confronted them, the

it encouraged or guided them to understand the eternal truth. Luke 10:25-37

José M. Martinez rightly says when referring to;

The content of the parables referred to by Jesus corresponds to the

great themes of his preaching related to God, to His sovereignty, to the

man, to the meaning of his life, to his responsibility and destiny, to the

prayer, to Christian service, etc.16

The teaching of Jesus' parables leaves a legacy for the church

today. By saying that the church has the responsibility and destiny to guide man,

in the sense of their life, in prayer and service.

d. Questions and answers.

In this part, Jesus used this resource a lot, both with direct questions.

just as rhetorical questions. Arturo Bravo mentions:

We must always be very attentive to the places where Jesus

start asking, because when you do, the vast majority of the

sometimes asks not to ask but to teach. The questions are

a privileged method of Jesus' teaching. This method

corresponds to what is today called learning through

Ibid., 449
16
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problem statement, teaching resource used for a long time

thousands of years.17

Therefore, it is necessary for the church to be able to help them.

new generations to have this space not only in the classrooms but also

from the same preaching. And thus awaken an interest in delving into the

knowledge of Jesus and what it means to be a disciple.

Conclusion

In this work, we sought to analyze the characteristics that Jesus used.

in a pedagogical way. Thus, the Pedagogy of Jesus is presented which

Bravo Arturo, "The pedagogical style of Jesus: the Rex questions", Journal of Studies and
17

Experiences in Education 12 (2007):123

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they are illustrated in the Gospel of Luke. By discovering the different types of teaching

the pedagogical methods of Jesus. The excellence of Jesus is shown when

to make a speech or even a miracle or a visit. A brief is made

development of the pedagogy that Jesus used on the way to Jerusalem, and in the end, it

they present some methods of Jesus' pedagogy, which are found in the

Gospel of Luke and are useful for the Church today. Hoping that this

small contribution serves as a basis for the future in discovering the wealth that

the biblical text gives us, or well that others have already addressed and that gives us a

panorama of the pedagogy of Jesus. This provides a foundation for the future of the

pedagogical education in the church, or it sheds light on teaching in America

Latin woman.