“ The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples.”

Many of us have wished at various times in life that we would know what to say in a particular situation. It’s true that some people are more naturally gifted at speaking than others. However, what we're discussing are words rooted in wisdom rather than talent, which requires training. If we interpret this as saying whatever first comes to our mind, then we completely miss the whole point of discipleship. Let’s first take a closer look at what the first line of this verse says.

Literally, it says, “Lord Yahweh has given Me the tongue of learners.” The NASB is similar in using ‘disciples’ instead of ‘learners.’ The NIV says, “has given me an instructed tongue.” A commentator uses the phrase “an expert tongue” while another uses “the tongue of the learned.”

There are two possible meanings for this verse, though they are closely related. One suggests that the Messiah was given a tongue of learners, while the other indicates a tongue of the learned. This may seem quite different, but both are true and valid. He is both a disciple and a discipler. He has a learning tongue full of right questions and an instructed tongue, having learned from His Father what He should say.

“And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:46-47)

Jesus did not miss a step. At twelve years old, He already had a learner’s heart. Notice how He listened to the teachers and asked questions. This attitude exemplifies the heart of discipleship. He had the tongue of a learner.

Jesus also had a tongue of the learned. They were amazed at His understanding and answers. The truly learned people are those who continuously learn.

What a challenge for us parents! We need to start training our children to be wise and discerning before they turn 12. No, I don’t mean they know all the players of a baseball team. Nor do I mean that they know the names of the books of the Bible either. We desire that our children care so much for the truth that they seek to know and live out the truths as revealed in God’s Word. The Christian church must return to a love for the truth of God’s Word. This is not an academic study of truth but the means to know and love God.

One of our shortcomings in training men for ministry is how we adopt the world’s approach of making the person the center of knowledge rather than the all-wise God. By this, I mean we gather all the knowledge we can find, add a healthy portion of Bible knowledge, and within a few years, cram it into the student’s mind. After this process, we hang a tag around his neck, call him a graduate, and grant him ordination. From that point on, he is expected to know all the answers. Most churches, when looking for a pastor, seek these tags. If they find them, everything should be fine—which is not always the case!

This situation is very different from how Christ lived His life. There were seminaries and graduate schools back then. Paul, formerly Saul, attended one. Jesus didn’t need them but learned from His Father. Let me highlight three key differences between these two types of training.

Active learning continues throughout the Christian’s life; it never ends. Once a disciple (literally meaning “learner”), always a disciple. When the heart to learn from God ceases, the Christian no longer has genuine fellowship with God. Leaders need to understand that having a certain authority does not exempt them from the need to know the Lord more each day.

Discipleship focuses on knowing God as the living source of knowledge rather than mastering some abstract knowledge from books or the internet. People often get bored with hearing the same Bible stories over and over. This is because we focus on a form of knowledge about the Bible rather than knowing God Himself.

Discipleship produces disciple-makers through the way that they experience God’s grace. We see that Christ knew what to say because He had been a learner, a disciple. In other words, we can only be as good a teacher as we are a disciple.

The best teacher is the best learner.

Christ lived within our limited knowledge. The key wasn’t choosing the right path but living the right life where He would regularly meet with God. Let’s look at a few verses to illustrate what we mean by this. You will see the common theme: Jesus was both a master learner and a master teacher. They go hand in hand. One must be a good disciple to be a good discipler. This process of growth never stops throughout a Christian’s life, no matter how experienced someone becomes. Take the branch off the vine, and it will quickly die.

Illustration #1 Jesus at 12 before the anointing for service (Luke 2:46-47)

“And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:46-47).

Jesus didn’t miss a step. At twelve years old, He already had a learner’s heart. Notice how He listened to the teachers and asked questions. The heart of true learning is a mark of true discipleship. He had the tongue of a learner and gained the tongue of the learned. Jesus amazed the teachers with His understanding and answers.

This is the tongue of the learner. I’m afraid we will be held accountable for all our wasted time not advancing our ability to discern and carry out our Father’s will. The Christian church must return to a love for the truth. Always learning is not an academic study of truth but the means to know and love God.

Unless we are quick to listen, we won't be able to ask the right questions. Questions are pathways to understanding. It has been said that unless a person is asking questions, they don't make room for answers. This is why much of education can be so dull. It doesn’t first spark the student's interest so they want to find out the answer.

Illustration #2 Jesus after the anointing (Matthew 7:28-29)

“The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”

Jesus’ teaching amazed those who heard Him. Early in Jesus’ life, at age twelve, Jesus had developed a wise and learned way of speaking. He spoke as if He knew the truth. In these verses, Jesus demonstrated another 18 years of wisdom and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Illustration #3 Jesus prayed after His anointing (Luke 9:18)

“And it came about that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him....”

Jesus needed to pray to understand the Father’s will. We will explore this further in another point, but we must recognize that Jesus often prayed. We know God’s Word was on His mind because He quoted it frequently. This habit of prayer continued constantly, day after day. This pattern was part of Jesus’ lifestyle.

Application

The one who teaches, trains or testifies must regularly meet with God. If he doesn’t, then he, whether it be the pastor or an experienced layman, should not teach or disciple. He is trusting his knowledge and experience rather than God’s. The student will learn to be prideful if he does not regularly meet with God.

Learning with questions. The point is not that we have a so-called quiet time, but that we are meeting God during those times. The learner is not only asking questions but also pleading for help. The sign of learning is the acknowledgment that he is missing something. James says, “If you lack wisdom,” what are you supposed to do? Ask. We are to plead for help in areas that we sense a responsibility to fulfill.

Do we have the attitude of learning and seeking to understand those around us? Can we ask God to restore our gift of learning? My wife and I once took a walk around Walden Pond in Massachusetts on her birthday. She often paused to observe what she was looking at. It is this kind of curiosity that leads to wisdom and discernment. If we have stopped asking and pleading for wisdom, then we have also stopped learning. This dullness of heart is not just a danger for the young and inexperienced but also for the mature and seasoned. We all can stray off the hidden cliff of pride.

Summary

Jesus wanted to know the truth and carry it out in His Father’s ministry of helping others. He organized His activities to ensure He could regularly hear from His Father. He expected to receive all the guidance He needed. His Father would tell Him. We all should follow Jesus’ example.