Instruction
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words [1]
A. Noun.
Mûsâr ( מוּסָר , Strong'S #4148), “instruction; chastisement; warning.” This noun occurs 50 times, mainly in Proverbs. The first occurrence is in Deut. 11:2: “… I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm.”
One of the major purposes of the wisdom literature was to teach wisdom and mûsâr (Prov. 1:2). Mûsâr is discipline, but more. As “discipline” it teaches how to live correctly in the fear of the Lord, so that the wise man learns his lesson before temptation and testing: “Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction” (Prov. 24:32). This “discipline” is training for life; hence, paying attention to mûsâr is important. Many verbs bear out the need for a correct response: “hear, obey, love, receive, obtain, take hold of, guard, keep.” Moreover, the rejection is borne out by many verbs connected with mûsâr: “reject, hate, ignore, not love, despise, forsake.” When mûsâr as “instruction” has been given, but was not observed, the mûsâr as “chastisement” or “discipline” may be the next step: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15).
Careful attention to “instruction” brings honor (Prov. 1:9), life (Prov. 4:13), and wisdom (Prov. 8:33), and above all it pleases God: “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord” (Prov. 8:35). The lack of observance of “instruction” brings its own results: death (Prov. 5:23), poverty, and shame (Prov. 13:18), and is ultimately a sign that one has no regard for one’s own life (Prov. 15:32).
The receptivity for “instruction” from one’s parents, teacher, the wise, or the king is directly corollary to one’s subjugation to God’s discipline. The prophets charged Israel with not receiving God’s discipline: “O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return” (Jer. 5:3). Jeremiah asked the men of Judah and the inhabitants in the besieged Jerusalem to pay attention to what was happening around them, that they still might subject themselves to “instruction” (35:13). Isaiah predicted that God’s chastisement on man was carried by the Suffering Servant, bringing peace to those who believe in Him: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (53:5) The Septuagint has the translation of paideia (“upbringing; training; instruction”). The Greek word is the basis for our English word pedagogy , “training of a child.” The KJV has the translations: “instruction; correction; chastisement; chastening.”
B. Verb.
Yâsar ( יָסַר , Strong'S #3256), “to discipline.” This verb occurs in Hebrew and Ugaritic with the sense of “to discipline.” Outside of these languages the root is not represented. The verb appears 42 times in the Old Testament; cf. Prov. 19:18: “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
didache kerygma Matthew 7:29 Matthew 5-7 Matthew 7:24-27 Matthew 28:20
The church of Jesus Christ, therefore, is a teacher, instructing men and women in Christian faith and discipleship. The faith which the church proclaims must be strengthened by the teaching of the gospel. Paul reminded the early Christians that one of the offices of the church was the pastor/teacher who worked “to equip God's people for work in his service, for the building up of the body of Christ” ( Ephesians 4:12 REB).
The church's teaching ministry has numerous dimensions: The church teaches about Jesus . The church presents the basic details of Jesus' life and ministry: His death, burial, and resurrection. It helps members understand the meaning of these events for all times. In the early church, the catechumens or learners were those given instruction in Christian faith prior to receiving baptism and full membership in the community of faith. Later church leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin wrote catechisms, books for instructing persons in faith and doctrine. The church is called to retell the story of Jesus in every generation. See Gospel; Kerygma; [[Life And Ministry Of Jesus]] .
The church teaches Christian spirituality . New Christians are not to remain “babes in Christ,” but to increase in “grace, and in the knowledge” of the Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:13; 2 Peter 3:18 ). Christian spirituality is the process of growing in faith. In its teaching ministry, the church guides Christians in the life of faith through prayer, Bible study, meditation, and spiritual reflection.
The church teaches Christian ethics . Those who follow Christ must be conformed to His image. The church instructs its members in faithfulness, morality, honesty, and integrity. Ethical instruction is not a new law but a way of life according to Christ's new commandment to love one another ( John 13:34-35 ). Jesus is the ultimate moral teacher and example for the people of God. See Ethics in the Bible.
The church instructs in Christian doctrine . The church teaches the basic truths of the Christian faith. It guides Christians in understanding significant beliefs. It opens the Scriptures to determine those doctrinal ideals upon which the church is founded. It guides faithful Christians to maturity so that its members may not be “tossed to and fro, and carried about with by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness” ( Ephesians 4:14 ). All doctrinal instruction leads to Christ who is the final source of the Christian's faith. See Doctrine; Theology Of Bible .
A Teaching Evangel . As the church teaches, it also evangelizes. The teaching ministry of the church is another way in which the people of God declare their faith that others may know Christ and grow up in him. See Evangelism in the Bible.
Bill J. Leonard
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( n.) That which instructs, or with which one is instructed; the intelligence or information imparted
(2): ( n.) Precept; information; teachings.
(3): ( n.) Direction; order; command.
(4): ( n.) The act of instructing, teaching, or furnishing with knowledge; information.
King James Dictionary [4]
INSTRUC'TION, n. L. instructio.
1. The act of teaching or informing the understanding in that of which it was before ignorant information. 2. Precepts conveying knowledge.
Receive my instruction and not silver. Proverbs 8
3. Direction order command mandate. The minister received instructions from his sovereign to demand a categorical answer.
