Exhortation in the preaching of Jesus

Characteristics of Jesus’ preaching:

• Appeal to the OT (32 times in Matthew, quoting 11 different books).
• Practical application of the text.
• Use of illustrations.
• Preaching for a verdict.

The Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) presents practical applications of the law (e.g. anger (5:21–26), lust (5:27–30), loving your enemies (5:43–48), giving to the needy (6:1–4), and so on), but Jesus does not stop there.  He concludes his sermon with a series of exhortations (Mt 7:13-27):

‘As Jesus began his conclusion, he gave a powerful word picture showing that his sermon does, in fact, demand a response. Jesus illustrated the two ways to live, and then exhorted his hearers to respond by entering through the narrow gate (7:13–14). With another word picture, he showed members of the king- dom are recognizable by the fruit they bear (7:15–20). That exhortation is followed by a picture of the coming judgment in which all those who do not bear fruit will be eternally cast out (7:21–23). That exhortation is followed by another word picture of building one’s house upon the rock, illustrating those who do something with these words receive the benefit from them (7:24).’

Exhortation in the Book of Acts

We might call it ‘Acts’, but it is equally a book of proclamation, dominated by speeches.

In his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2), Peter began with explanation.  He responded to the crowd’s confusion by explaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in terms of OT prophecies.  He concluded that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah, and that they were guilty of killing him.  He continued with application (‘repent and be baptised’, v28) and then exhortation (‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation’, v40).

So also with Peter’s other sermons:

‘Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:11–26 is an expla- nation of the Old Testament text (vv. 12–16), followed by application of the text and an exhortation to respond (vv. 17–26). Peter’s sermon in Acts 10 to Cornelius fol- lows the same pattern.’

Paul’s preaching shows the same pattern of explanation, application and exhortation.  In Acts 13 he explains texts from  1 Samuel 15, Psalm 2, Isaiah 55, Psalm 16, Habakkuk 1, and Isaiah 49.  He tells his hearers how they should respond (application) and warns them of the consequences of not doing so (exhortation).

Alan Thompson notes four features of the preaching of Peter and Paul.  Each sermon was:

1. God-centered, meaning that it pointed back to God’s purposes and was built around a biblical framework.
2. Audience-conscious, meaning they all included a sensitivity and awareness of their context.
3. Christ-focused, meaning that the goal is always to present Christ.
4. Response-oriented, meaning that the sermons always included warnings and promises and an appeal to respond in repentance and faith.

(Re-formatted)

Indeed, the theme of exhortation runs right through the Acts:

• Peter exhorted the crowds to respond at Pentecost (2:40),
• Barnabas exhorted the believ- ers in Antioch (11:23),
• Paul and Barnabas exhorted the believers at Lystra (14:22),
• Judas and Silas exhorted the brethren (15:32), and
• Paul exhorted the believers in Macedonia (20:1–2).

(Re-formatted)

As Michael Green has noted, the apostles frequently struck a note which is often silent in today’s preaching:

‘They fearlessly challenged all and sundry with this despised Jesus whom they loved and who had made such a difference to them. They had no qualms at all about calling on men and women of all ranks in life, from kings to magicians, to repent, to believe, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and of baptism. We have come to feel that to challenge others is almost indecent. It is an unwarranted invasion of their private space. But do we feel that about people perishing in the sea or in a burning house? We invade their space with enthusiasm then! But that is the situation, spiritually speaking, that the Apostles saw men and women to be in—in deep need of rescue, without which they would perish. They saw Jesus as the Lifeguard, the Fireman, and they therefore challenged people unashamedly to allow themselves to be rescued by him into a new and fuller life.’

(Thirty Years That Changed The World)

Exhortation in the Book of Hebrews

The book as a whole is a ‘word of exhortation’ (Heb 13:22), urging readers not to shrink back , but to press onwards towards maturity.

Hebrews is both expositional and pastoral.  But the former serves as the groundwork for the latter.  The exhortations typically take the form of warnings and encouragements.

The book may be regarded as a specimen of exhortatory preaching in written form.  In this preaching:

• exhortation is text-driven
• the exposition serves the exhortation
• a clear head is allied to a warm heart

‘Christ is supreme’ – that is focus of the exposition.  ‘Therefore, be faithful to him’ – that is the burden of the exhortation.

Exhortation typically includes warnings.  For these, see Heb 2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 10:19–39; and 12:14–29.  These include a call to listen (Heb 2:1–4; 12:14–29), a call to trust and obey (Heb 3:7–4:13), and a warning to remain faithful and not fall away (Heb 5:11–6:12),

In Heb 2:1-4 the shift from exposition to exhortation is signalled by, ‘Therefore, we must pay much closer attention…’

Based on Josh Smith, ‘Preaching for a verdict‘, chapter 5.