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PSALM 51:13 “THEN WILL I TEACH TRANSGRESSORS THY WAYS; AND SINNERS SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE.” (KJV, NKJV, ASV, NASB)
Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to you. (NIV)
Then I will teach your ways to other sinners, and they-guilty like me-will repent and return to you. (TLB)
Now, I can teach!! Have you ever known anyone to say something like this? I’m not sure I want to hear teaching from such a person. A person who is confidently assured of his ability to tell others how to live their lives might not be the best choice to teach sinners. Plus, why is David doing talking about converting? I thought this was Old Testament.
The Bible talks a lot about sinners. Because of the fall and due to our “Adam” nature as his descendants, we know we are all sinners. Earlier, we memorize Romans 3:23 which tells us, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So, how am I supposed to teach transgressors about Jesus?
In our churches, hopefully we are being taught and encouraged to reach out to sinners so that they might be saved. The encouragement to be evangelists, preaching and teaching the Word to bring sinners to salvation, is a major tenet of our faith. Maybe we should learn the “Roman Road” method of bringing others to Jesus. Sinners in the world need to be saved and converted. As Jesus returned to heaven at His ascension, He told His disciples (and us) to GO and TEACH (Matthew 28:19-20)
So, what’s the problem? Jesus commanded it, we are supposed to do it. So, why do we have such problems “teaching transgressors Thy ways?”
Why are most Christians not avid witnesses, evangelizers or teachers? Certainly, the fear of rejection keeps a lot of us from witnessing. Many Christians give the excuse that their own lives are not good enough to tell others how to live. The concern about saying something wrong hinders many. More often than not though, outright laziness and lack of concern for the lost is probably the leading excuse for not obeying Jesus’ command to “go and teach.”
I come from a long history of preachers and teachers. My father pastored for over fifty years…I learned a lot about preaching and teaching from him. The photo above is one of our elder pastors teaching a lesson at our annual Youth Camp. Although not called to pastor, I have been preaching and teaching now for fifty years myself. I like to think I can prepare a cogent sermon or Bible lesson with the best of them. Surely, that would “qualify” me to teach transgressors, huh?
I would like to quickly point out the context of this passage in Psalm 51. We have already spent three chapters learning how David pleaded with the Lord for a clean heart, a right spirit and a restored joy of his own salvation. Oh, and let’s not forget the request for the Lord to uphold him with His “free” spirit. That might come in handy when we might want to “teach transgressors His way.”
Sometimes, I think the best technique for reaching the lost might be demonstrated in the photo to the right above. That photo is an old one, picturing two men walking along discussing something, maybe important, with a young boy behind them trying to look just like them…trying to walk just like them.
I remember, at a very young age, watching my father while he was waiting on something at a store, standing a certain way. I imitated him like the little boy is imitating the men in the photo above, and wondered if I would grow up to be like my father.
Most times, the best testimony we can give to others of the saving knowledge of Jesus is demonstrated, not necessarily spoken. Now, let me quickly say, the encouragement by the church for us to open our mouths and witness to others about what Jesus has done in our lives is extremely vital. But, sometimes demonstrations of Christ-likeness speak louder than words.
Remember Romans 10:14 in which Paul asks, “How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (teacher)?”
Frankly, I think if you have been a Christian for any number of years and you have never told another person that they need Jesus, I think you need to get over your fears and TELL THEM! Crudely, you need to “suck it up Buttercup!” More people you know will be going to hell than to heaven and you will probably be the only Jesus many of them will ever see. TELL THEM!
Jesus died for you! He died for all men (and women, and children). We need to “teach transgressors thy ways” by TELLING THEM!
I know this comes across as a little bit demanding and maybe putting pressure on you. I know the church has been accused (rightfully so) of trying to guilt followers into telling others about Jesus. But, sometimes this is the only method that works to convince Jesus-followers that they need to follow His Great Commission and win souls into the kingdom.
Now, having given you the age-old motivation for witnessing to others, let me quickly add that your life does not have to be perfect before you decide to witness. If you wait for that, you will never tell another soul about Jesus. You will never be perfect (big shock!) BUT, it is extremely difficult to lead others away from a life of sin when you are living a huge life of sin yourself!
We need to be genuine when we try to teach others about Jesus. They already know we aren’t perfect and may see by how we talk, how we act or where we go that we aren’t perfect examples of non-sinners ourselves. But Jesus longs for us to look like Him without being perfect.
David could not begin to talk about “teaching transgressors” when he was, himself, deep in transgressions of lust, murder and lying. David needed to repent! David needed a clean heart. That’s why he prayed for that in Psalm 51:10.
His spirit…like ours can be sometimes…needed to be renewed. He needed to restore the joy for the Lord he felt long before he fell in sin…that joy he remembered from years before, in the pasture with the sheep, maybe in the dark of night when it was just him and the Lord. He remembered those times. We need to remember those times too.
I said it in the last three chapters. We need the Lord to create in us clean hearts every day, probably the first thing every day. When we first gave our hearts to Jesus, we should have felt a great change from the way we used to be. We need to pray for the Lord to renew that spirit within us…every day.
Do you remember the joy of your salvation? Do you recall moments of joy Jesus has brought back to you many times since, maybe just at the memory of how great His salvation of us is? Sometimes, that joy may be the only witness others need to see in us to be convinced that they need what you have too.
Create in me a clean heart Lord! Renew a right spirit in me, not this grumpy, grouchy one I have been demonstrating for a long time. Remind me of the joy of my salvation, Lord. If I haven’t felt that joy in a long time, please, restore it to me today. Please, uphold me with YOUR Spirit…free, strong and encouraging. THEN, if by nothing more than people seeing Jesus living in me, then will I teach transgressors thy ways. Then, I will see many sinners converted unto YOU.
Questions to consider: Be honest. What is the leading reason you can give why you do not personally tell others about Jesus? I recognize that emotion and great demonstrations of joy might not have followed everyone’s decision to give their life to Jesus. But, what emotions have you felt that you can say directly came from recognizing what Jesus did for you? What are some ways to get over fears of witnessing to others? Have you ever taken a class on witnessing in your church or Sunday School class? If not, ask your leader(s) to help you with one.
Other Scriptures to study: Romans 10:14, “How will they hear?” Mark 2:16 “How is it that He (Jesus) eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” Mark 2:17 “I came to call sinners to repentance.” Romans 5:8 “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Luke 8:13 “…those who, when they hear, receive the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful…are the feet of him who brings good news…who proclaims salvation…who says, our God reigns.”
A Song to Remember: “Create in Me a Clean Heart” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Hk3WFUMvo
 
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