While they had been with Him, the disciples had often been perplexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their confidence in God's word, and in a great measure had set them free from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition. In the 350 training of the disciples the example of the Saviour's life was far more effective than any mere doctrinal instruction. When they were separated from Him, every look and tone and word came back to them. Often when in conflict with the enemies of the gospel, they repeated His words, and as they saw their effect upon the people, they rejoiced greatly.

Medens disciplene havde været sammen med ham, havde de ofte ladet sig forvirre af præsternes og farisæernes lære, men de var kommet til Jesus med deres vanskeligheder. Han havde forklaret dem Skriftens sandheder i modsætning til overleveringerne. På denne måde havde han styrket deres tillid til Guds ord og havde i det store og hele frigjort dem fra deres frygt for de skriftkloge og deres bundethed af traditionerne. For disciplenes oplæring var Frelserens eget eksempel af langt større virkning end nogen dogmatisk lærdom. Når de ikke var sammen med ham, mindedes de hvert blik og hver betoning og hvert ord. Når de kom i strid med evangeliets fjender, gentog de ofte hans ord, og når de så, hvordan de virkede på mennesker, frydede de sig meget.