What does “Jesus’ words are Spirit” mean?

A reader posed a question in response to this blog post:  "What does “Jesus’ words are Spirit” mean? I kept reading it and I didn’t understand. Very curious.”

My response:

Great question, and an important one to understand. The meaning of ‘Jesus’ words are Spirit’ is an important spiritual thing to grasp, and emphasizes the need to “test all things” (John 6:63; 1 Cor.2:10-16; Psalm 139:7; 1 Thess.5:20-21). 

As JWs, we were taught that “life” is physical existence through the breathing in and out of physical air. Not long ago, I bumped into a few JWs and asked them how they know they’re alive. Their response was that they knew because they are physically existing, breathing, and then quoted part of Eccl.9:5, saying, “the dead are conscious of nothing at all.”  They were confused when I said, yes, the “dead know nothing” [interlinear] because you can be alive in the physical, but “dead,” “darkened in understanding” not really knowing Him or Jesus because of transgression and so alienated from God (Isa.26:7-14; Eph.2:1-3; Rom.1:18,25; Eph.2:12-13). Being alive or dead is not just speaking about the physical existence and action of breathing in and out of physical air. WT has distorted many teachings of Jesus and references to being “dead,” “lost,” “destroyed,” “living,” “alive” (Luke 15:4,24; Eph.2:1-3; Rom.8:2; Matt.8:22; Col.2:13; Luke 9:60; Isa.26:12-19; Dan.12:1-3; Eph.5:8-14). Words have the power of life and death (Prov.18:21; Isa.32:7; Jer.5:26-28; Hos.4:6; Mal.2:7; Ezek.44:23). 

Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit [Greek word 4151, properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath] who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit [G4151, properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath], and they are life.”

Jesus is the Word, and in him was life - he is the way, the truth and the life (John 1:1,4,14; 14:6). God is Spirit [G4151] (John 4:24), and the words Jesus spoke were of Spirt and are Spirit, given to him by the Father who sent him (John 4:24,23; 14:24; 6:63,68). The teachings of Jesus are words of God, Spirit, and eternal life (John 4:24,23; 14:24; 6:63,68).  Jesus spoke no deceit, he was without sin (Heb.4:14; 1 Pet.2:22). No lie comes from truth - the truth comes from and is Jesus - his body who faithfully instruct his truth, words of Spirit, is to be in the presence of God (1 John 2:21; John 6:63; 14:6; 1 Cor.3:16; John 4:24; Psalm 139:7; Acts 17:28,24-25; Prov.27:19; Luke 7:38; Deut.12:5,7; 1 Pet.2:5,9; 1 Cor.12:12-14,27; 2 Cor.1:21-22; 6:16; Mal.2:6-7). 

Now the words Jesus spoke and taught were in parables, figurative discourse (similes, metaphors, analogies, illustrations) using physical aspects of the natural environment to teach about spiritual things (Mark 4:2,30; 12:1; Luke 8:11; 13:6; Matt.13:34,3,18,33: 21:33). Why? 

Luke 8:10, “And He [Jesus] said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

The knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom that Jesus spoke were teachings of Spirit, spiritual things (Matt.13:11-17; 1 Cor.2:10-16).  Jesus’ teachings are words of Spirit, from God who dwelt in him by Spirit, and they are life (John 6:63,68; 14:6,10; 10:38; 5:19).  You see, to instruct on the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ words (which are Spirit, of God) requires God’s Spirit, not the spirit of man, human wisdom (John 6:63; 4:24; 14:26; 1 Cor.2:1-5,10-16).  Who is to instruct in the knowledge of God and the mysteries of the Kingdom?  Merely anyone who loves God, Jesus, the Bible?  Instructing in the knowledge of God is a divinely appointed duty given to the spiritual priesthood, this is their daily sacrifice (1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2.6-7; Heb.13:15). The divine appointment to instruct in the knowledge of God is not a selection made by humans, but individuals are chosen by God as spiritual priests through anointing by Spirit - a “ceremonial occasion,” so to speak, when God’s Spirit is poured in the heart (2 Cor.1:21-22; Rom.5:5; 1 John 2:20,27; 1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:6-7).  The Spirit within them teaches them and they are to be like Jesus, instructing according to Spirit with no deceit in their mouth (2 Cor.1:21-22; 1 John 2:20,27; 1 Pet.2:5,9,21-22; Mal.2:6-7). They are witnesses and servants of Jesus and God, as Jesus’ words/teachings are of God, and their faithfulness to Jesus is evidenced by the fruit/teachings of Spirit (truth) they produce (John 14:15,24,6; 6:63; 20:21-22; Matt.28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor.1:21-22; 1 John 2:20,27; 2 Pet.1:21; 1 Pet.2:5,9; 1 Cor.6:19-20; 1 Cor.4:2; 2 Tim.2:15; Eph.4:11-16,25; Rom.12:1-2; Col.3:9-10; Eph.4:13-16; Rom.12:4-5; 1 Cor.12:4-12,20,27; John 12:26; Gal.5:13; Matt.25:14-30; 24:45; 7:15-20).   Please refer back to the bullet points in the original post.

Anyone can claim to be anointed, claim to be faithful and teaching truth.  However, God’s Spirit does not remain with spiritual priests who want to do things their own way, and without God’s Spirit their instruction is deceitful because it claims to be truth but offers no life to their listeners (Prov.3:5; Isa.43:7-12; Isa.44:6-9,13; Deut.32:16,21; Prov.12:22-23; Ezek.18:24; 33:18; 1 Sam.15:22-26,29; Matt.7:15-20; 15:8-9; John 6:63,68; 15:1-5).  Unfaithful anointed who instruct without Holy Spirit are under the power of Satan, the liar; they will deceive many by their lies, and not only find foolish the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ words, but hate those who expose their lies (Luke 22:3; John 13:2; Matt.24:4-5,24; 2 Cor.4:4-6; Mark 13:22; Eph.5:6; 1 Tim.4:1; 2 Thess.2:3-4; Rev.16:13-14; 2 Thess.2:9-12,8; Prov.18:21; Eph.6:14-17; 1 Cor.2:10-16; John 8:12; Psalm 119:105; 1 John 2:9; 3:10-15; John 15:18-21).   You can be deceived unless you invest time testing their teachings and ask for God’s Spirit to help you while you examine the Word (2 Cor.11:13-15; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim.4:1; 1 Thess.5:20-21; Job 34:3-4; 12:11; Acts 17:11; Luke 11:13,9-10; 2 Cor.3:16; John 8:32).  

How you worship and whose instruction you believe is your free will choice, your choice of life or death (Deut.30:15-20; Prov.18:21; Matt.7:15-20; John 4:24; 1 Tim.4:1; 1 Thess.5:20:21). God need not physically destroy/kill anyone - you either have breathed in words of Spirit that give eternal life, or not, and when you physically die, the only breath of life sustaining you was of the physical air - John 6:63; Job 33:4; John 6:68; Deut.30:14-20; John 8:51; Eph.2:1-10; 4:15-20; John 11:25-26; Rom.10:14-15; Eph.4:21,23-24.

I think of my mother who has been in WT for over 50 years now. She has settled in complacency. She sees all the conjecture the WT anointed leaders make and their long list of failed prophecies and expired teachings but thinks God knows she’s just trying her best. Why not go to any religious organization and “try your best?”   Would even a close companion of yours be content with you telling them and everyone you love them while at the same time you engage in a smear campaign spreading lies about them?  Ludicrous. 

I hope I have adequately explained. Have you taken your time to carefully examine the scriptures?  Please ensure you do so and pray for spiritual discernment. Please let me know if you have further questions ❤️