Jesus' Teaching

Luke chp 6

This starts with a section commonly called The Beatitudes which run as follows:
Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God; Blessed are those that hunger now, for they shall be satisfied; Blessed are those who are sad now, for they shall laugh; Blessed are those who are hated by others on account of their belief in God, for their reward will be great in heaven.  Jesus continued that, for those who had already received their reward on earth, the future did not look so hopeful.  He gave instructions to the people that they must love their enemies, be good to those who hate them, and be merciful to all.  Even sinners loved those who loved them back - the challenge in a Christian life was to show that love to those who do not feel the same way towards you.  Christians must treat others as they would like to be treated themselves.  They must not judge or condemn others, but they must forgive, expecting to be judged in the same way that they have judged others.  Jesus told a parable about how a blind man could not lead another blind man, as they would both come to grief.  He pointed out that nobody was perfect, and that people could not judge others when they themselves had many faults - "how can you say to your brother 'let me take out the speck that is in your eye' when you do not see the log that is in your own eye?".  Jesus told a parable about two houses - the man who heard God's word and acted on it was like one who built a house with proper foundations, which could withstand the floods.  But a man who did not take Jesus' message to heart was like one who built his house without foundations - so it collapsed as soon as the floods came.

*  *  *

Luke chp12

Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about the earthly things in their lives - for example their clothes or food.  Life was about more important things than that - God cared perfectly well for the birds and flowers without them having to do a thing, and mankind was so much more important than any of those.  Mankind must simply seek after God, and trust him to do the rest.

Themes

• Parables - Jesus is using parables in order to illustrate his message.
• Ethical teaching - this new teaching seems to overtake the Jewish law.
• Forgive, do not judge, love your enemies, treat others as you would like to be treated - you will be judged by the standards which you show towards others.
• Nobody is perfect - you can't judge, as you yourself aren't blameless.
• Trust in God - he will provide where necessary.
  
  

Contemporary Issues

• Is war ever justified?
• Attitude towards others.
• What is true happiness?
  

Revision