Jesus’s Teaching

Written response errors

• Preform vs. PERform

• Gods vs. God’s

• Capitalization in sentences

• Pronoun antecedents (who are he & they?)

Parables

• A short, allegorical story– Placing 2 things side by side– Every element stands in for something else

• Ordinary, everyday life used to illustrate the Kingdom of God– How to explain something so different?– Jesus as creative & understandable

Parable Themes

• Six major themes from the parables– Many others, your book highlights six

• God’s Kingdom is for All– Strength of the Kingdom

(the Mustard Seed)– Must be open to it (Sower)

Themes, cont’d

• Sinners are Welcome– Luke’s Gospel– Concern for the lost (the Lost Sheep, the Lost

Coin, the Lost Son)• Search until it is found

– Forgiveness of sins– Deep, abiding love that cannot be lost• Grace

Themes, cont’d

• Salvation– A new day has come: a New Covenant– New wine needs new wineskins– A wedding feast where the groom is now present

• Belief & Repentance– Believe in the Gospel & stop living selfishly – Hearing God‘s Will = Doing God’s Will

Themes, cont’d

• Preparation for Judgment– Kingdom is for the least, the humble & the poor– Separation of the good from the bad– Heaven = eternal communion– Hell = eternal separation– Entering God’s Kingdom means faith,

which means love, which means action

• Rejoice in the Good News

Sermon on the Mount

• Matthew’s Gospel: up on a mountainside– Images of Sinai– Central foundation of Christian understanding

The Beatitudes• 8 statements of morality for happiness– “Blessed are the poor in spirit” - humility – “Blessed are they who mourn” – mourn sin– “Blessed are the meek” – gentleness– “Blessed are they who hunger & thirst” – God’s justice– “Blessed are the merciful” – Forgiveness– “Blessed are the clean of heart” – total commitment to

God– “Blessed are the peacemakers” – Loving & peaceful– “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness”

Christian living in the Sermon

• Salt of the Earth & Light of the World– Make a difference in the world– Salt flavors food, disciples must improve the world

for the better– Light gets rid of darkness• Love triumphs over sin• Lead others to God by being good

New Standard of Law

• Old Law is preparation for Jesus– Jesus fulfills the need for the Law

• New Law is the New Covenant of Jeremiah– Written in hearts, not stone

• External obedience is not enough– Change the heart

Commandment of Love

• “The greatest commandment” is a different story

• Love the enemy & do not seek revenge– Forgive trespasses– Break the cycle of violence– All people are our brothers & sisters

• “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48)– Impossible for humans alone

More Teachings

• Have a Right Attitude– Do the right thing for the right reasons– Winning glory and honor for yourself are not the right

reasons– Don’t call attention to doing the right thing

• Other requirements– Don’t put yourself above others; the “Golden Rule”;

trust in God alone– World will not change until we do

Seven Heavenly Virtues

• Two lists of Seven Virtues• Canonical Virtues vs. Popular list

• Popular list more varied– Many connected to the Beatitudes– Opposite the Seven Deadly Sins

Seven Deadly Sins

• Seven root causes of sin– Not distinct sins themselves, but the thought

behind them

• Pride as the worst– Most subtle & hardest to resist

Sin Behavior Virtue

Pride Piety & giving credit Humility

Greed Physical possessions Charity

Sloth Effort & Activity Diligence

Wrath Dealing with other peopele

Patience

Lust Sexual behavior & attitudes

Chastity

Envy Friendship & loyalty Kindness/Gentleness

Gluttony Self-control & staying within means

Temperance