JESUS 3
JESUS 3
The next aspect of Jesus' earthly ministry is His teachings. His many discourses, sermons and conversations cover a wide variety of themes and are filled with abiding instruction and charges, admonitions and exhortations, for Christians in all ages. They are too numerous for all to be included here, but we will look at a small cross-section of them. First are the principles of the Kingdom of God Jesus laid down (CP Mt 5:1-11). These declarations of blessedness Jesus pronounces upon Christians in this, His Sermon on the Mount, which takes up Mt Ch 5-7, are known as the Beatitudes. They define the characteristics of Christians as expressed by Jesus. They are a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all professing Christians. They contrast Kingdom values with worldly values, and superficial faith with the faith by which Jesus expects Christians to walk (CP also Lu 6:20-23). The Beatitudes are not multiple choices. Christians cannot choose to regard some and disregard others - they must be conformed to as a whole for anyone to inherit the Kingdom of God. The clear teaching is that only those in whom all the principles of the Kingdom are manifest, will inherit the Kingdom (for a detailed teaching on this subject see author's study The Beatitudes - The Principles of the Kingdom of God, in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1)).
Much of Jesus' teaching was in parables, which are sayings that teach truth by comparison. They are stories drawn from nature or human circumstances to teach a moral or spiritual truth. Jesus taught in parables extensively because they have a double use - they reveal the truth to those who want it, and conceal it from those who do not (CP Mt 13:10-17, 34-35; Mk 4:33-34). The purpose of parables is to arrest and hold the attention of the hearer. The meaning of the parable has to be studied - it is not the story that is of value but the lesson it teaches. There is a comparison being made and the hearer has to perceive the likeness of the thing compared to learn the lesson. For example, disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked Him why His disciples did not follow the Old Testament religious practice of fasting (CP Mt 9:14). Jesus responded with a parable (CP Mt 9:16-17). This is called the parable of old and new cloth and wineskins. Here Jesus foretells the abolition of the Old Covenant and its complete replacement with a New Covenant. In using the principles of new cloth as a patch upon an old garment tearing away more, and new wine bursting old wineskins, Jesus made it clear that He did not come as a reformer to patch up the old worn-out Old Covenant, but that He would replace it in its entirety with a New Covenant (for a detailed teaching on the abolition of the Old Covenant, see author's study The Old Covenant - Fulfilled in Christ and Completely Abolished, in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1)).
Jesus also used parables to teach the qualifications of discipleship (CP Lu 14:28-35). Jesus told these three parables to stress the importance of His teaching on the qualifications of discipleship in V 26-27 (CP V 26-28; also Mt 10:37-39; Lu 9:23-25). Jesus demands that His followers' love and loyalty to Him be greater than any other attachments they may have, including even their attachment for their families. Their commitment to Him is meant to be total. His claims on His followers apply equally to every follower (CP Mk 10:17-31). Followers of Jesus must radically re-evaluate their lifestyles for they have to choose between the things of the world and the things of God (CP Mt 6:19-33). (For detailed teachings on the parables, and qualifications of discipleship, see author's studies, The Parables of Jesus and The Cost of Discipleship: Forsaking All for Jesus, in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1)).
Jesus places demands upon His followers that shift their focus from a material to a heavenly perspective (CP Mt 5:38-48; 6:1-6, 16-18). Jesus is explicit in His teaching that it is lack of faith that makes His followers opt for earthly rather than heavenly treasure (CP Mt 6:27-33). Essentially, what Jesus is saying to His followers here is that if they truly believe in Heaven, they would spend their time preparing for permanent residence there. In Jn 4:34-36 Jesus likens saving souls to harvesting grain (CP Jn 4:34-36). Jesus impresses upon His followers here the urgency of getting souls saved. He uses the Samaritans sent by the woman He spoke to at the well at Sychar as an object lesson to stress the urgency of harvesting souls for the Kingdom (CP V 5-42. For more detailed teachings on the subject of Christians and wealth, see author's studies, Christians and Wealth, in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith and Christians - Flee from Idolatry in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2). For more detailed teachings on the subject of getting souls saved, see author's studies, The Christian Calling - Winning Souls to Christ, in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith and Redeeming the Time - Winning Souls to Christ, in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).