Ethical Teachings of Jesus

Flashcards on the ethical teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

Gospel

The unique literary genre that proclaims the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus from the perspective of the living faith of particular early Church communities.

Exegesis

The analysis of texts in their original context, uncovering the historical, cultural, linguistic, etc., particularities that the original author was dealing with in order to better understand the original meaning and intent of a text.

Hermeneutics

A way of interpreting texts and events to help us understand what they mean for us in the twenty-first century.

Apocalyptic Literature

A style of writing that evolved during Israel’s troubled history around the time of Jesus. It focused on the end of history and the time of God’s purifying judgment. It frequently employed frightening imagery of end-time wars between good and evil and of convulsions in nature.

Beatitudes

A form of pronouncement that presupposes that a good or happiness has already been given or is about to be received.

Inspiration

Sacred Scripture is inspired by God. What Christ entrusted to the apostles, they in turn handed on by their preaching and writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to all generations, until Christ returns in glory.

Parousia

Term used to refer to the second coming of Christ at the end of time.

Eschatological

Pertaining to the end of time, in the sense of its fullness. Ethics that insists that we can already live what God will realize or reveal at the end.

Torah

The five books of Moses that contain the core teachings: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Kingdom of God/Heaven

Not a place but a symbol or metaphor for God. God is now acting among you.

Almsgiving

Giving to the poor. True religion shows itself in this, oriented towards God, rather than to display before people.

Fasting

Abstaining from food. True religion shows itself in this, oriented towards God, rather than to display before people.

Sermon on the Mount

Contains the heart of Jesus' ethical message (Matthew 5-7).

New Torah

Jesus as the fulfillment of the Torah. The law is love, written in our hearts.

Golden Rule

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.

Trinity

God's very being is love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Justice

Acting with uprightness. More than just what we do, but is something we receive.

Grace

The free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God.

Righteousness

Commonly understood as being upright, blameless or morally right; something we receive.

The Way

John presents Jesus as the path to truth and to life.

Ethical Living

Involved in Jesus's teachings regarding the kingdom of God.

How Matthew portrays Jesus, bringing teaching of Moses to perfection.

Teacher

Love of Enemies

An ethical call to imitate God's universal love.

Hypocrites

Those who pretend to be oriented towards God in their actions but in fact are only calling attention to themselves.

Kingdom of Heaven

Used by Matthew, interchangeable with 'Kingdom of God.' Represents God's presence and action.

Narrow Gate

Following Jesus' teachings requires a personal choice, not following the masses.

Salt of the Earth

The role of disciples to be essential and preserving influence in the world.

Light of the World

The role of disciples to make their good works visible and glorify God.

The New Law

A law of love, a law of grace, a law of freedom.

Scribes and Pharisees

Jesus said that righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heave.

An eye for an eye

Jesus goes much further: don’t resist the evildoer by returning blow for blow. Respond to evil with good.

Adultery

Jesus connects not committing adultery with the tenth commandment: 'You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.'

Moses

Parallel to him, Jesus teaches a new Torah to the Church. And this new Torah is greater than the first.

Beatitudes

Express an action of God toward the poor while also conveying behavior toward our neighbor.

The gospel of Matthew was likely written in this city.

Antioch

St. Augustine

Everyone becomes like what he loves. Do you love the earth? You shall be earth. Do you love God? Then I say, you shall be God.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Jesus' teaching is an ethics based on the New Covenant – a new way of relating to God and one another.

New Testament Revelation of God

Reveals God's innermost secret: God's very being is love, an eternal exchange of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Gospel of John

Jesus came as light and life into our world.

Abba

Jesus names God 'Father,' ethical life makes sense only if we have a good relationship with Abba/Father.