Ethical Teachings of Jesus

Many Faces of Jesus

  • Each follower carries a unique image of Jesus, yet no single image is complete.
  • John the Evangelist suggests that the world could not contain all the books if everything Jesus did was written down (John 21.25).
  • One image of Jesus is "the way," the path to truth and life, explored through his moral teachings.

Moral Teachings of Jesus

  • Examples from Luke's gospel include loving enemies, doing good, lending without expecting return, being merciful, not judging or condemning, forgiving, and giving (Luke 6.35-38).
  • These teachings, though given in a different world, still have a significant impact today.

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)

  • Considered the heart of Jesus’ ethical message and a summary of the gospel.
  • Interpreting the Sermon on the Mount:
    • Examine Matthew’s intent in writing the gospel.
    • Explore the meaning of the "kingdom of God" for Christian ethics.
    • Reflect on the teaching’s significance in the twenty-first century.

Focus Questions

  • Cognitive: What are the ethical and moral implications of Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of God?
  • Practical: How are we called to participate in the kingdom of God?
  • Affective: What does the scripture quotation, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6.21), mean in terms of your moral stance in life?

Key Terms

  • Apocalyptic literature
  • Beatitudes
  • Eschatological
  • Exegesis
  • Gospel
  • Hermeneutics
  • Inspiration
  • Kingdom of heaven
  • Parousia
  • Torah

Key Sources

  • Gospel of Matthew
  • Gospel of John

Interpreting Ethical Teachings: Exegesis and Hermeneutics

  • Exegesis: Study of scripture texts in their original context, including language, historical context, religious traditions, and influences on the authors.
    • Aims to understand the authors' intentions by understanding their world and motivations.
  • Hermeneutics: Interpretation of scripture with reference to something else, using “lenses”.
    • For example, understanding airport security changes post-9/11 requires recognizing the terrorist attack as a key factor.
  • Key hermeneutical lenses for Matthew’s gospel:
    • Apocalyptic literature: Writing used in times of crisis with images of the end of the world.
    • Kingdom of God: The central theme of Jesus’ teaching.
  • Exegesis is used to understand the context of Matthew’s gospel, while hermeneutics applies exegesis to understanding the texts for our time.

Matthew’s Gospel: Context and Perspective

  • Likely written in Antioch (Turkey) in the last twenty years of the first century.
  • Addressed primarily to a Jewish community concerned with divisions between followers of Jesus and those seeing him as subversive to Jewish tradition.
  • Turbulent times for Jesus’ followers after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
  • Conflict led to a split between Jewish rabbis/Pharisees (forming Rabbinic Judaism) and followers of Jesus (becoming Christians and forming the early Church).
  • Matthew wrote down oral traditions preserved by the community for fifty years after Jesus’ death (around 30 AD).
  • Matthew selected, edited, and recorded these traditions from a particular point of view, distinguishing his gospel.
  • Matthew’s interpretation has Jesus speaking to his church in the 80s.
  • Matthew’s gospel seeks to unite followers of Jesus, discourage judgment, accept sinners, and establish a stable structure.
  • Matthew is the only gospel mentioning the church.

Matthew’s Jesus: The Ultimate Teacher

  • At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus instructs disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey his commands (Matthew 28.18-20).
  • Jesus remains with the disciples through the Holy Spirit.
  • Genealogy links Jesus to Abraham and King David, establishing his authority to teach.
  • Jesus' origin is in God (Mary “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” Matthew 1.18).
  • The time between Jesus’ resurrection and the end of the age is to be filled with his teaching.
  • Matthew portrays Jesus as bringing Moses’ teaching to perfection.

Jesus and the Torah

  • The Torah guided Jewish people in living according to God's will.
  • Matthew’s followers of Jesus interpreted the Torah more spiritually than literally.
  • Jesus is the fulfillment of the Torah, the new Torah, with the law written in our hearts, inviting us to live the way of Jesus.
  • Details of Jesus’ life recall the story of Moses (e.g., threatened as infants, flight to Egypt).
  • Matthew inserts five teachings of Jesus, paralleling the five books of Torah from Moses.
  • Jesus compares his approach to Torah with Moses’ approach five times (Matthew 5.21-48), beginning with "You have heard that it was said…but I say to you…"
  • Jesus’ teaching fulfills the Torah’s original intent, and not one letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5.18).
  • Jesus teaches all nations with authority, astounding the crowds (Matthew 7.28-29).

Matthew’s Dilemma: The Parousia and the Church

  • Fifty years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, followers were facing a dilemma as the promised second coming (parousia) had not occurred.
  • Scribes and teachers began gathering stories and traditions to form the teaching and discipline of the “church”.
  • Central to Jesus’ teaching was the “kingdom of heaven”.

Apocalyptic Literature

  • Developed during a time of loss of identity and hopelessness among Jewish society, ruled by Romans with a corrupt temple and Greek cultural influence.
  • Reflects on faith in the covenant God, wondering if God has abandoned or is testing them.
  • Conviction that present tribulations are a prelude to God's coming to liberate people from their sufferings.
  • Emphasizes an end to evil-dominated history with God’s coming to judge the world.
  • Vision foresees a time of great distress (Matthew 24.21).
  • Coming of God in judgment is presented as taking place soon, within the lifetime of listeners.
  • Often includes a battle between good and evil, with the powers of evil defeated.
  • Jesus uses apocalyptic language but strips it of many images, proclaiming that God’s liberating action is already among us (Matthew 4.17).

Kingdom of God

  • Translations of scriptures from Hebrew to Aramaic avoided making God the subject of an active verb, instead saying “the kingdom of God has come”.
  • “Kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God” is a symbol or metaphor for God.
  • Jesus chose this symbol as the central image of his message.
  • When Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17.21) or “The kingdom of God has come to you,” (Matthew 12.28) he is saying that God is now acting among you.
  • Jesus portrays the nearness of God, not in a far-off heaven but close at hand (Matthew 4.17).
  • This coming of God appears in the very person of Jesus, revealed in his teaching and actions, breaking into history.
  • Jesus' time with them was a time of generosity and abundance, healing the sick, inviting sinners, and astonishing those who heard his words.
  • Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God in human history through his person and teaching.

Church and Kingdom of God

  • The Church is the people who follow the way of Jesus and accept God’s salvation.
  • The Church is not yet the fullness of God’s kingdom but the “first fruits” (1 Corinthians 15.20), a sign of things to come.
  • The Church lives in the present time what the full revelation of God will bring about.
  • In her liturgy, the Church lives this future in the present through word and sacrament.

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7): The Beatitudes

  • Jesus went up the mountain, sat down, and began to teach his disciples.
  • The primary recipients of the Sermon are the disciples, but it is also given to everyone else (the crowds).
  • Beatitudes are a form of pronouncement that presuppose a good or happiness already given or about to be received; the gift here is the kingdom of heaven.
  • The first four beatitudes express an action of God toward the poor, while the second four talk about our behavior toward our neighbor.

The Beatitudes

  • “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
  • “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
  • “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
  • “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
  • “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
  • “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
  • “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
  • “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
  • “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Ethics of the Kingdom of Heaven

  • Just as Moses received the Decalogue from the Lord on Mount Sinai, Jesus delivers the new Torah from a mountain.
  • In the Sermon on the Mount, the disciples are to model this new Torah, being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (5.13-16).
  • This completion of the Torah reflects what a fully redeemed world looks like.

Salt and Light

  • “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.”
  • “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”
  • “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
  • “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

The Law and the Prophets

  • “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
  • “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”
  • “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
  • “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Concerning Anger

  • “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.”
  • “So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
  • “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Concerning Adultery and Divorce

  • “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
  • “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.”
  • “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Concerning Oaths

  • “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Concerning Retaliation

  • “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.”

Love for Enemies

  • “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Concerning Almsgiving

  • “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Concerning Prayer

  • “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

The Lord’s Prayer

  • “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Concerning Fasting

  • “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Concerning Treasures and Worry

  • “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
  • “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
  • “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Judging Others

  • “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.”

Ask, Search, Knock

  • “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

The Golden Rule

  • “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

The Narrow Gate

  • “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Concerning Self-Deception

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’”

Hearers and Doers

  • “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

Summary: Key Points from the Sermon on the Mount

  • Ethics to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5.48).
  • Moral life only makes sense with a good relationship with Abba/Father.
  • Vocation to become “children of the Father”.
  • Sons and daughters of Abba/Father ought to love all, even enemies.

Ethics of the Kingdom of God

  • The Sermon on the Mount is clearly about the kingdom of God.
  • The kingdom is not a proclamation of every day attitudes but one at the limits of the human world.
  • A world where there is no anger, where all are forgiving, where there is no retaliation.

Righteousness

  • Righteousness means to be put in the right, not only by action, but something we received.

Eschatological Ethics

  • We have a sense of living what God will reveal at the end.
  • Give all you can now.
  • Entering through Jesus will allow you to know how much you will give, not out of limit, but by freedom.

Gospel Ethics

  • The new testament shows enrichment of our understanding as a people.
  • All creation is filled by his name with the love of God.
  • Before our efforts, His is our creative God, so his love will always come first.
  • Jesus came to know what our ethical responsibilities are.

Gospel of John

  • Jesus is the eternal Word of god and the light of the world.