10 Teachings of Jesus Challenge

[Jayhawker Soule]

And Jesus spoke to the gathering saying:

Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. [Ezekial 41:3]

James, the son of Alphaeus, asked: "But what does this mean?

And the Lord replied:

Always take the measure of a post before validating it with too serious a response.​

 

[JayJayDee]

The difference between a restriction and a warning is huge I think. Freedom comes with no restrictions because restrictions are things to keep a person weighed down.

Or perhaps there is warning that a restriction is in place...just as in the garden of Eden, perfect humans had a restriction. It didn't weigh them down, in fact it didn't impact on their lives one little bit....UNTIL someone came along and planted a seed of doubt. Then the restriction became a temptation and the temptation became an action and the action required the stated penalty and death spread to all mankind. (Rom 5:12)

Isn't this exactly what James described?

"When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.  But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire.  Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death." (James 1:13-15)

How else can God teach us? How do we teach our own children? How can free will be given if the person to whom it is granted is not tested as to fitness first?

Who was to blame for the penalty of death being imposed?.....Not God. :no:

What is written there is a sign that the person who thinks he is a disciple of Christ, isn't. Once a person becomes a follower of Christ he is not capable of those things. If something is impossible, it does not need to be restricted.

In a perfect world that might be true...even though it wasn't true for Adam and his wife....and they were perfect.

The apostle Peter was warned about his over-confidence on the night of Jesus' arrest. When the rooster crowed at daybreak, he realized that he denied Jesus three times, just as he had said. Was he a disciple of Christ? Was he immune to the power of sin? To the fear of man? Was he not "capable" of doing the wrong thing?

Didn't David say, "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" (Psalm 130:3)

The apostle Paul's lament about the human condition resonates with all of us born in the flesh with sinful inclinations. He said it was like a 'law' that his flesh wanted to obey, whilst his mind was trying hard to obey God's law.....

"For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin. For what I am working out I do not know. For what I wish, this I do not practice; but what I hate is what I do. However, if what I do not wish is what I do, I agree that the Law is fine. But now the one working it out is no longer I, but sin that resides in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good; for ability to wish is present with me, but ability to work out what is fine is not [present]. For the good that I wish I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice. If, now, what I do not wish is what I do, the one working it out is no longer I, but the sin dwelling in me.
I find, then, this law in my case: that when I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me. I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I behold in my members another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin’s law that is in my members. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, with [my] mind I myself am a slave to God’s law, but with [my] flesh to sin’s law." ( Rom 7:14-25)

In this day to day battle, how grateful we are to have Jesus' sacrifice to cover over our transgressions when we display a truly repentant attitude?

If restrictions were not needed then why was the arrangement for discipline within the congregation put in place? If someone did something that was in breach of the laws of God, they were counseled. If they failed to heed the counsel, then provision was made to both "judge" and "remove the wicked man from among you". (1 Cor 5:9-13)

God is a good parent. He disciplines those he loves with a view to correcting them. (Heb 12:5, 6) The humble ones will take the correction and repent. The stubborn ones will be outside gnashing their teeth, blaming everyone but themselves.

When the kingdom begins its rule, obedient mankind will receive rich blessings. Revelation 21:1-4, 7 says...

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."
"Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I shall be his God and he will be my son."

What a wonderful future awaits them! But as for the ones who have not obeyed the good news, these are described in the following verse....

"But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

The earth will be cleansed of all who do not conform to the will of God.

We'd better be obedient to all that Jesus taught! :yes:

 

[savagewind]

If restrictions were not needed then why was the arrangement for discipline within the congregation put in place? If someone did something that was in breach of the laws of God, they were counseled. If they failed to heed the counsel, then provision was made to both "judge" and "remove the wicked man from among you"

I was commenting on those souls set free because they are adopted as sons of God. The post I was referencing was about speech, #6 of Straw Dog's post. He seemed to have said believers in the truth are limited in their speech. These:

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 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 even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:34-37
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:5,6
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think 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. Matthew 6:7,8

It is my opinion a true believer will not do these things because they can not. I did not say a true believer can not sin.

In a perfect world that might be true...even though it wasn't true for Adam and his wife....and they were perfect

It is some people's opinion that Adam and Eve were perfect souls. The Bible says 1. they were created in God's Image. God's perfect image? I think not. AND 2. everything God created was very good. Does very good mean perfect? I do not see why it would. I have a very good life and a very good family. Perfect? Hardly.

 

[Skwim]

1. The Golden Rule
2. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself
3. God is a Spirit
4. Learn that God is your Father
5. Take the lowliest place
6. Learn the example set by Jesus (hope and courage despite every obstacle)
7. Be true
8. Love is not jealous
9. Love does not look for it's own interests
10. God's will be done is through people
11. God is Holy and does not lie
12. There is also one but it is learned by me from Paul, I guess. It is believers are not many different bodies. Just one body with many parts. It is spiritual.

What are your twelve please?

Just curious as to where these appear in the Bible. Some, such as "Love is not jealous" and " Love does not look for it's own interests" don't ring any bells.

 

[savagewind]

1.Matthew 7:12
2.Matthew 22:37-40
3.John 4:24
4.Matthew 6:9
5.Luke 14:10
6.1 Peter 2:21 Matthew 26:39 Luke 22:44
7.John 14:6
8.1 Peter 4:8 1 Peter 1:22 Love is not jealous (1 Corinthians 13) It is my opinion Yehoshua is not crippled by jealousy that the world is 'Satan's'
9.John 6:38 I am amazed that you do not think doing "the will of the Heavenly Father" exclusively is not defined as "does not look for it's own interest".
10.Jesus is "son of man"...God's will through people (hopefully)
11.Revelation 4:8
12.1 Corinthians 12:21 John 18:9

I think I'm not getting a frubal. Am I?

1.So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

2.'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'...Love your neighbor as yourself

3.God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth

4.This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father"...

5.But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.

6.To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps
My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground

7.Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

8.Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart

9.For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me

10.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born

11."Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

12.The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me.

 

[Straw Dog]

I don't understand #5.

That's okay. It doesn't seem like many of Jesus' own disciples fully understood his teachings as well. Perhaps if the man had more time, then the teaching on transcending apparent opposites could have been elaborated on. Regardless, I still think that the verses speak for themselves. How do you interpret them?

And I don't agree with #6. I would not call it a "limitation" because I think it is not a "restriction" so much as a warning nor is it a "A condition of limited ability; a defect or failing."
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 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 even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:34-37
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:5,6
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think 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. Matthew 6:7,8

The difference between a restriction and a warning is huge I think. Freedom comes with no restrictions because restrictions are things to keep a person weighed down. What is written there is a sign that the person who thinks he is a disciple of Christ, isn't. Once a person becomes a follower of Christ he is not capable of those things. If something is impossible, it does not need to be restricted.

These are the antonyms of "restrict": enlarge, expand, free, let go, release

Yeah, these verses do seem to illustrate the limitations of language in communicating with the Absolute. Sometimes the realization of limitations can be quite liberating. Freedom doesn't make any sense without responsibility after all. Otherwise, it's just chaos.

At any rate, thanks for writing those verses out. This is a good example of how words are very open to interpretation. We're all entitled to our opinions at the end of the day and that's exactly what we're doing, just sharing opinions.

 

[savagewind]

Yeah, these verses do seem to illustrate the limitations of language in communicating with the Absolute. Sometimes the realization of limitations can be quite liberating. Freedom doesn't make any sense without responsibility after all. Otherwise, it's just chaos.

What I mean is bad speech seems to be behind a person when they get adopted as a child of God. I suppose he is capable of going backward, but I just do not see it. If the act that is a restriction is not possible because it has been cut off and left behind it no longer needs a restriction because it is not present any more. A child of God knows God knows all the words forming in the head even before the the words are born. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words And a child of God understands God's sovereignty so cannot swear by anything else. To do so would be siding with the wicked one. Does a faithful person needs a restriction against siding with God's enemy? do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Like a real restriction? Does a true believer need a restriction against putting his self before God? they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.

I am sorry I am causing a stir over a word. It's just semantics I guess. My point though is that my view of The Lord is affirmative. To be adding "restrictions" to love is to stir up controversy which is contradictory to a quiet life .{accord, agreement, forbearance, harmony, peace, quiet}

The restrictions are for what we put IN the body, not what comes out.

So I agree there must exist restrictions, but not of the mind.

Please accept my apology.

 

[savagewind]

Perhaps if the man had more time, then the teaching on transcending apparent opposites could have been elaborated on. Regardless, I still think that the verses speak for themselves. How do you interpret them?

Luke 12:13,14 is about worldly goods. Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" It is an extreme opposite of what he came to do, which is spiritual.

Apparent means not real. Am I wrong?


Matthew 12:25 is about unity, something desirable. Disunity will cause ruin. (I feel I must commentary... man made unity is not real unity because man does not rule truth...It is so annoying that man tries to fake unity).

Matthew 5:44, 45 is about never giving up on anyone. Anyone can be my brother later so hating anyone would be hating my brother or sister, God's child.

Please define "transcending apparent opposites". Does apparent opposites mean two teachings are not opposites? And are those three scriptures examples of seemingly opposite teachings? I don't see it. The three are not about the same things.

 

[savagewind]

What I think "transcending apparent opposites" means is do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) And do not be quick to attack someone's point of view because it may be just apparent it is wrong.

But I do not see how those scriptures are opposite or are not opposite.

 

[lunamoth]

#1-11, "Love one another as I have loved you."

#12, Send lunamoth cash. *



* Oops, how did that one get there?

 

[Philda Tressie]

I think the highlight of His teaching is this: Love God above all things and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

I agree, Renji. That, in a nutshell could be the sum total of His teachings. If we truly love God, we will be obedient to him and that obedience means LIVING everything that Jesus taught, not just KNOWING what He taught. I have digressed a bit from the thread... does it matter?!

 

[Windwalker]

As an ex-Christian, I feel like it's not my place to post an answer. But as someone who still finds value in what Jesus taught, I'll give my two cents. I also want to say that it'll be interesting to see what people post in reply, as it will show what kind of person they think Jesus was, as well as what kind of person they think Jesus wants them to be.

1. All things are interconnected. Jesus taught in John that all things are divine, and part of the divine essence.
2. Love the holy/divine, your neighbor, and your enemies.
3. Don't just be holy on the outside, change the inside as well.
4. Religion isn't about outward form and ritual, but about an inward change to match the divine.
5. Humility/humbleness is important: always put others above yourself.
6. Follow your heart and spirit, don't worry about what others, especially those in authority, think is right.
7. Take care of your own faults, and don't worry about the faults of others.
8. Reject the material world, because it hampers the spiritual.
9. Peace.
10. Love.

Ah yes. Refreshing to see someone in their post-Christian life being able to see these things as well. I too was a former Christian fundamentalist, Bible College graduate and all. It wasn't until after the religion that for me these deeper truths became more evident.

I'll add something to original post with a list of 2. The first sermon I preached made me realize there never needed to be any other ever preached, which was the two greatest commandments, "Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself" which Jesus followed up saying "On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets", which is to say all of religious scriptures and teachings. Love fulfills the law, love works no ill. No other teachings are necessary if you embody that.

 

[HeatherAnn]

1. "The kingdom of God is within you."
2. Love is the greatest commandment which prioritize above the law and the prophets.
3. As we love others, we love God/who is experienced within.
4. Don't use religion/temples etc. to make money
5. Make time for children - learn from their humility and openness
6. Stand up for truth - even to death
7. Nobody's perfect - all Jesus's disciples betrayed him.
8. Don't worship Jesus - "none is GOoD, save one, that is God."
9. As Jesus became, we should. Christ is not Jesus' last name - but is "anointed one."
10. Just do it! Jesus didn't write or talk about doing things - he just did it.

 

[Desert Snake]

Hey ya'll!

I suspect that some Christians are kind of hypocritical and don't know **** about the actual teachings of Jesus.

could be, but so what.

 

[Desert Snake]

I just went through the thread, not one respondent has "Christian" listed next to their religion, there are some followers of Jesus, however is that even the same technically, not sure, I don't think it has to be.

 

[savagewind]

I just went through the thread, not one respondent has "Christian" listed next to their religion, there are some followers of Jesus, however is that even the same technically, not sure, I don't think it has to be.

If I say I am Christian some people will expect I believe Jesus is God. Jesus is God's son. I don't think it is wrong to give to Jesus the god position. If he doesn't want it he need not take it. But I wonder if advertising the trinity is sowing for an idol.

 

[Alt Thinker]

I see no one mentioned this part. It is the only place where Jesus gives explicit instructions on getting eternal life. All three Synoptic Gospels give virtually identical stories.

Matthew 19
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Mark 10
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

Some things of interest:

The specific instructions Jesus gives are the action oriented commandments from the Decalogue.

Since Jesus referred to God just before that, we should not make much of the absence of the theological commandments. These are two Jews conversing; that would be taken for granted.

Leaving out the ‘covet’ commandments is also not a big deal, since coveting leads to wrong action. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes right thinking as important to keeping the commandments.

In verse 17 in Matthew, verse 17 in Mark and verse 19 in Luke, Jesus downplays his own importance in the matter. The way to gain eternal life is to do what God already said to do. The mission of Jesus is to remind everyone of that.

Matthew emphasizes loving one’s neighbor. To understand just how serious he means this can be seen in the story of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25. Those who perform charitable deeds (sheep) are rewarded. Those who fail to perform charitable deeds (goats) are punished. Notice that the sheep do what they do because it is the right thing to do and are unaware of theological implications. Again it is right thinking leading to right action.


Righteous action is the essential message of Jesus. And what constitutes righteous action is well known. Do not sin.

 

[Shuttlecraft]

Jesus said-

 

[Shuttlecraft]

Jesus rescues a prossie and cheers her up by telling the snooty priests-
"The tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God's kingdom ahead of you" (Matt 21:31)

 

[Shuttlecraft]

Jesus said- "You're my friends if you follow me. I don't call you servants, but I call you friends"- (John 15:15)