6.2 How should we live? Flashcards
What is Jesus’ relationship with the Jewish moral code?
- Teachings and methods rooted in judaism
- Jesus followed rabbinic method of biblical exegesis, Midrash, and use of parables
- Jesus’ ethical code was not new, it grew out of the Jewish moral code found in the Torah
Christian codes for living
- Taken from the life and teachings of Jesus
- Have to understand Jesus’ teachings and how they differ to Judaism teachings
- Need to know the impact of Jesus’ teachings on Christian moral codes
How are Jesus’ teachings interpreted today?
- Throughout centuries theologians have merged Jesus’ teachings with different moral theories e.g natural moral law
- Modern day moral philosophers continue to study the ministry of Jesus and have developed ethical theories like situation ethics
- Jesus’ teachings still form the basis for christian moral decision making on such issues as equality and pluralism- but is interpreted differently
Why do some scholars criticise ‘morality is based on scripture’?
- Jesus’ ethical teachings belong to the world of first-century Judaism and not contemporary society. Treating them as timeless moral principles leads to problems of interpretation, rendering them unreliable.
- Morality evolves and so should not be derived from scripture
How is the ‘sermon on the plain’ different to ‘the sermon on the mount’?
Matera: observes Luke offers a ‘distinctively christian ethic’
Marshall: comments Luke’s sermon is more concerned with the needs of the downtrodden and giving warnings to the prosperous, rather than spiritual virtues and their rewards found in Matthew
Generally accepted that:
- Luke’s sermon has a more universal message reflecting the interests of the gentiles compared to the distintively Jewish nature of Matthew’s sermon
- Matthew focuses on righteousness and the Law compared with love of eemies, not judging others and the concerns of the poor and persecuted
What are the 2 themes of the ‘sermon on the plain’?
The reversal of fortunes in the kingdom of God
- in his first sermon Jesus said he had come to bring god news to the poor and continues into the sermon on the plain: In the blessings the reversal of the fortunes that will occur in the kingdom of God are revealed- e.g the poor will become rich. And the woes serve as warnings if people do not humble themselves
- Matera: suggests this is a call to the rich and powerful to evaluate their moral behaviour
Love for enemies and the golden rule
- By universailing specific laws given in the Torah e.g if you find an enemie’s ox you should return it (exodus), to love your enemies
- through the golden rule (Do onto others as you would have them do to you- luke 6:31) Jesus points out that it is easy to love those who love you, but treating others how you want to be treated regardless of how they treat you is true compassion
What does Marshall observe about the ethical teachings of Jesus in Luke?
- ethical teachings in Luke are directly linked with his eschatological vie; that the Kingdom of God is present in the ministry of Jesus
- becoming part of the kingdom is through repentance
- responding to the ethical techings of Jesus is equally responding to the kingdom of God
What are key features of the parable of the good samaratin?
- Illistrates the theme of ‘love of enemies’
- teachings based on the love of God in Deuteronomy 6:5 and love of neighbour in Leviticus 19:18
- The priest and the levite acted within the Jewish law. Is Jesus condemning religious behaviour that prevents compassion? Is the lack of compassion shown by the priest and the levite more important than the reason that they did not help?
- The use of ‘samaratin’ focuses the reader on who their neighbours are
How does the parable of the good samaratin impact christian codes for living?
- centrality of love in Jesus’ teachings inspired situation ethics
- the parable can be considered to teach about pluralism: Jews and samaratins believed in the sae God and any religious differences between them detract from love of God and others
- Gives clear message about equality: differences between religion and race are overshadowed by the duty to love others regardless of their identity
What are the key features of the parables of lost? (Luke 15)
Luke highlights that Jesus mixed with the marginalised members of society: tax collectors and sinners- universal inclusivity of God
Jesus’ ministry starts and ends with the call to repentance (5:31 and 24:46)- 3 parables emphasise positiveness of repentence:
- the sheperd represents God’s joy over the one sinner who repents
- the joy of the woman on finding the coin after an intencse search is linked to the rejoicing in heaven over sinners who repent
- the wayward son’s return makes the father celebrate
parables show how a person should respond ethically and practically to those who repent
- the young son squanders his father’s money, and humiliates himself by feeding the pigs
- older son stays at home to help father
- Younger son returns and offers repentence
- The father welcomes him and loves him
- the older son is angered and feels cheated
How does the parables of lost impact the christian codes for living?
Asks Christians should it be possible to forgive and accept the repentence of those that do wrong? Does contrition mean people should be forgiven and accept the repentence of those that do wrong?
Interpreted as ‘love the sinner hate the sin’ but what did Jesus actually teach?
- taught about unconditional love; the father in the parable did not qualify his compassion for his lost son.
- Jesus spoke of ‘love thy neighbour’ not sinners; the focus was on their humanity not their actions, which is more likely to lead to judging the person
Parables teach us through repentence and forgiveness that ‘respect for otherness of others’ is shown- quality of a pluralistic society
What are the key features of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)?
- Jesus is not commenting on the social problems of the day or teaching about life and death but is issuing a warning of the dangers of not following God’s law
- Matera states that Luke represents the Pharisees as lovers of money who are more concerned with external appearances than spiritual life
- The parable illustrates the teachings from the sermon on the plain about the reversal of fortunes in the kingdom of God. The Jewish audience would have been shocked by the reversal of fortunes between Lazurus and the rich man as Lazarus’ state would have indicated that he was a sinner being punished by God, and the wealth of the rich man was considered to be a material blessing from God
- Jesus’ ethical code is building upon Jewish law, as when the dead rich man asks Abraham if his brothers can be warned, Abraham replies ‘They have Moses and the Prophets’ (Luke 16:29)- the ethical code on how to care for the poorwas already part of the religion
How does the rich man and Lazurus (Luke 16:19-31) impact christian moral codes for living?
Modern day Christians continue to find a message within the parable concerning equality/ social justice
The parable teaches:
- The value of each person- parable names Lazurus but not the rich man
- the love of money is the root of evil, instead of using wealth to help others the rich man idolises it
The parable re-inforces:
- that showing compassion and helping the needy through one’s wealth stem from love of God
- the need to be openhearted and use wealth to remove others’ suffering
