6.2 how should we live? Flashcards
What were the main ethical teachings of Judaism?
- the poor were looked down on
- prosperity + piety were linked
- wealth was a blessing of God
- outcasts were to be shunned
- law is the means of purity
How do the teachings of Jesus differ from that of Judaism?
- the poor were welcomed
- no link between piety + prosperity
- wealth acts as a hindrance
- Jesus came for sinners
- faith and repentance are the means of salvation
- Jesus proclaimed God’s forgiveness of sins
How do the Beatitudes in Lk differ from Mt?
- the blessings in Lk are shorter than in Mt and are much more materially focused
- Mt = ‘the poor in spirit whereas Lk = those who hunger, who are poor and who weep will be the ones to be blessed under the new KofG
What are the Woes?
- unique to Lk
- criticises those who are rich, well fed and uncaring
- ‘woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort’
What is the significance of Jesus standing on a ‘level place’?
- he doesn’t teach from on high; he isn’t above the needy/sick but is equal among them, willing to come down to a human level to teach
- it’s possible that Lk wished to avoid Jewish nationalistic overtones to appeal to a more Gentile audience
What does Tasker suggest about the Beatitudes?
- ‘the future tense…emphasises their certainty and not merely their futurity’
What does Matera observe when comparing the sermon on the plain with the sermon on the mount?
- Luke offers a ‘distinctively Christian ethic’
What does Marshall observe when comparing the sermon on the plain with the sermon on the mount?
- Lk’s sermon is more concerned with the needs of the downtrodden and giving warnings to the prosperous, rather than spiritual virtues and their rewards as found in Mt
What do scholars generally accept about the sermon on the plain?
- Lk’s sermon has a more universal message reflecting the interests of the Gentiles compared to Mts ‘distinctively Jewish’ sermon
What are the two themes of the sermon on the plain?
- the reversal of fortunes in the KofG
- love for enemies and the Golden Rule
How can the reversal of fortuned be seen in the sermon on the plain?
- blessings = the poor will become rich and the persecuted will have cause to rejoice
- woes = serve as warnings if people don’t humble themselves
- Matera = this is a call to the rich and powerful to evaluate their behaviour
How can love for enemies be seen in the sermon on the plain?
- Jesus points out that it is easy to love those who love you BUT it isn’t an indication of moral character as even. sinners do this
What is the main theme in The Parable of the Good Samaritan?
- ‘love of enemies’ - the Samaritans and Jews had long been enemies, yet it’s the Samaritan who shows true compassion and puts the Golden Rule into action as Jesus intended
How can Jesus be seen to challenge the ethic of law in the parable of the Good Samaritan?
- the priest and levite acted within Jewish law (Lev 21:1) - touching a dead person would count as defilement and so they didn’t help the man
What are Jesus’ teachings in the parable of the good samaritan based on?
- the love of God = Deuteronomy 6:5
- the love of neighbour = Leviticus 19:18
How is the meaning of neighbour changed by Jesus?
- the command to love your neighbour is universalised to mean everyone not just those in your community
In what ways has the parable of the good samaritan impacted Christian codes for living?
- pluralism = love your neighbour means being open to different religions having wisdom they don’t have
- Situation Ethics
- equality = the differences between religion and race are totally overshadowed by the duty to love others regardless of their identity
What is the significance of ‘tax collectors and sinners’ gathering around Jesus to hear the parables of the lost?
- highlights that Jesus mixed with the marginalised members of society
- showing the universal and inclusive nature of the KofG and the importance of being non-judgemental
What is the main message of the parable of the lost sheep?
- a shepherd’s joy at finding his lost sheep is analogous to the joy God has on seeing a sinner repent
What is the main message of the parable of the lost coin?
- the emphasis is that God actively searches for people to repent
- he is wholly concerned with the salvation of human beings
