Conflict & Argument Flashcards
Define “the law”
The collection of laws handed down by God and collected in the Torah.
Define “sinners”
Those who did not follow all the Jewish laws.
Define “Pharisees”
A religious group whose aim was to keep the traditional Jewish faith alive.
Define “Sabbath”
The Jewish day of rest on the seventh day of the week.
Define “Ritual cleanliness”
The Jewish laws on food and washing which prevented anything unclean entering the body.
Define “Corban”
A gift dedicated by God which meant it could not be used for anything else.
Define “Passion”
The sufferings of Jesus, especially in the time leading up to his crucifixion.
Define “palm Sunday”
The Sunday before Good Friday when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey.
Define “the temple”
The building in Jerusalem where sacrifices were made.
Define “scribes”
Jewish lawyers; originally men who made copies of the Torah.
Define “Sadducees”
A group of priests who controlled the Temple and collaborated with the Romans.
Define “fasting”
Going without food on certain days as a sign of devotion to God.
Summarise “Jesus heals a paralysed man”.
- Jews at the time believed that disease/illness was caused by demons, sin and punishment by God.
- This is why Jesus connects the man’s cure to the forgiveness of sin – Jesus tries to get the Jews to understand him.
- The Jews believed that only God could forgive sin, so Jesus has authority from God.
Why did “Jesus heals a paralysed man” cause conflict?
- The teachers of the law thought that by claiming to forgive sins, Jesus was committing blasphemy.
- This was because he was claiming to have power that belonged to God.
How is “Jesus heals a paralysed man” important for Christians today?
- Christians can see that their sins can be forgiven through Jesus.
- In the story of Jesus sending out the Twelve Disciples, Jesus gave authority to forgive sins. Many believers believe that that authority and power remains with the Church. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox priests have authority to hear people’s confessions. Having heard the confession the priest can forgive the person.
- Believers also believe that Jesus still has the power to heal people and they pray for this to happen.
- Also many believers believe that the Church has the same authority to heal people. And there are many examples of people being healed.
Do priests have the right to forgive a person’s sins? Why do you agree?
- In the Sending out of the Twelve, Jesus gave the disciples the authority to forgive sins. Many people think that this authority remains within the Church and so priests can forgive sins.
- If sin is linked to sickness, there are many examples of people being healed within the Church. This means that they have the authority to forgive sin.
Do priests have the right to forgive a person’s sins? Why do you disagree?
- Only God has the power to forgive sins.
2. Jesus could forgive sin because he is God and has authority from God. Priests do not have this direct authority.
Summarise “Sabbath corn”.
- The Sabbath day was holy – no work was allowed to be done.
- It was seen that anyone who broke the Sabbath broke God’s covenant.
- The Pharisees accused Jesus and his disciples of breaking the Sabbath law.
- Jesus referred to the Old Testament hero, King David.
- Jesus shows how human need is more important than Sabbath law; men were not made for the Sabbath.
- Jesus had the authority to break the Sabbath Law.
How did the story “Sabbath corn” cause conflict?
- Jesus allowed his disciples to break the Sabbath Law.
- Jesus was claiming to be equal to King David, who was a hero for the Jews.
- Jesus says that God’s representatives had the authority to break the Sabbath law, that God is allowing Jesus to break the law.
- Jesus calls himself the Son of Man, and he says that the “Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”, saying that he has authority from God to break the Law.
How is the story “Sabbath corn” important for Christians today?
- It is important for different communities to get along today.
- Arguments about the Sabbath can be applied today by saying that religious laws should not divide people. Human beings are more important than rituals.
Summarise “Jesus heals a man with a paralysed hand”.
- When Jesus says “What does our Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To help or to harm? To save someone’s life or to destroy it?” he means what is the Sabbath law about; rules or regulations or doing good?
- Jesus was angry about the Pharisees attitude.
- The Pharisees and Herodians began to plot Jesus’ death.
How did the story “Jesus heals a man with a paralysed hand” cause conflict?
- Jesus didn’t avoid the situation; he deliberately challenged the Pharisees by asking the man to come forward.
- Jesus claimed that the Pharisees laws were second to his command.
- Jesus put human need above religious laws.
- The Pharisees refuse to accept the arrival of the Kingdom.
How is the story “Jesus heals a man with a paralysed hand” important for Christians today?
- Sometimes Christianity is misunderstood today, partly because not all Christians interpret Jesus’ teachings in the same way.
- Many people think that Christians live a strict life like the Pharisees: no divorce, abortion or contraception.
- Christians believe that the message of Jesus is that every individual is of value to God and to each other.
- Christians relationship with God is based on love. It is not a relationship in which rules are kept because of fear or the belief that such actions will bring reward.
Should Christians keep the Sabbath law today? Why do you agree?
- The Sabbath Law is one of the Ten Commandments. In the Rich Young Man, Jesus said that the Ten Commandments must be followed.
- Jesus has authority over the Sabbath, but Christians do not, so they should obey the laws.
- When Jesus says that the “Sabbath was made for man”, it could be interpreted as saying that the Sabbath was made to serve man, and so it is good for man.
Should Christians keep the Sabbath law today? Why do you disagree?
- God accepts people on the person that they are, not if they keep certain laws. As Jesus said in the Meaning of the Law, what is really important is what comes out of a person.
- Jesus allowed his disciples to break the Sabbath law, so as disciples now, Christians can too.
- When Jesus healed the man with the paralysed hand, he said that it is more important to do good on the Sabbath than to obey the law.