What did Jesus teach?

Answer

It is impossible to provide a concise answer to the inquiry of what Jesus taught. John, having authored a rather extensive gospel, warns that Jesus performed many other deeds that were not documented. This would undoubtedly extend to His teachings as well (see John 20:30-31 and 21:25). Theologians and scholars of the Bible have labored for centuries to formulate sound summaries of Jesus’ teachings, but what ensues is at least an initial summary:

Jesus delivered teachings publicly to the masses and also privately to His circle of disciples. He also publicly criticized the Jewish religious authorities (Matthew 23).

Jesus upheld but reinterpreted the Old Testament Law. Referred to as “the Sermon on the Mount,” it is the most extensive segment of Jesus’ public teachings in one session (Matthew 5—7;cf: Luke 6:20-49). Here, Jesus emphasizes that it is not the literal observance of the law, but the essence of it that holds significance. Righteousness cannot be attained solely by adhering to the law outwardly.

A significant portion of Jesus’ teachings appears to have aimed at making listeners recognize their inability to uphold the law. For instance, when questioned about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). In a similar scenario in Luke 15, the inquirer realizes the true challenge of this directive and attempts to justify himself. It became evident to him (and should be to all of us) that we are unable to fulfill theTo see commandments perfectly, we need a Savior. Jesus reached out to the outcasts and sinners who were closer to the kingdom than the “righteous” because they recognized their dire inadequacies (see Matthew 21:31; Luke 18:9-14; Mark 2:15-17).

The kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven) is near. Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God was about to arrive and that He, as Messiah, was the one to usher it in. However, this kingdom was not the earthly, military, political kingdom that was often expected by the Jews. The kingdom of God was centered on a relationship with Jesus as King. The bulk of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew centers on the nature of the kingdom of God. Integral to this teaching was that He would die and rise again, “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31). This death was to pay for sins (Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28).

Jesus often taught in parables, which are extended illustrations to explain spiritual truth. Some of the most famous parables of Jesus are found in Luke, such as the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Depending on how they are categorized, there are between 30 and 40 parables of Jesus in the New Testament.

Jesus also claimed to be the Son of God, a statement that the people understood to be a claim to deity, “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

», (John 10:33). However, the term He used most often to describe Himself was “Son of Man,” based on the heavenly personage described in Daniel 7:13–14.

While Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain much of the same teachings of Jesus, John records many teachings that are not found in the other gospels. Perhaps most significant are the “I am” sayings and their explanations:

• “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” «And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. », (John 6:35).

• “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” «Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. », (John 8:12).

• “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” «I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. », (John 10:9).

• “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” «I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. », (John 10:11).

• “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” «Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live. », (John 11:25).

He lives: , (John 11:25).

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. , (John 14:6).

• “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. , (John 15:1).

John also contains the longest account of Jesus’ private instruction to His disciples in one sitting (John 13—16).

No matter how one categorizes Jesus’ teachings, it becomes evident that Jesus considered a response to Him to be the deciding factor in one’s relationship with God and ultimate eternal destiny. It is also noteworthy that, while many emphasize Jesus’ teaching on love, most of what we know about hell is also from Jesus.

Today, some Christians claim to be “Red Letter Christians.” In many Bibles, the words of Christ are printed in red. “Red Letter Christians” focus on the teachings of Christ in the New Testament (the red letters) and minimize other New Testament teachings. On a similar note, people sometimes say, “Jesus never mentioned anything about homosexuality (or some other topic), so I don’t talk about it, either.” The “Red Letter” emphasis misunderstands the teaching and authority of Jesus. Jesus affirmed the Old Testament and all the moral imperatives contained in it. The apostles who wrote the New Testament (under inspiration of the Holy Spirit) were speaking for Christ. When Paul writes about homosexuality or any other topic, he writes with the authority of Christ. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would remind His apostles of His teaching after He had ascended into heaven But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost.

« But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. », (John 14:26). Jesus commissioned the apostles, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). The apostles simply relayed and applied the teaching of Jesus to the infant church, and we find the record of this in the rest of the New Testament.

There is no better way to find out what Jesus taught than to read the whole New Testament— not just the gospels.