The Teaching of Jesus

The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most significant teachings of Jesus, found in Matthew 5-7.
Jesus speaks about key Christian principles such as humility, meekness, and peacemaking, referred to as the Beatitudes.
In this sermon, He also reinterprets the Law, stressing the importance of inward purity over outward legalism.
Here, Jesus speaks about important practices like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
The concept of ‘Golden Rule’ - ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is introduced in this sermon.
The Sermon on the Mount is thus considered a summary of Jesus’ ethical teachings.

The Law and the Commands of Jesus

According to Jesus, following God’s commands isn’t merely about keeping the laws but involves a transformation of the heart.
Jesus teaches that love for God and neighbour are the greatest commandments, as mentioned in Matthew 22:37-40.
He adds a new command for his followers in John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Jesus also repeatedly illustrates the importance of forgiveness and mercy over judgement, for instance in Matthew 7:1-5.
His teachings emphasise furthering the Kingdom of God through love, forgiveness and righteous living.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is taught by Jesus as a model of how to pray, as recorded in Matthew 6:5-15.
Elements in the prayer include adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.
The prayer reflects Jesus’ teachings on the fatherhood of God, the coming of the Kingdom, the necessity for forgiveness, and the struggle against temptation.
It remains a central part of Christian liturgy, testifying to the importance of prayer in Jesus’ teaching and in ongoing Christian practice.

The Parables of the Kingdom of God

Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God using different parables.
Parables such as the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) and the Leaven (Luke 13:20-21) describe its small beginnings and expansive growth.
The Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) and the Net (Matthew 13:47-50) depict the judgement that comes with the Kingdom.
The parables serve the purpose of explaining the seemingly mysterious nature of the kingdom.

Remember, understanding and reflecting on the teachings of Jesus as given in the Gospels is fundamental to understanding the Christian faith. The teachings reveal aspects of Christ’s character, values, and priorities, and provide guidance for Christian practice.