1. What Jesus Taught
Chapter 20

2. “No man ever spoke like this man!”
People initially addressed Jesus as “Rabbi” or teacher but his interpretations of scripture didn’t admit debate.
“People’s Responses to Jesus”
Comforter, wise teacher, Messiah
Imposter, Arrogant
Either way, He couldn’t be ignored
Unlike the Raabis, Jesus taught on his own authority. Rabbi’s would read scripture, read what other Rabbis had said about it, then give his own interpretation. Jesus did NOT quote anyone, but spoke truth under his own authority.
Authority: Lord, to whom shall we go? For you have the words of everlasting life.

3. Parable: A story used to illustrate a principle or moral teaching
2 Primary Messages of Jesus’ Parables:
Invitation to the feast of the Kingdom
One must give all to gain the Kingdom
Mt 7: Parable of the man who built his house on a rock
Mt 16: – Peter’s Great Confession
Christ taught with parables, which are stories that illustrate principles.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders illustrates the nature of the Church he was establishing on rock.
Mt 7: Parable of the man who built his house on a rock
Message:
If you do as Jesus says, you’ll be secure
“wise man” – reference to King Solomon who built his house on the famous Foundation Stone
Later (Mt 16: 17-18) the wise man is referenced in Peter’s Great Confession as we see why Jesus is building his house upon Peter “the rock”
Legend of th Foundation Stone:
This great rock was the gate of the underworld, the place of the dead (hades/sheol). The temple sealed this gate.
PARTNER BREAK:
What parallel exists between the Teple and the Church in light of the parable of the wise and foolish builders?
Parable: If a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit. (Mt 15:14)

4. The Kingdom of God is the secret at the heart of EVERY parable!
Christ’s central teaching was the Kingdom of God being at hand; the rest of his teachings were about what the Kingdom is like and how to live in it.
The Kingdom of God is the secret at the heart of EVERY parable!
Christ’s central teaching was the Kingdom of God being at hand; the rest of his teachings were about what the Kingdom is like and how to live in it.
The reign of God
The kingdom is here and not yet fully realized
Jesus is revealing in his teachings the kingdom of God, what’s it’s like, and how to LIVE IT
EVERY teaching has the Kingdom of God as it’s theme.
3 ways Christ made his teachings understandable:
Parables, striking paradoxes, and the example of his own life
Kingdom of God: The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. (Mk 1:15)

5. Themes of Jesus’ Teachings:
3 ways Christ made his teachings understandable:
Parables, striking paradoxes, and the example of his own life
Themes of Jesus’ Teachings:

6. In Baptism we are “born from above” by water and the Spirit
Baptism is the entry into the Kingdom of God.
John 3:4-5
Nicodemus the Pharisee
“Rabbi, we know you are a teacher from God, for no one can do these signs that you’re doing unless God were with him.
This is a reference to Baptism. Nicodemus had trouble understanding.
Nicodemus the Pharisee couldn’t dismiss Jesus, His teachings of signs. He later defended Jesus after his execution and identified himself as one of Jesus’ disciples.
Nic:
Was a prominent Pharisee
Addressed Christ humbly calling him teaher of rabbi
Two meanings of ANEW – means again or from above
How did Nic misunderstand Jesus initially?
What did Christ actually mean?
What effect did meeting Christ have on Nic?
Born from Above: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. (Jn 3:3)

7. The Spirit of the Law-Luke 10:30-36
The Lawyer’ questions
“What do I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Who is my neighbor?”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Priest and Levite
The Samaritan
Micah 6:7-8
-To be holy we must obey the spirit of the law as well as the letter – this is what it means that Jesus fulfills the Law.
Micah 6:7-8 is the prophecy regarding the spirit of the law
Discussion questions: John and the dishes and the spirit of the law
Letter of the law is not enough: God desires Mercy, not sacrifice. (Hos 6:6)

8. To be holy, one must obey not just the letter of the Law but the spirit behind it; the Spirit of the New Law is the Holy Spirit, who shows love and mercy to every person without qualification, illustrated by the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
The New Law elevates and orients the Old Law toward the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the poor, sorrowful, humble, and persecuted will be first and the rich and proud will be last.
What is the relationship between obeying the spirit of the Law and conversion of heart?
Obeying the spirit of the Law means discerning what is in the heart of the Law—what the Law really intends—and conforming an action to its intention. In order to be attentive to the true intention of a law, one needs a new, or converted, heart: one that is humble, forgiving, pure, and prayerful.
What two Commandments sum up the Old Law?
Love God with your whole heart and your neighbor as yourself (cf. Mt 22:37–39).
Why did the lawyer ask, “Who is my neighbor?” (Lk 12:29)?
He wanted to know the letter of the Law, i.e., exactly which people he had to love and which people he could ignore or even hate.
The New Law and the Old Law: Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Mt 5:17)

9. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, why did the priest and the Levite avoid the man who had fallen among robbers?
The man looked dead, and touching a dead body would have made them ritually unclean.
What was the essence of the Old Law according to Micah?
The essence of the Old Law was justice, kindness, and humility before God.
What was Christ’s answer to the lawyer’s original question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Lk 12:29)?
Since Christ had told him to go and do as the Samaritan had done, the answer clearly included every person in need.
The New Law: …even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many. (Mt 20: 27-28)

10. Journal about the Spirit of the New Law of Love.
What do you think?

11. The Paradox of the Beatitudes:
Christ taught those suffering what are considered misfortunes are actually blessed because of the rewards they will receive from God.
The Beatitudes take up and fulfill God’s promises from Abraham on by ordering them to the kingdom of Heaven. They respond to the desire for happiness That God has placed in the human heart. –CCC1725
We see in the sermon on the mount how Jesus fulfills the old law orienting it towards the kingdom of heaven.
Why did the poor and outcast follow Christ?
Christ taught the last would be first and the first would be last. These groups were certainly last.
What is paradoxical about the Beatitudes?
Christ taught those suffering what people consider misfortunes are actually blessed because of the rewards they will receive. For example, those who are poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God and are thus blessed.
How can a person become great in the Kingdom of God?
A person can become great by becoming a servant of others in imitation of the Son of Man, who came not to be served but to serve.
The Sermon on the Mount: The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

12. Read Matthew 5:3-12 and write a short parable illustrating one of those teachings.
The sermon on the mount

13. The New Law commands:
Love of enemies
Unconditional forgiveness
Practice mercy towards others
Pray without ceasing
Receive the true Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist
Christ’s New Law commands love of enemies and unconditional forgiveness of those who offend, which is an imitation of God’s love.
God gives grace—even though no one deserves it—because he loves as a Father loves his children; people must go beyond strict justice to practice mercy toward others.
People are to pray without ceasing, confident God will hear them; the Lord’s Prayer is the model of prayer.
Christ is the Bread of Life; in the Eucharist, the People of God receive the true Body and Blood of Christ.
Characteristics of the New Law: But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly father. (Mt. 5:44)

14. GN 4:23-24 – Lamech’s revenge MT 18:21-22 – Peter’s forgiveness
“Seventy-seven fold”
GN 4:23-24 – Lamech’s revenge
MT 18:21-22 – Peter’s forgiveness
Read the scriptures and show how through Peter’s questions of forgiveness, Jesus turns Lamech’s revenge on it’s head.
There is no limit to the number of times Christians should show mercy.
Love your enemies: …But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return: and your reward will be great, and you will see the sons of the Most High. (Lk 6:33)

15. Class Discussion Why should you love your enemies?
How can you love your enemies?
Does loving enemies have reasonable limits as to what you let them do to you or what you should do for them?
Class Discussion

16. God’s grace Is undeserved.
“The New Law is the grace of the Holy Spirit received by faith in Christ, operating through charity. It finds expression above all in the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount and uses the sacraments to communicate grace to us.” CCC1983
We must overcome the human desire for strict justice in order to understand God’s grace and mercy.
Loves us like a father loves his children.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, what did the younger brother do?
He took his share of his father’s wealth, went to a Gentile land, and squandered it on wild living.
Why did the younger brother return home?
He was without money and hungry and reasoned, if he could work as a servant in his father’s house, he would be better off than he was.
How did their father respond to the younger son’s return?
He was overjoyed, accepted his son back, and prepared a celebration
How did the older brother respond to their father’s forgiveness?
He resented it. He complained he had been a faithful son yet his father had never given him a feast with his friends.
Why is it wrong not to want others to receive God’s blessings?
God goes beyond strict justice to give his grace and extend his mercy to all people. Every person is wholly undeserving of divine grace and mercy.
What does the Parable of the Prodigal Son reveal about how God loves?
God loves every person the way a good father loves his children, even when they do the exact opposite of what they ought.
The Prodigal Son: But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. (LK 15:32)

17. The New Law: Grace (CCC 1983)
Complete the chart using CCC 1983
The New Law: Grace (CCC 1983)

18. The New Law: Grace

19. The Lord’s Prayer Mt 6:9-13
The given order of prayer: Glory to God, ask for his will in all circumstances, petition for needs.
The New Law: Pray without ceasing:  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (Mt 21:22)

20. Jesus is the Bread of Life
Jesus’ disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the bread of life.” He had to explain it and become more specific each time.
Jn 6:35
Jn 6:51
Jn 6:53-58
The teaching was so shocking and challenging that many followers left him.
Jn 6:67-69
They recognized what Jesus meant at the Last Supper. This is why the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church.
It provides us with the grace and salvation that He promised.

21. What is the relationship between obeying the spirit of the Law and conversion of heart?
What 2 commandments sum up the New Law?
Why did the lawyer as “Who is my neighbor?” in Luke?