Chapter eight - The Teaching of Jesus According to the Synoptic Gospels

The main purpose of the teaching of both Jesus and John the Baptist was to proclaim the Gospel (good news) that the Kingdom of God was at hand. In the past, it was believed that their God had punished the nation when they forgot to worship him or disobey his laws. John the Baptist called on the people to repent. Jesus also calls for repentance in preparation for the Kingdom of God. We are told of thousands who followed Jesus. When a rich man came to him and asked "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him '"You know the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother". (The above are now universal laws.) And he said to him. Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing, go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me." Mark 10:18-21. No mention of belief. The instructions have two parts (a) Keep the laws of Moses and (b) be concerned about your neighbours and the poor. It offered a moral code of law and social and ethical attitudes toward one's neighbours.

A scribe came to Jesus and asked, "which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus replies "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this. You shall love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:29-31. Did not Jesus say, "Love your enemies; do not resist an evil doer; If anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile; Come unto me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Regarding taxes he says, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." Mark 12:17. Then we have the golden rule "In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you." Matt. 7:12. This is the same universal golden rule first recorded about 600 B.C. and repeated by Confucius, Buddha, Plato and many others. It is the basis of social accord. The code of Jesus is humane. simple and concise. If we all obeyed the law of the land and loved our neighbours there would be little or no crime.

The disciples were arguing who is the greatest. Jesus called the twelve to him and said "Whoever wants to be first, must be last of all and servant of all." He advises "Be at peace with one another." Jesus was moved with compassion toward children and the poor and suffering. His parables taught neighbourliness, love, loyalty, endurance, justice and righteousness. Today we would call Jesus an honourable, law abiding and socially sensitive citizen. Most of all, Jesus was interested in the Kingdom of God, the time when, according to the prophets, God's laws (the Mosaic laws) would be acknowledged by all the nations of the world. I ask myself does the teaching of Jesus measure up to the ethical standards of the Greek philosophers? For virtue and justice, Yes, I think it does, except perhaps for knowledge. He trusted the words of the prophets which finally proved unreliable. No prophecy is a certainty. No one has yet become the expected Messiah of the Jews.