The Teachings of Jesus (TOJ)

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TOJ #38: Store your treasures in heaven. [Matt. 6:19-21//Luke 9:58] The point of this teaching is not so much the location but the definition of treasure {Luke 12:32-34}. Spiritual truths and moral virtues are more valuable than material possessions (Eph. 1:18, 2:7, 3:9&16, Col. 1:27, 2:2-3; TOJ #118).

TOJ #39: Be filled with spiritual light/truth. Matt. 6:22-23//Luke 11:34-36] This rather parenthetical analogy utilizing the light-darkness dichotomy seems to mean that our eyes are good and our souls enlightened if we see the glory of God and appreciate His truth (Psa. 119:105, John 1:4-9&14). Sharing our light with others was the emphasis in TOJ #19, and #186 teaches that Jesus is the light personified.

TOJ #40: Accept God’s lordship. [Matt. 6:24//Luke 16:13] Lordship is a 100% loyalty that excludes idolatry (Gal. 5:20, Eph. 5:5) or adoration of anything other than what God approves (Rom. 12:2). If we do not decide to love the Lord, we hate Him. There is no middle or third option, because they are qualitatively opposite. If we hear the gospel and do not choose to believe in Jesus, then God knows that in our heart we are rejecting Him. {John 3:18, 8:24} (See TOJ #122.) {Matt. 12:30//Luke 11:23}

TOJ #41: Do not worry. [Matt. 6:25-34//Luke 12:22-31] Worry is wrong. If we value eternal life highly, we will not worry greatly about troubles in this life. See TOJ #85. This truth is expressed in the Serenity Prayer: “Lord, grant me courage to change what I can, patience to endure what I cannot change, and wisdom to know the difference.” Note that Jesus did not say “do not work or sow or plan.” {John 14:1&27}

TOJ #42: Temper reproof with love so you will not be judgmental. [Matt. 7:1-5//Luke 6:37, 38b, 41-42] Jesus condemned hypocrisy (TOJ #134) or having a spiritual superiority complex (TOJ #31) more than any other sin (MT 23). However, he did not condemn repentant sinners (TOJ #53), and saints/Believers should be very careful that their explanation of divine wrath does not impugn God’s love as taught by Paul in Romans 5:5-10.

Jesus exemplified this teaching when He reproved the adulterous woman {John 8:11}. [Note that the NIV questions the reliability of Matt. 7:53-8:11, but the story certainly seems compatible with the character and TOJ.] As John 3:17 states, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world.” Note that this teaching does not mean saints should not be discerning or reproving (John 7:24, 1Cor. 12:10, 2Cor. 13:6; cf. TOJ #101).

 

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TOJ #44: Ask/seek/knock. [Matt. 7:7-11/LK 11:9-13] These three synonyms are three, four and five letter words for GRFS. Ask what is true, seek salvation, and knock on heaven’s door. (See Heb. 11:6) The parallel passage in Luke makes this clear, because instead of “good gifts” it says the Holy Spirit will be given to those who ask. (See TOJ #182.) Thus, sincerely seeking salvation is regarded by God as righteousness (cf. Rom. 4:3), probably because God knows that were a seeker given the opportunity to hear the gospel, he/she would believe and be saved or sanctified {John 17:17}.

A soul enters the path of salvation at the moment he/she decides to ask/seek/knock, but all primitive paths eventually converge onto the highway to heaven at the point of accepting Christ (TOJ #49). James 1:5&17 teaches this truth in terms of wisdom. Its converse is that those who are not truth-seekers will not LGW/satisfy GRFS. {Matt. 21:24-27//Mark 11:29-33//Luke 20:3-8, Matt. 22:18//Mark 12:15//Luke 20:23-24}

TOJ #45: Treat others like you want to be treated. [Matt. 7:12] This “golden rule” is equivalent to the “law of love” (TOJ #129), but the wording is so famous it should be listed separately. {Luke 6:31}

TOJ #46: Most people choose to reject GRFS. [Matt. 7:13-14] One hopes that Jesus was using hyperbole for effect, but the tragic truth is that many people choose hell. Why this is true, God only knows, but surely if it were possible to create souls any better than innocent and volitional, He would have done so. Some passages {Matt. 22:14, Luke 13:23-24, John 6:44&65} state this teaching in deterministic wording that is not consistent with the NT doctrine that all are called (John 3:16, 1Tim. 2:3-4, 2Pet. 3:9), though many choose not to accept God’s invitation (Luke 13:34) to enter heaven. The nearly identical twin of this truth is TOJ #67. {Matt. 24:12}

TOJ #47: Beware of false teachers. [Matt. 7:15-20] Many people allow themselves to be led astray by “wolves” (Ezek. 22:27) in sheepskins, who claim to be inspired by God—just as Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2Cor. 11:14)—because they do not evaluate their behavior {Luke 6:43-45}. Perhaps they are tricked by apparent miracles {Matt. 24:24} or fail to discern how their doctrine perverts GW. {Matt. 16:6-11//Mark 8:15//Luke 12:1} Whatever the reason, they are blind followers of blind guides {Matt. 15:13-14}. (See TOJ #138.) Only Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His life to save anyone who wants to be His sheep {John 10:11-13}. He is the key to a correct understanding of reality. {Luke 11:52}

 

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TOJ #48: Not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is one. [Matt. 7:21-23//Luke 6:46] A person’s words and deeds manifest his/her genuine Faith or values. Many so-called Christians seem not to hunger to LGW. (See TOJ #13.) One hopes that they have not accepted a pseudo- or semi-gospel and become inoculated against the real thing or full gospel. {Matt. 12:33-35, Luke 13:26-27}

At this point Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a parable about wise and foolish builders (found also in Luke 6:47-49 and already cited) that teaches again the importance of building our lives on God’s Word (TOJ #3).

Jesus’ Teachings in Galilee through His Spiritual Family
(Matt. 8:11-19:30 & // Passages)

Jesus’ statements in the eighth chapter of Matthew do not seem to contain teachings that are relevant or applicable generally until verses 11-12.

TOJ #49: God elects to save all who elect Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile. [Matt. 8:11-12] Electing Jesus means accepting or believing in Him as Messiah/Christ/Son of Man/Son of God/God the Son/Lord. (See TOJ #131.) {John 3:16b & 18, 8:24, 11:25-26, 16:27, 17:6} Paul indicated this election or choice by the phrase “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3-13). Of course, this statement of GRFS assumes a soul has the opportunity to hear the NT gospel. Otherwise, they are limited to perceiving a proto-gospel via general revelation (creation per Rom. 1:20 and conscience per Rom. 2:14-15). Election does not mean determination (see TOJ #136).

Although Jesus’ primary mission as Messiah was to the Jews (TOJ #88), His ministry to the Canaanite woman {Matt. 15:21-28} and the Parables of the Tenants {Matt. 21:43//Mark 12:9//Luke 20:16} and of the Wedding Banquet {Matt. 22:8-10} showed that His church would also include the Gentiles. He cited passages in the OT that indicate God’s plan of salvation has always encompassed all people {Luke 4:25-27}. (See TOJ #53.) The last person who elected to accept Jesus during His earthly ministry was the thief on the cross {Luke 23:43}.

This teaching was a major theme in the writings of Paul, who called it a mystery (Rom. 16:25-26, Eph. 3:6, Col. 1:26-27, 2:2 & 4:3) or secret wisdom (1Cor. 1:22-24). There had been hints of God’s universal plan of salvation in several of the OT prophets, especially Isaiah (Isa. 42:6, 45:2, 49:6, 66:23). However, after Israel returned to Judah from the Babylonian captivity, Ezra established a strict legalistic tradition that ignored such prophecies (Neh. 8&9). Thus, most Jews were not “primed and ready” to receive Jesus as even a prophet. (See TOJ #86.) {Matt. 10:18b, 11:28, Luke 13:29-30}