“. . . Jesus began to preach, and
to say, ‘Repent! For the Kingdom
of Heaven is at hand.’” —Matthew 4:17
The word repent means
to feel sorry for your past conduct, to regret or feel conscience-stricken about
your past actions, attitudes, etc.—with such sorrow that you want to change your
life for the better. Jesus began his
ministry with a call for people to repent, and he also concluded his ministry
by instructing his early followers to preach that same message:
“He told them, ‘This is
what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’” —Luke 24:46-47 NIV
For people to repent from their sins means for them to be
so sorry for their sins that they would quit practicing them and change their hearts
and lives for the better. The call to
“Repent!” was the opening theme of Jesus’ teaching. It was also his closing theme—the message he
assigned his followers to preach. So,
this message of “repentance and forgiveness of sins” was the central theme of
Jesus’ preaching, the main point he wanted us to learn and to preach to others.
What else did Jesus teach?
His other teaching all revolved around different aspects of repenting
from our sins and receiving forgiveness for our sins. If we go through the four Gospels and analyze
his words by topic, we find that Jesus devoted some of his teaching to
salvation (about 4% of the words he spoke), the Kingdom
of God (2%), the new covenant that
he would institute (1%), and instructions for his followers to carry on their
ministry (4%). But most of his words
dealt with three major topics: discussing
or proving by miracles his identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior
who would save us from our sins (31%); outlining the behavior or conduct that
God expects of us, so that we would be able to distinguish good behavior from
sinful behavior (25%); and discussing
rewards and punishments based on people’s behavior or conduct (32%).
Jesus’ words concerning rewards and punishments actually
fall into three categories: punishment
for that generation of Jews that sinned by rejecting Jesus (12%), and rewards
and punishments people will receive after death (9%), or when Christ returns to
judge this world (11%).
So, with 25% of Jesus’ recorded words in the Gospels
outlining the behavior God expects of us, and another 32% discussing rewards
and punishments based on this conduct, that adds up to 57% of Jesus’ message
focusing on human behavior and its consequences, whether good or bad.
It is clear, then, that we have a lot to learn from reading
Jesus’ words, and that what we learn should affect the way we live our
lives.
To see all of Jesus’ teachings, please read the four Gospels
of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Meanwhile, here are a few sample excerpts to whet your appetite, so that
you will go on to pick up the Bible and read the rest for yourself:
“‘Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom
of Heaven.
“‘Blessed are you when people reproach
you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for
great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.’” —Matthew 5:6-12
“‘But woe to you who are rich!
For you have received your consolation. Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will
be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers
did the same thing to the false prophets.’” —Luke
6:24-26
“‘But woe to you
Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass
justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left
the other un-done. Woe to you Pharisees!
For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the
market-places. Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk
over them don’t know it.’
“One of the lawyers answered him,
‘Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.’
“He said, ‘Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you
yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.’” —Luke 11:42-46
These excerpts from Jesus’ teachings help us appreciate why
many rich political and religious leaders, like the scribes and Pharisees,
hated him and wanted to kill him.
“‘You have heard that it was said, “An
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you, don't resist him who
is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other
also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak
also. Whoever compels you to go one
mile, go with him two. Give to him who
asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love
your neighbor, and hate your enemy.”
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat
you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in
heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain
on the just and the unjust. For if you
love those who love you, what reward do you have? . . .’” —Matthew
5:38-46
“‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive,
if you have anything against anyone; so that your
Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you
do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your
transgressions.’” —Mark 11:25-26
“Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord,
how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?’
“Jesus said to him, ‘I don’t tell you
until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
“‘Therefore the Kingdom
of Heaven is like a certain king,
who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. When he had begun to
reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But
because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his
children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore
fell down and kneeled before him, saying, “Lord, have patience with me, and I
will repay you all!”
“‘The lord of that servant, being moved
with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“‘But that servant went out, and found
one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii,
and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you
owe!” So his fellow servant fell down at
his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will repay
you!” He would not, but went and cast
him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was
done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was
done. Then his lord called him in, and
said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all
that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your
fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?”
His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should
pay all that was due to him.
“‘So my heavenly Father will also do to
you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.’” —Matthew 18:21-35
“‘Be careful that you don't do your
charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward
from your Father who is in heaven.
Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before
yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they
may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But when you do merciful deeds,
don't let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret,
then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
“‘When you pray, you shall not be as the
hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell
you, they have received their reward.
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your
door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.’” —Matthew
6:1-6
“‘Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the
earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; for where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” —Matthew 6:19-21
“He also said to the one
who had invited him, ‘When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your
friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps
they might also return the favor, and pay you back. But when you make a feast,
ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; and you will be blessed,
because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in
the resurrection of the righteous.’” —Luke 14:12-14
“‘See the birds of the sky, that they
don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father
feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
“‘Which of you, by being anxious, can
add one moment to his life-span? Why are
you anxious about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, yet
I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of
these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little
faith?
“‘Therefore don’t be anxious, saying,
“What will we eat?”, “What will we drink?” or, “With what will we be
clothed?” For the Gentiles seek after
all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things. But seek first God’s Kingdom,
and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
“‘Therefore don’t be anxious for
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is
sufficient.’” —Matthew 6:26-34
“They were bringing to him little children, that he
should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with
indignation, and said to them, ‘Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t
forbid them, for the Kingdom of God
belongs to such as these. Most certainly
I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom
of God like a little child, he will
in no way enter into it.’ He took them
in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” —Mark 10:13-16
“‘Again, the Kingdom
of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was
cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind, which, when it was filled, they drew up
on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad
they threw away. So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come
forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them
into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of
teeth.’” —Matthew
13:47-50
So, Jesus did not teach universal salvation (that everyone will be saved and enjoy rewards
in heaven). Rather, wicked and
disobedient people will face punishment after this life. This was a constant theme of Jesus’ teaching,
although it is not a popular message today.
He makes this point very clear in the following passage:
“‘But when the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his
glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them
one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
“‘Then the King will tell those on his
right hand, “Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to
eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me
in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in
prison, and you came to me.”
“‘Then the righteous will answer him,
saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give
you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and
clothe you? When did
we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?”
“‘The King will answer them, “Most
certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.”
“‘Then he will say also to those on the
left hand, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared
for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to
eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t
take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you
didn’t visit me.”
“‘Then they will also answer, saying,
“Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or
sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?”
“‘Then he will answer them, saying,
“Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of
these, you didn’t do it to me.”
“‘These will go away into eternal punishment, but
the righteous into eternal life.’” —Matthew
25:31-46
Jesus warned that his faithful followers would also be
hated, just as he was hated, and that some would be killed. But he encouraged us to remain faithful and
to trust in him. God’s Spirit will carry
us through our times of trial, and we will receive our reward in heaven with
Jesus:
“‘Behold, I send you out as sheep in the
midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you
up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. Yes, and you
will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them
and to the nations. But when they
deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given
you in that hour what you will say. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who
speaks in you.
“‘Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up
against parents, and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all men for my name’s
sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.’” —Matthew
10:16-22
“‘Don’t be afraid of those who kill the
body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to
destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
“‘Aren’t two sparrows sold for an
assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's
will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be
afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
“‘Everyone therefore who confesses me before men,
him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies
me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.’” —Matthew 10:28-33
“‘Do you think that I have come to give peace in
the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. For from now on, there will be
five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son, and
son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother;
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law.’” —Luke
12:51-53
“He called the multitude to himself with his
disciples, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose
it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News
will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and
forfeit his life? For what will a man give in exchange for his life? For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be
ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’” —Mark 8:34-38
So, Jesus’ teachings invite us to follow him, even at great
personal cost to ourselves—perhaps even at the expense of our life. Following him involves trusting in him for
salvation and adhering faithfully to the things Jesus taught.
“He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it
was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all
the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’” —Luke
24:46-47
True Christianity still preaches this same message
today—the Gospel message that calls people to repent of their sins and receive
forgiveness through Christ.
These few excerpts are only a sample of the things Jesus
taught. You owe it to yourself and to
God, to read the New Testament for yourself.
In that way you will receive Jesus’ teachings in their original context,
and you will read how his first followers went on to explain those teachings. Read the Bible prayerfully—asking for
insight, for understanding, for faith to believe, and for faith to act in
obedience to Jesus and his teachings.