Jesus’ teachings about life can be encapsulated through several profound moments and teachings recorded in the Bible:
- Teaching about Eternal Life through the Commandments: In a conversation with a young man seeking eternal life, Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping the commandments, such as not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness, honoring one’s father and mother, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. However, when the young man claims to have kept all these from his youth, Jesus further instructs him to sell what he owns and give to the poor for treasure in heaven, highlighting the difficulty for those with wealth to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:16-24) .
- The Greatest Commandment: When asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replies, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). This statement places love at the center of Christian life and ethics .
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question about who one’s neighbor is, in the context of the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The parable illustrates that mercy and love for one’s neighbor surpass ethnic and religious boundaries, showing that one’s neighbor is anyone in need, and true life in the kingdom of God involves acts of compassion and mercy (Luke 10:25-37) .
Three main takeaways from Jesus’ teachings about life are:
- Love is Fundamental: The core of Jesus’ teaching is love—love for God and love for others. This love is not merely an emotion but is expressed through actions, such as obedience to God’s commandments and acts of kindness and mercy towards others, even those who are different from us.
- Eternal Perspective: Jesus frequently emphasizes an eternal perspective, encouraging his followers to focus not just on temporal matters but on the eternal implications of their actions. He teaches that true life and treasure are found not in earthly wealth or status but in the kingdom of God, for which one must be prepared to give up everything.
- Inclusive Compassion: Jesus’ parables and actions demonstrate that the kingdom of God is open to all who respond to God’s love with faith and obedience. His teachings break down social and religious barriers, calling for an inclusive compassion that extends to all humanity.
