New Testament Ethics

1
New Testament Ethics

• The goal of NT ethics is to produce individuals
  and churches who can incarnate the love of Christ
  in their own sphere of life (Tillman 59)
• The highest incentive for ethical obedience in
  each Christian is the example of Gods character
  (Tillman 63)
• Jesus taught principles rather than great ethical
  rules (Barnette 43)

2
New Testament Ethics

• Morality, as taught by Jesus, is theocentric as
  evidence by Matthew 548. (Barnette 44)
• The ethics of Jesus is distinctive in that it is
  primarily for redeemed persons.
• Jesus stressed the inwardness of morality and the
  motives of men. This differs the teaching of
  Jesus from Jewish writings of his day.

3
New Testament Ethics

• The value of the individual was given a new
  emphasis in Jesus teaching (cf. lepers, wasted
  woman, children).
• Jesus morality was characterized by a
  positiveness which is lacking in other religions
  (Golden Rule).
• Jesus extended love to include everyone (even
  enemies) Popular Jewish thought tended toward
  love for a fellow Hebrew.

4
New Testament Ethics

• NT ethics emphasizes morality for the church (not
  institutional morality and social ethics) Rae 26
• With coming of Christ, believers are no longer
  under the Law
• Ceremonial Law is superseded by death of Christ
• Civil law no longer applies directly because
  Gods primary agent for work in the world is via
  church as opposed to theocratic Israel

5
New Testament Ethics

• To glorify God by bearing witness to His rule
  over the earth is the broad objective of both
  testaments (Rae 27)
• Under the Law, Israel was literally one nation
  under God
• The church is a multiethnic body of believers for
  whom national boundaries are irrelevant

6
New Testament Ethics

• The church is to bear witness to the reality of
  God by the type of community experienced in it
  (as was OT Israel)
• Commands of NT do not provide same institutional
  framework/structure for church as the Law did for
  Israel
• Just because the NT church did not focus on
  institutional social change does not imply that
  it is inappropriate action for todays church

7
New Testament Ethics

• Deontology dominates New Testament ethics
• Jesus essentially reinterprets and reapplies the
  principles of the Law that were misused by the
  Pharisees
• Jesus aimed at deontology that combined a
  commitment to principles with a compassion for
  people
• Examples include Sermon on Mount (Mt 5-7)
  healing on Sabbath (Mt 121-14) and Corban (Mk 7)

8
New Testament Ethics

• A central focus of NT ethics is LOVE
• A special place is given to the POOR
• An emphasis upon the HOLY SPIRIT is clear in the
  NT over the OT
• A high value on VIRTUE Jesus is the model of
  virtue for all people

9
New Testament Ethics

• John 15 indicates that Christians have been
  chosen to bear fruit (not for special privileges)
  Tillman 68
• The parable of the Good Samaritan defines ones
  neighbor as anyone who has a need that you can
  meet (Rae 30)
• The NT Epistles confront heretical deviations
  from the Gospel with emphasis on principles

10
New Testament Ethics

• Divine Command Theory
• Natural Law

11
Sermon on the Mount(Barnette)

• Jesus explains the Law
• Blessed indicates an inner joy independent of
  circumstances and has nothing to do with
  happiness in the popular sense of pleasure and
  prosperity

12
Blessed are the poor in spirit Matthew 53

• Spiritual poverty
• Recognition of spiritual bankruptcy before God
  and need for complete dependence upon Him
• Blessing is possession of the Kingdom of God

13
Blessed are those who mournMatthew 54

• Refers to sorrow and suffering in general rather
  than that of funeral mourning
• Sorrow for sin and a sharing in the sorrow of
  others
• God comforts us in affliction so we may comfort
  others (2 Cor 13-4)
• Blessing is comfort

14
Blessed are the meekMatthew 55

• Not to be associated with weakness
• Greek word (praus) has two basic meanings
  readiness to obey God and willingness to accept
  His discipline
• Meek are Christ-controlled in the totality of
  life
• Blessing is inheritance of the earth (probably
  the new earth)

15
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after
righteousness Matthew 56

• Strong terms expressing intense desire or craving
• Engaged in the struggle of right against wrong
• Intensely desires triumph of righteousness in
  every relationship in life
• Blessing is satisfaction to the spiritual life

16
Blessed are the mercifulMatthew 57

• Mercy is active and social
• It is possible to have a religion without active
  mercy
• Mercy means not delivering what a person deserves
  (punishment, etc.)
• Blessing is that those who show mercy will
  receive mercy

17
Blessed are the pure in heartMatthew 58

• Pure (Greek katharos) means unadulterated and
  without alloy
• Pure in heart have no mixed motives
• Internal quality
• Sins of the heart separate men from God not
  external quality (Mark 71-23)
• Blessing is to see God face-to-face

18
Blessed are the peacemakersMatthew 59

• Must possess peace in the heart and seek to make
  peace among men
• Blessing is for peacemakers not peacekeepers
• Implication is to be where peace is needed
• Harmonizes with Gods work of reconciling sinful
  men to Himself
• Blessing is that peacemakers are involved in the
  work God does, thus, called Sons of God

19
Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness sake Matthew 510

• Joy in suffering is a characteristic of the
  Christian
• Righteousness here refers to a just cause
  rather than Gods righteousness
• Suffering here is not for just any sake
• NT seems to take it for granted that believers
  will suffer (2 Tim 312)
• Blessing is the Kingdom of Heaven

20
Salt Matthew 513

• Preserving
• Penetrating
• Purifying
• Healing
• Flavor (creating thirst)

21
LightMatthew 514-16

• Helps things grow
• Helps prevent harm (stumbling in dark)
• Bushel may refer to fear of men, conformity to
  the world, substitutes for Gospel
• Let your light shine before men indicates no
  place for a Christian to be a recluse (516)

22
Christ Fulfilled the LawMatthew 517-20

• In contrast to OT, the righteousness of Christ
  exceeds it
• Key verse of the sermon is 520, showing that
  kingdom righteousness is superior to current
  Jewish practices
• Jesus simplified OT Law to loving God and
  neighbor (Mt 2236-40)

23
Matthew 521-26

• Law says no murder while Jesus says no anger
• Murders are the result of anger
• Raca means empty-headed
• Such contempt for fellow believers must be
  removed before true worship

24
Matthew 527-30

• Law says no adultery while Jesus says no
  lustful look
• Requires purity of thought and action
• Lust occurs from the man who looks to excite
  his lust and is restrained only by the lack of
  opportunity or fear of consequences
• Self-discipline is required (spiritual eye
  surgery avoid pornography)

25
Matthew 531-32

• Law says divorce on certain conditions while
  Jesus says no divorce
• Jesus affirms Christian marriage as binding and
  its purity must be upheld
• Emphasis upon sanctity of marriage

26
Matthew 533-37

• Law says do not swear falsely while Jesus says
  swear not at all
• Mosaic law allowed for oaths but not swearing
• Jews had developed elaborate swearing system
• Christian is to speak the truth in simplicity and
  refrain from swearing

27
Matthew 538-42

• Law says eye for an eye while Jesus says no
  retaliation at all
• Lex talionis (measure for measure)
• This law actually limited vengeance and was more
  merciful than normal actions prior to the law

28

• Resist not evil (KJV)
• Likely refers to the one who is evil
• Inconceivable that Jesus would suggest that no
  form of evil should be resisted
• What He means here is likely that the disciples
  should not exact revenge for personal wrongs

29
Matthew 543-48

• OT law says love your neighbor while Jesus says
  love your enemies
• Philia means to have brotherly love
• Agape means to seek highest good of every man
  (John 326)
• Cannot hold tender affection for those hostile to
  us but we can treat them justly and not return
  evil for evil
• Heavenly Father loves just and unjust we should
  be perfect as He is (548)