As Obrey Hendricks states in his book, The Politics of Jesus, “That is why what seems to have been simply a burst of outrage against wayward merchants was in reality much, much more: it was a very public attack aimed at Israel’s center of power. T he sermon on the mount has long been rightly understood as both a starting-point and a summation of Jesus ’s teaching. No, because dikaiosune can be translated with another word: justice. Jesus emphasized restorative justice, not punitive justice. Justice. In fact, the phrase, “Kingdom of God” is politically loaded language. Once we slow down, we can see the way desire, imitation, and conflict operate in our lives and in the world, and begin to create peace. Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. In addition to the newsletter, you will receive the free "Am I Scapegoating?" Jesus and social justice according to Luke Hanson and Oakman (1998) mentioned that the ruling elites during Jesus’ era sought out the backing of … If you would judge Jesus Christ by some of those who profess to follow Him, you might think that Jesus would be an advocate of individuals’ expression of disdain and even hatred toward their enemies and of nations’ r… The Temple had become corrupt and unjust. Jesus [ mission on earth in his time is our mission on earth in our time. “Scripture plus” or “Scripture minus” is no good. Righteousness emphasizes our spiritual state of being. Of course, these teachings are not limited to Jesus. The lesson explores Jesus Teachings about Justice and hypocrisy. 114, emphasis in the original.). June 17: Jesus Teaches About Justice (Matthew 15:1-9) By Jim Eichenberger June 12, 2018 Teacher Tips. But, really, I can't find many resources on the issue. Based on these teachings, Jews have regarded the practice of justice and the seeking of a just society as Divine imperatives. A life following Jesus will bring us to the most difficult corners of the world, ministering in deed and with his Word to those encountering the greatest suffering and marginalization. That word can be translated as righteousness, which has strong connotations of having a right relationship with God. Jesus obeyed God unto death and became sin so that sinful men might be counted righteous. He did not deserve their ultimate loyalty. After all, they assume that the Emperor and God are leaders of two different realms – the Emperor was in charge of the physical realm and God was in charge of the spiritual realm. When we refuse to take the side of the marginalized, the victims of human society, we attempt to wash our hands, just like Pilate when he sentenced Jesus to be killed. Jesus indicated that the Kingdom would do away with the greatest injustice by sanctifying, or making holy, the name of Jehovah God and clearing it of all the reproach that Satan has heaped upon it since the rebellion in Eden. It is now. Like Jesus who recognized differences, we need to reach out to all people without distinction as to economic status, ethnicity, or gender. Jesus said that they nullified (brought to nothing) the command of God for the sake of their tradition. God’s call to holiness is based on his own... 3. Powered by Knownhost and the Genesis Framework. But that is a gross misreading of Jesus. They were also taught by the Buddha, Confucius and Aristotle. He lived “the law of the Christ.” It was embodied in his life course. What really mattered to him is that you have eternal life in the next world. So Jesus cleansed the Temple by making a whip and protesting its corruption. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. David made some major mistakes (Bathsheba, among others), but he also governed over one of the most prosperous times in Israel’s history. During the time of Jesus, the Temple was the religious, political, and economic center of Jerusalem. Our weekly newsletter creates a space to take a breath. Jesus says, “For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is among you.” The Kingdom of God is not primarily an other worldly spiritual realm. If you know of any, let me know! That is, Jesus should be our interpretive principle for what justice looks like. Jesus statement put the Emperor in his place. Christians need to interpret the concept of justice through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus taught his followers that those who live good lives and follow his teachings will be rewarded with eternal life in God’s kingdom. ali-arif-soydas-370399-unsplash.jpg ... the new paradigm we desperately need to fully embrace is the ever-fresh ancient Gospel of Jesus. Some will point to the scene where Jesus was asked about paying taxes. In the original Greek, the word righteousness is dikaiosune. Christians need to interpret the concept of justice through the eyes of Jesus. We are not to show favouritism (James 2:8-9). But what does belong to the emperor? But what is justice, exactly, and who gets to define it? And when we claim to follow Jesus, we are disciples of justice. by Christian Education | Jun 17, 2018 | Jesus Teaches about Justice. This matters because a right relationship with God (righteousness) should lead to right relationships with other people (justice). In Jesus code, to love is to be just. He only cared about the spiritual realm, or the Kingdom of God. Rooted in both scripture and the rich tradition of our faith, Catholic Social Teaching is a guide for how to live as a people of justice and mercy. Even more, the claim of kingship while Herod was king was an act of political treason. The study's aim is to show that God wants our hearts, not just our words. Jesus enacted the Kingdom of God while living in the Kingdom of Herod and the Empire of Rome. God’s Kingdom would promote true justice. The thing that mattered to Jesus more than anything else is that you repent of your sins so that you can go to heaven when you die. PBS Teachers has a website on justice activity ideas that I found helpful. The purpose of this “Christ vs. Christianity” column is to show how many churches and individuals who profess the name of Christ teach and practice things that are directly contrary to what Jesus Christ actually taught. And we realize that God’s justice is not about revenge. First, some Christians say that social justice is a perversion of the Gospel, and that rather than seek to engage in social justice issues, we should instead just preach the Gospel. In fact, “all his ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Treat Your Parents Justly. As the biblical revelation of God makes its first climax in the Mosaic... 2. Only the authoritative voice … Jesus’ justice was very real, but it was based on the methods of direct nonviolent action and non-retaliation. There was no “separation of church and state” during this time. It is among you. Jesus emphasized restorative justice, not punitive justice. To be just is to love. He confronted the status quo of his day as he took sides. You might be wondering if the King James Version of the Bible had a vested interest in translating dikaiosune as “righteous.” Translators always have an agenda, whether that agenda is conscious or not. The Bible teaches that God is a God of justice. When we interpret justice through the eyes of Jesus, we begin to realize that a right relationship with God demands just relationships with one another. 5:3-12), in which Jesus delineates the categories of people he says enjoy special favor.The Beatitudes are all familiar to us as sayings, the best known being blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. For blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be filled. Emphasizing righteousness with God, as opposed to justice for marginalized, would allow the King’s power structure to go unquestioned. He boldly spoke out against inequality, helped the oppressed, condemned the … Many assume the Kingdom is merely an otherworldly spiritual realm where you go after you die. The Emperor thought he was a god. A fox was an unclean animal that was a second rate predator. It is here. The “justice” for which Jesus calls his followers to thirst in the beatitudes (Matthew 5:6) speaks of life, of reconciliation, the restoration of relationships with God and with one another (same as the “justice” the Old Testament links with peace and steadfast love). Jesus Teaches about Justice. 7 Things the Bible Teaches About Justice 1. And so the question is, “What belongs to God?” The answer is everything. For you can’t seek righteousness with God without seeking justice with other people. He was not God. He exposed the evil of racial prejudice by fellowshipping with Samaritans and Gentiles, and He even praised them in His teachings. Herod oversaw an unjust economy that benefited himself and his friends, while leaving the people destitute. Conclusion. Because while the general statement is true, Jesus took sides. To witness to Jesus Christ in the world and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sex Trafficking: the Story of a Young Girl, the Problem of a Generation. The Emperor is not God. Jesus taught His disciples and, through the Word of God, teaches us how to live and then how to share with others the way to become His followers. That claim is an act of political subversion. This post is part two in a series in which I "unpack" the General Rule of Discipleship. Jesus even called Herod a fox, which was not a term of endearment! 14 Jesus did more than teach about love. Consider three ways in which Jesus’ example made clear what justice is. When we hear the phrase “Justice was served,” we think punishment was meted out. Justice is central to God’s character. Because especially in the United States, justice is associated with revenge. Jesus Teaches about Justice June 17, 2018 Background Scripture: Matthew 15:1 – 9; Mark 7:1 – 13 Lesson Passage: Matthew 15:1 – 9 Today’s lesson presents one of the many confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders recorded in the gospel accounts. But that’s not the justice that Jesus taught. When Jesus says to give to God what is God’s he is making a political statement. The claim runs like this: Jesus only cared about your eternal soul. The translators of the KJV translated for a king. The phrase “Kingdom of God” is problematic because it has been overly spiritualized, just like the word dikaiosune. Jesus called Herod a fox because Jesus cared about the unjust political systems of his day. Jesus was concerned about this world. It is only because of Christ’s obedience to suffer injustice that we have an advocate before God and the forgiveness purchased by His blood. In this sense, Jesus is saying that those who hunger and thirst for a better relationship with God will be filled. As a good Jew, and as his hearers were good Jews as well, they would have known that Jesus’ teaching to give to God what belongs to God was deeply rooted in the Hebrew scriptures. And that side is always with the marginalized. They say that no amount of helping people will transform society and bring justice to the world, unless it is first founded upon Jesus Christ. 46). Jesus does not call us to stay above the fray in a state of neutrality. No Comments. The vested interest, or the agenda, was to translate the Bible in such a way that did not inspire the people to act with justice. For Jesus, justice was meant to provide restoration. Jesus always had a counter for their legalistic perspectives. The emperor used his status as a god to justify and enforce his will in unjust ways. In other words, it was an overtly political act” (pg. Jesus Christ and Social Justice Perhaps the most profound statement of Our Lord, linking the Incarnation with the welfare of humanity is: “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.”(John 10:10) Every Christian and person of good will can look to Jesus, especially because he says: „I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Rather, they wanted a translation that would inspire reverence for those in power. justice mark the events of his days and nights. The Temple was as much a political and economic institution as it was a religious institution. It begins with the Beatitudes (Mt. Education Director, UCC pastor, husband, father of three, preaching the love of Jesus and one another, Join our weekly journey of creating peace, Aaron Rodgers: Why I Hate His Football, But Love His Theology, How Forgiveness Can Transform Our Violence and Build a World of Belonging, Toxic Christianity: 3 Things We Can Do That Will Make Jesus Cry, How to Respond to President Trump’s Blasphemy: Raven Values for Times of Crisis. His form of justice did not involve methods of violence or war to defeat an enemy. God expects that justice be at the center of his covenant people. Furthermore, the Bible supports the notion of social justice in which concern and care are shown to the plight of the poor and afflicted (Deuteronomy 10:18; 24:17; 27:19). Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”. Otherwise, maybe I … But that misses the point. It’s about the transformation of unjust societal structures so that all people can live in harmony, prosperity, and peace. As René Girard states in his book Violence and the Sacred, Our “impartiality-at-any-price is not unfrequently simply an unsubstantiated assertion of superiority” (pg. In closing, the lesson teaches us about “tradition” and “new thinking” and that our actions are to provide for humanity and not honor misconstrued laws so that we may live in the spirit of the law. It is crucial that we keep this double meaning of dikaiosune in mind. But there is a problem. And what does belong to God? "You don't have His word living in … He does not deserve your ultimate loyalty. I was doing some research this afternoon about how to teach kids about justice from a Christian perspective. What Jesus stood for and the Bible teaches is justice—pursuing what is right according to what God says not what society and people say (Micah 6:8). e-book when you subscribe. Those were the methods of the Kingdom of Herod and the Kingdom of Rome. 15 First, Jesus scrupulously avoided committing any injustice. "Justice" is a felt need in our world today and a controversial topic. So, justice in this world didn’t matter to Jesus. Following the King James Version, most English translation of the Greek text translate Matthew 5:6 as. Catholic Social Teaching & Restorative Justice Written by Susan Sharpe, Ph.D. and adapted for Catholic Mobilizing Network. (Adapted from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Commentary) That is, Jesus should be our interpretive principle for what justice looks like. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be filled. When Christians look at justice, Jesus should be our interpretive principle. There are many Christians who claim that Jesus didn’t care about politics or justice. He sided with the poor, the weak, and the marginalized. The study's application is to think and act according to God’s Word and His justice, not man’s. He was concerned about every aspect of our lives – including our political, religious, and economic lives. Luke 18:1-8: Jesus teaches His disciples to always pray and never lose heart. For you can’t seek righteousness with God without seeking justice with other people. In other words, Jesus cared about justice. Key Verse: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. In an act reminiscent of the Jewish prophets who routinely criticized the political, economic, and religious establishments for not enacting God’s justice, Jesus went to the Temple and attempted to shut it down because it failed to enact God’s justice. But once again, that misses the whole point. Jesus was also called “the Son of David.” David was the most important king in Israel’s history. The Temple was not just about religion and spirituality. Let’s look at the Sermon on the Mount. He says, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Many point to this story to claim that Jesus wasn’t concerned with justice and that he was apolitical. But Jesus calls us to take sides in the nonviolent pursuit of justice. The phrase “all people” is significant. The people longed for a son of David to come and set things right – to bring justice to the nation. Your email address will not be published. You will never be filled with the Kingdom of God if you just emphasize one over the other. He was not just concerned about our spiritual lives. In fact, all wise people who know the path to peace teach the very same things. But Jesus was a different kind of King. Romans 12:15-18 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. The New Testament claims that Jesus was the true king, the true Messiah. For Jesus, justice was meant to provide restoration. Jesus also exposed the inhumanity of certain religious rules, which was a political problem in the first century because religious leaders had political power. The Bible’s teaching on justice is much more comprehensive than simply punishing the wrongdoer. Jesus lives right and makes life right with others. We could just as easily translate Matthew 5:6 as. Jesus, not the Bible, is God's living and active Word that brings life. And so, this idea claims, Jesus didn’t care much about the physical realm of this world. Church Life, Practical Justice, Theology 117 Jesus was a social justice hero. 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