What are the main points of Jesus' teaching?
Jesus' teachings cover day-to-day behavior to matters of grave eternal significance. Most critically, He taught that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior with power over death. Jesus showed that external obedience to God's expectations is secondary to internal fidelity to Him. He warned that unbelievers would face judgement and promised believers a relationship with God forever.A revolutionary, Jesus extended respect and opportunity to people from all stations in culture, offering them salvation (Luke 19:7–10).
He said to live life like this: "Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them …" (Matthew 7:12). Scholars believe this was a twist on a common saying of the time that people should avoid doing to others what they don't want to be done to them. Jesus made it positive and active—intentionally do to others what you want done to you.
He said that the way to God was through faith, not obedience to the Law (Matthew 7:22–28; Luke 7:9). When He was asked about the greatest commandment, He said that loving God and loving your neighbor were the greatest commandments, and then added that those who knew this were "not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:28–34).
He taught that you become a neighbor to others when you help them and told the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate (Luke 10:25–37).
Jesus said that sin separates people from God, but that sin is forgivable and that people should forgive others (Matthew 6:14; 12:31; John 3:14–18; Luke 7:47).
He taught His followers to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9–13).
Jesus said He was on earth to preach about the coming Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). He also said He "came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Jesus said the prophesy of Isaiah 61 applied to Him: "'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing'" (Luke 4:18–21).
Jesus proclaimed the gospel of God, saying that the kingdom of God is at hand and that people should repent and believe the Good News (Mark 1:14–15). He claimed to be God incarnate and the only Savior (John 14:6). Jesus proved He is who He says He is through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 13:3–4).
What were the key events in the life of Jesus?
Why did Jesus use parables so often?
What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him?
Who is Jesus Christ?
Is Jesus the Messiah?
Truth about Jesus Christ
