01.089. THE TEACHING OF JESUS: ITS UNITY AND COMPREHENSIVENESS (Concluded)

Lesson Seventy-six THE TEACHING OF JESUS: ITS UNITY AND COMPREHENSIVENESS (Concluded) Scripture Reading: John 12:44-50, Matthew 7:15-27.

Scripture to Memorize: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

NOTE WELL: We continue here our study of the comprehensiveness of the Teaching of Jesus. Note again, from the following arrangement of scripture references, the perfect correspondence between the truth which Jesus Himself taught while in the flesh, and that which He later revealed through His Apostles by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

55.    Q.    List the vices, sins, and deficiencies condemned by the New Testament Code.

A.    They may be classified and listed as follows:

1. Adultery, fornication, lust, lasciviousness, uncleanness, etc. (How about vulgarity of thought and speech, obscene stories, etc.?). Matthew 5:27-31; Matthew 15:19-20; Mark 10:19. Cf. Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:9; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2-3; Jude 1:16-18; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15.

2. Sex perversion, sodomy, prostitution, whoremongering, etc. Matthew 5:27-30; Matthew 7:17-20; John 8:1-11 (John 8:11—“henceforth sin no more”). Cf. Romans 1:26-32; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15, etc.

3. Unscriptural divorce and remarriage (i.e., on any other ground than fornication or adultery). Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12. Cf. Ephesians 5:31; 1 Corinthians 11:9; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 Corinthians 7:10-17 (here we are told that in cases of desertion where the deserting party is an unbeliever, the marriage covenant may be considered permanently dissolved).

4. Drunkenness, revellings, etc. (How about all-night parties and carousals, the frequenting of dance halls, night clubs, “taverns,” etc.?). Luke 21:34; Luke 12:45-46; Matthew 24:48-51. Cf. Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3, etc.

5. Hypocrisy. Matthew 6:2-4; Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 23:1-7; Matthew 23:13-30; Luke 11:42-44, etc. Cf. Acts 5:1-11; Romans 12:9; James 3:17, etc.

6. Pride, self-exaltation, etc. Matthew 23:5-7; Matthew 23:12; Mark 7:21-22; Mark 12:38-39; Luke 14:11. Cf. Galatians 6:3, Ephesians 4:2, Php 2:1-4, James 4:6-10, etc.

7. Bigotry. Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 20:26-28; Matthew 23:12; Matthew 18:1-6, etc. Cf. Romans 3:9-18; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20; Galatians 6:14, etc.

8. Impenitence. Luke 15:1-10; cf. Acts 7:51-53; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; Revelation 3:3, etc.

9. Presumption (human “think-so’s”). Luke 12:18-20; cf. James 4:13-16; Jude 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Colossians 2:8—“the tradition of men.”

10. Theft. Matthew 15:19, Mark 10:19; cf. Ephesians 4:28, Revelation 9:21.

11. Anger, hate, malice, etc. Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:43-46; Matthew 6:15; cf. Romans 12:19-20; Ephesians 4:26; Ephesians 4:31-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 2:1; James 1:19-21; 1 John 4:20, etc.

12. Murder. Matthew 15:19; Matthew 19:17-18; Mark 10:19; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15, etc. Cf. 1 John 3:15—“whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.” First degree murder is, of course, the killing of another person on one’s own authority and with malice aforethought. In most legal systems it is distinguished from second degree murder (the crime passional), and from both voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Of course, there are many different acts of homicide. On the view that being exists either potentially or actually, the person begins potentially at conception; hence abortion is murder. Is the taking of life in any form murder? The Jainists of India would answer in the affirmative; this extreme view, however, would invalidate not only the eating of meat (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Colossians 2:16; Matthew 15:11; Acts 10:14-15), but the eating of herbs and plants as well (vegetarianism—for the plant lives), and even the use of bacteriophages, antibiotics, etc., to prevent or control disease, for, as Spallanzani put it, “Even microbes have parents.” This, of course, amounts to absurdity. Suicide is certainly an immoral act: it is an unnatural act, in that it violates the natural drive of all living things to resist extinction; also it is an invasion of the sovereignty of God from whom man receives his greatest good, life, as a divine gift. Generally speaking, euthanasia (“mercy killings”) belong in the same category as suicide. Are there any circumstances in which war is justifiable? Surely, if man has the right to life, he has the right to defend it against aggression, whether the life be that of the individual or that of the society as a whole. In all legal systems of any note, self-defense is recognized as legitimate. (For example, what would have been the duty of the “Good Samaritan” had he arrived at the spot where and when the traveler was being attacked by ruffians? What would have been his duty as a neighbor under such circumstances? See Luke 10:25-37.) To what extent does individual responsibility cease when the individual acts as an instrument of the state? Does the right of individual conscience take precedence over the right of society to be protected against aggression? Titus 3:1—“be in subjection to rulers.” Romans 13:1—“Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers.” Cf. the words of Jesus, Matthew 26:52—“all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (that is, individuals or nations that build their destiny on might, will surely encounter superior might: obviously, what is implicit in this saying is that sheer militarism, lust for power and glory obtained by the sword, is immoral and certainly unchristian). War is justifiable, as a social act, only on the Principle of Double Effect, namely, that the directly willed good (the preservation of a people’s freedom and national integrity) must far outweigh the probable evil concomitants (moral defections and physical suffering). I can find no support in the New Testament for absolute pacifism.

13. Enmities, strife, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, brawlings, etc. Matthew 5:38-42; Matthew 6:14-15; cf. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 3:1-5; Romans 12:18; Php 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 3:2; James 3:13-18, etc.

14. Heresies (i.e., departures from divine truth, especially denials of the deity and Christhood of Jesus). Matthew 16:16-20; Matthew 10:32-33; cf. Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 3:22-24; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 1:7-11; Revelation 2:4-7; Revelation 2:14-16, etc.

15. Anarchy, civil lawlessness, etc. Matthew 22:19-21; Matthew 17:25-27; cf. Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Jude 1:8-11, etc.

16. Envyings, jealousies, etc. Matthew 5:3-10; cf. James 3:14-16; James 5:9; 1 Peter 2:1.

17. Covetousness, usury, extortion, oppression, etc. Matthew 6:19-21; Matthew 23:2-4; Luke 12:15-21; Luke 20:47; Mark 12:38-39, etc. Cf. 1 Timothy 6:10; Ephesians 5:3-5; 1 Corinthians 5:10-11; 1 Corinthians 6:10, etc.

18. Idolatry, sorcery, occultism, spiritualism, etc. (i.e., consulting fortune-tellers, spirit mediums, etc.). Luke 16:27-31; Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 8:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 Corinthians 10:19-23; Galatians 5:20; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15.

19. Ingratitude. Luke 17:11-19; cf. Romans 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:1.

20. Revenge, retaliation. Matthew 5:38-44; cf. Romans 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 3:9, Revelation 12:7-12, etc.

21. Evil thoughts, evil eye, evil imagination. Matthew 6:23; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 20:15; Luke 11:34-36; cf. Romans 12:1-2, Php 4:8.

22. Infidelity, skepticism, blindness of heart, railings, disputings, profitless wranglings, etc. Matthew 13:13-16; Matthew 15:14; Matthew 17:20; Matthew 7:6; Luke 12:9; John 3:18-21; John 8:24; John 12:47-48; John 16:2-3, etc. Cf. Romans 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 10:28-30; 2 Peter 3:3-4; 1 John 1:6-10, etc.

23. Backsliding, apostasy. Matthew 12:43-45; Matthew 13:20-22; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:62; John 15:6, etc. Cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Hebrews 3:12-19; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 1:4-6; Revelation 2:4-5, etc.

24. Indifference, lukewarmness. Matthew 7:24, Luke 16:13; Luke 11:23, etc. Cf. Revelation 3:15-18.

25. Inconsistency, i.e., of practice with profession. Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 23:3-4, etc. Cf. Romans 2:1; Romans 2:21-23; James 2:14-26.

26. Materialism, worldliness, worldly anxiety, etc. Matthew 6:19-34; Matthew 13:22; Matthew 16:4; Luke 9:60; Luke 14:16-24; Luke 16:1-13; Luke 16:19-31; Luke 17:26-29; John 6:26-27, etc. Cf. Romans 12:2; Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 John 2:15-17, etc.

27. Swearing, blasphemy, profanity, irreverence, sacrilege, etc. Matthew 5:33-37; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 7:21-22; Matthew 12:31-32, etc. Cf. James 2:7; James 3:10; James 5:12, etc.

28. False witness, lying, deceit, fraud, etc. Matthew 15:19; Mark 10:19; Mark 7:21-22. Cf. Acts 5:1-9; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:6; James 5:4; 1 Peter 2:1; Revelation 21:8, etc.

29. Judging, scandalmongering, slander, etc. Matthew 7:1-5; John 8:7-11; cf. James 4:11-12, 1 Peter 3:8-11, etc.

30. Wickedness and godlessness in general. Matthew 24:37-39, Luke 17:26-30. Cf. Romans 1:18-32; Romans 8:6-8; 2 Timothy 3:1-12; Galatians 5:16-26, etc.

31. The sins of omission, resulting from indifference, neglect, procrastination, rebelliousness, etc. Luke 12:41-48; Luke 13:22-30; Luke 14:15-20; Luke 16:19-31, etc. Hebrews 2:3—“how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?” James 4:17—“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

32. Summarization: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts thereof” (Galatians 5:19-24). “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). From the scriptures cited above, it will be noted that the teaching of Jesus covers every sin in the category and condones none. (Teachers, you should take special pains to familiarize your pupils with the teaching of Jesus in respect to the vices and sins listed above, in order that they may be trained to distinguish between right and wrong as God sees right and wrong; and thus be prepared to live in harmony with God’s purpose and plan for the human race, and to gain “the crown of righteousness” which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall bestow upon His people in the great Day of Judgment (2 Timothy 4:8). It is fundamental that Christian people everywhere should learn to follow the New Testament standard strictly, in distinguishing between right and wrong, and not conscience, reason, experience, etc.).

REVIEW EXAMINATION OVER LESSON SEVENTY-SIX 55.List the vices, sins, and deficiencies condemned by the New Testament Code.