
Jesus' teachings in the New Testament are considered by many to have differed from the instructions of the Old Testament. While Jesus did not seek to replace the law, he did raise the standard of the law to a level that went beyond what his disciples had heard before. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus states: For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus criticised the teachers of religious law for their hypocrisy, emphasising that they did not practice what they taught and neglected the more important aspects of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus' teaching style was also unconventional, as he taught in various settings and used parables, figures of speech, and illustrations to connect with his audience.
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Jesus' teaching style was unconventional
Secondly, Jesus' teaching style itself was described as unconventional. He did not use scholarly or technical language, but instead used parables, figures of speech, illustrations, dialectic, and discourse to connect with his audience. His teaching style was so unique that even the officers sent to arrest him were captivated, saying, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:45–46).
Thirdly, Jesus' teachings often contrasted with the teachings of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. While the Pharisees and teachers of the law focused on minor aspects of the law and neglected the more important issues, Jesus emphasized the need to obey God's law according to a higher standard that went beyond external rituals and focused on internal righteousness. He denounced their hypocrisy, saying, "You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).
Lastly, Jesus' teachings on the Sabbath law seemed to break the very law he established. While the Sabbath was established as a day of rest, Jesus and his disciples harvested corn on the Sabbath, and Jesus reminded the practice-bound Pharisees and scribes that as the Son of Man, he was Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:26–27). This unconventional interpretation of the Sabbath law challenged the interpreted practice and emphasized the underlying principle.
In conclusion, Jesus' teaching style was unconventional in his use of settings, his unique style and language, his contrasting message compared to the teachers of the law, and his interpretation of the Sabbath law. His teachings had a significant impact on his followers and continue to shape religious thought today.
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He criticised the religious leaders' hypocrisy
Jesus criticised the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, denouncing them in scathing terms. He accused them of neglecting the weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faith, while focusing on minor issues. For instance, in Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees:
> "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence ...For you ...indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness ...You also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
Jesus also rebuked them for their self-serving motives, seeking human approval and honour rather than truly serving God. They were more concerned with outward appearances and rituals than inward transformation and genuine righteousness. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus highlights this discrepancy:
> "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."
Jesus further criticised the religious leaders for their failure to recognise the true meaning of His ministry and their persecution of God's messengers. He warned them of the consequences of their actions and the judgment that awaited them.
Jesus' teaching style also set Him apart from the teachers of the law. He taught in parables, figures of speech, and illustrations, connecting with His audience in a way that was accessible and engaging. His language was not scholarly or technical, but it effectively conveyed His message and left a lasting impact, as noted by the officers sent to arrest Him in John 7:45–46: "Never man spake like this man."
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He emphasised the importance of the Sabbath
Jesus emphasised the importance of the Sabbath, which was established in the Old Testament. The Sabbath was so important that, according to the Lord's instruction to Moses, those who defiled the day should be put to death.
Jesus taught that the Sabbath was a day of rest, and a day to glorify God. He reminded the Pharisees and scribes that the Son of Man made the Sabbath day and is, therefore, Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus's teachings on the Sabbath were part of his unconventional approach to education. He was not bound by setting, teaching in synagogues, from a ship's hull, in the mountains, at the temple, on the seashore, in cornfields, and at a Pharisee's house. His teaching style was also unconventional, using parables, figures of speech, illustrations, dialectic, and discourse.
Jesus's teachings on the Sabbath also contrasted with those of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. While the Pharisees were commonly viewed as exemplary models of Judaism, Jesus criticised them for focusing on minor aspects of the law and neglecting more important issues, such as justice, mercy, and faith. He emphasised that every part of the righteous requirement should be obeyed.
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He focused on the major spiritual aspects of the law
Jesus's teachings focused on the major spiritual aspects of the law, rather than minor details. He criticised the teachers of religious law for focusing on minor things and neglecting major things (Matthew 23:23-24). He accused them of being hypocrites, appearing righteous on the outside but filled with dead men's bones and all sorts of impurity on the inside (Matthew 23:27-28).
Jesus emphasised the importance of obeying God's law to a higher standard than the scribes and Pharisees, who were the most renowned teachers of the law and the most exemplary models of Judaism. He said that unless their righteousness exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, they would not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
Jesus's teachings on God's law were also characterised by his use of parables, figures of speech, illustrations, dialectic, and discourse. His teaching style was unconventional and unlike anything his audience was used to hearing from the scribes and Pharisees.
Jesus's teachings on specific laws also differed from those of the teachers of the law. For example, he suggested that the law on adultery should be raised to include fostering a desire to commit such acts (Matthew 5:27-30). He also taught that the law on loving your neighbour and hating your enemy should be extended to include loans made to anyone, not just fellow Israelites (Matthew 5:43-48).
Jesus's teachings on the Sabbath law also seemed to break the very law he established when he and his disciples harvested corn on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8). However, he emphasised the principle that the Sabbath was given unto man for a day of rest and to glorify God (JST, Mark 2:26).
In summary, Jesus's teachings on the law focused on the major spiritual aspects, raised the standard of obedience, and were delivered in an unconventional style. He also provided new interpretations of specific laws that differed from those of the teachers of the law.
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He taught a new righteousness
Jesus taught a new righteousness that was different from the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. This is evident in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, who were seen as the official interpreters of the law of Moses.
In Matthew 23, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their focus on outward appearances and neglect of the more important spiritual and moral issues. He denounces their hypocrisy, emphasizing that true righteousness should be real on the inside and out. While they were careful to tithe even the smallest income, they ignored the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). Jesus also accuses them of doing things for human approval, seeking to evade the intent of the Law, and persecuting God's messengers (Matthew 23:5, 16-22, 29-36).
Jesus taught that a true disciple must obey God's law to a higher standard than what the scribes and Pharisees practiced and taught. He said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). This statement by Jesus offers a stark contrast between His agenda and the common understanding of righteousness at that time.
Jesus' teaching style was also notably different from that of the scribes and other teachers of the law. He taught using parables, figures of speech, illustrations, and discourse, connecting with His audience in a way that was accessible and engaging. He taught in various settings, including synagogues, a ship's hull, the mountains, the temple, the seashore, cornfields, and a chief Pharisee's house.
Jesus' teachings on specific laws also differed from the interpretations of the teachers of the law. For example, His discussion of loving one's neighbor and enemy (Matthew 5:43-48) suggests extending the prohibition of charging interest on loans beyond just fellow Israelites. While Jesus did not explicitly discuss all laws, He raised the standard of obedience, emphasizing the importance of going beyond outward compliance to inward transformation.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesus' teaching style was unconventional and unlike anything the people were used to. He did not use a 'scholarly' or 'technical language' and instead used parables, figures of speech, illustrations, dialectic, and discourse.
Jesus' opinion on the law was that it should be obeyed to a higher standard than the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He did not seek to annul or replace the law, but to fulfill it.
Jesus viewed the teachers of the law as hypocrites who did not practice what they preached. He believed they focused on minor things and neglected major things, such as justice, mercy, and faith.











































