Page 50 - Biblical Ethics Course

get into the kingdom but a lifestyle characteristic that God enables those who come to him in Christ increasingly
to approximate.

Thus, paradoxically, he can speak of his requirements as an easy yoke and a light burden (Matt 11:30). The
foundational motive for obeying Jesus thus becomes one of profound gratitude for what he has done for us that
we could never have performed or deserved on our own. This leads to a radical commitment, a renunciation of
our own rights (Mark 8:34–38), where the only rewards that are given are to those who are not looking for them
(Luke 14:7–14).

The centerpiece of Jesus’ ethic is love: the twofold command to love God and
neighbor (Mark 12:29–31) and the reminder that neighbors include even our
enemies (Luke 10:25–37; cf. Luke 6:35). Numerous topics receive concentrated
focus in Jesus’ ethical teaching. One involves family values. On the one hand we
are commanded to unswerving, lifelong loyalty and faithfulness to our spouses
and children if we have them. Jesus gives wives and children a dignity
unparalleled in his culture (Mark 10:1–16). On the other hand, our love for our
families is to seem like hate in comparison with our love for God (Luke 14:26,
Mark 3:31–35), and singleness may also be a gift from God (Matt 19:10–12).

Other topics that receive extended attention include:
1. Personal integrity (Matt 5:33–37; 7:1–6; 23:1–39);
2. Bold, persistent, faith-filled prayer (Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–14; Mark 11:22–25);
3. Humility (Matt 18:1–5; Mark 9:33–37; 10:13–16; Luke 17:7–10)
4. Paying taxes (Matt 17:24–27; Mark 12:13–17

Eclipsing all these is a cluster of topics united under the theme of social concern: mercy, justice,
stewardship, and the like.
25

Agape Love

25 Craig L. Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, 2nd Edition. (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2009), 452–454.

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