What Did Jesus Mean?: Explaining the Sermon on the Mount and the Parables in Simple and Universal Human Concepts

Contents......Page 12
1. \"What did Jesus mean\"—Is it worth asking?......Page 18
2. Different questions about Jesus......Page 19
3. Conceptual primes and universal human concepts—new tools for the study of Jesus\' sayings......Page 21
4. An illustration......Page 22
5. Is it possible to separate the universal aspect of Jesus\' teaching from its cultural context?......Page 24
6. Paradoxes of inculturation......Page 26
7. Universal words: Unfamiliar but not unintelligible......Page 28
8. The importance of Jesus\' Jewish context for the understanding of his teaching......Page 29
9. Jesus, the teacher of timeless truths?......Page 30
10. An illustration: The \"kingdom of God\" explained in universal human concepts......Page 32
11. The meaning of the word God......Page 35
12. The search for a coherent picture......Page 37
PART I: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT......Page 40
2. The Beatitudes......Page 42
1. Introduction: The importance of the Beatitudes......Page 43
2. Basic facts about the Beatitudes......Page 45
3. Who are the \"weeping\" ones?......Page 47
4. Who are the \"hungry\"?......Page 49
5. Who are the \"poor\"?......Page 51
6. Who are the \"meek\" (Matthew\'s praeis)?......Page 55
7. Exploring the image of the lamb and some related New Testament images......Page 57
8. Who are the \"persecuted\"?......Page 61
9. What does it mean to be \"blessed\"?......Page 62
10. Conclusion......Page 70
1. Jesus fulfils the Law......Page 72
2. Whoever is angry with his brother…......Page 76
3. Whoever divorces his wife…......Page 86
4. Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her…......Page 96
5. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out......Page 103
6. Let your \'Yes\' be \'Yes\' and your \'No\', \'No\'......Page 108
7. Turn the other cheek......Page 117
8. Love your enemies......Page 126
9. \"The righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees\"......Page 137
1. You are the salt of the earth......Page 141
2. When you do a charitable deed do not sound a trumpet......Page 146
3. Do not let your left hand know…......Page 155
4. When you pray, go into your room......Page 159
5. When you fast, anoint your head......Page 164
6. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven......Page 170
7. The eye is the lamp of the body......Page 176
8. You cannot serve God and mammon......Page 184
9. Consider the lilies of the field......Page 189
10. Do not judge......Page 194
11. Ask, and it will be given to you......Page 201
12. The golden rule......Page 206
13. Enter by the narrow gate......Page 218
14. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?......Page 221
15. The will of my Father......Page 230
16. Building on the rock......Page 234
1. Introduction......Page 241
2. The meaning and significance of the word abba......Page 243
3. \"Father\" as a metaphor......Page 247
4. God as someone......Page 249
5. What does God\'s fatherhood mean (in Jesus\' teaching)?......Page 251
6. Hallowed be thy name......Page 252
7. Thy kingdom come......Page 256
8. Give us this day our daily bread......Page 259
9. And forgive us our sins......Page 262
10. For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us......Page 265
11. And do not lead us into temptation......Page 266
12. Conclusion......Page 269
PART II: THE PARABLES......Page 270
6. The Sower......Page 272
7. The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price......Page 281
8. The Leaven and The Mustard Seed......Page 289
9. The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin......Page 307
10. The Prodigal Son......Page 315
11. The Unforgiving Servant......Page 325
12. The Laborers in the Vineyard......Page 335
13. The Servant\'s Reward......Page 347
14. The Great Feast......Page 356
15. The Last Judgment......Page 371
16. The Good Samaritan......Page 388
17. The Rich Man and Lazarus......Page 395
18. The Rich Fool......Page 403
19. The Doorkeeper......Page 412
20. The Talents......Page 419
21. The Dishonest Steward......Page 429
22. The Unjust Judge and the Friend at Midnight......Page 437
23. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector......Page 444
PART III: CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER PERSPECTIVES......Page 454
24. An Overall Picture of Jesus\' Teaching......Page 456
25. Implications for Theology; Christianity in a Nutshell......Page 459
26. Language: A Key Issue in Understanding Jesus and Christianity......Page 470
Notes......Page 480
References......Page 496
A......Page 512
C......Page 513
E......Page 514
G......Page 515
I......Page 516
K......Page 517
M......Page 518
P......Page 520
R......Page 521
S......Page 522
U......Page 523
Z......Page 524