Thoughts for the season

There is a wide variety of beliefs in this country, and among our readers, about Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth some of us celebrate on the 25th of December. Some believe him to be the Son of God; others do not. A few deny that there ever was such a person. Most can agree, however, that the words of Jesus as handed down to us in the New Testament are thought-provoking sayings that have had a profound impact on the world for about two thousand years.

This makes it particularly unfortunate that, although there is a great deal of public discussion about Christianity nowadays, very little of it seems to be informed by our main historical source about its founder: the gospels. We thought it might raise the level of debate, during this holiday season, to present some of the sayings of Jesus, as reported in those books, on a few topics of current concern.

On family and marriage

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 12: 47-50

On forgiveness and retaliation

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy… Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5: 7-9

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Matthew 5: 38-41

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22

[When the soliders came to arrest him before his crucifixion] … Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then Jesus said unto him, Put up again they sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 26:50-52

On wealth

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:25

… Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting… he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

John 2: 13-16

On righteousness

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

John: 10:11-14

On sex

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 5: 27-28

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

John 8:4-7

On taking care of the poor

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:34-40

On taxes and separation of church and state

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Matthew 22:21

On neighbors

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 11:30-37

Most likely, everybody who reads the above will find something to offend as well as to inspire. Which is as it should be: whoever or whatever he was, Jesus appears to have been out to shake people up rather than to please them. But we hope that all our readers, believers of all faiths and non-believers alike all our neighbors, in short—can find in these words something to think about in this season that through the ages and religious belief is seen as holy.

Anne Willard, editorial page editor

Dr. Punnybone

Gift Ideas