One of the definitions of Ethics is simply:
The rightness or moral quality of an action, put more simply BEING GOOD, DOING GOOD.
Jesus had ethical standards, two things in particular distinguished Him.
He not only taught Ethics, He lived them.
In His messages He gave, ethics were integral to the whole of His message.
A lot of the examples of ethical teaching by Jesus can be found in the Gospel of Mathew in the Beatitudes.
Matthew 5 v3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
5 v4 Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
5 v5 Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.
5 v6 Blessed are those who hunger, and thirst for righteousness because they will be filled.
5 v7 Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.
5 v8 Blessed are the pure in heart because they will see God.
5 v 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
5 v10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
5 v11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me {Jesus}.
5 v12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in Heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Ethics are values, you hold true.
Jesus' teachings were about how to live and why we should live that way.
Jesus' teaching were eschatology (teaching concerned with final things,as death, judgement, heaven and hell)
That is why it is impossible to separate His ethics from His teachings about Himself, to follow them without first following Him.
Jesus always challenges to 'Come follow Me'.
Matthew 4 verse 19 to 20
V19 "Follow Me" He (Jesus) told them, "and I will make you fish for people"
v20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Mark 1 verse 17
"Follow Me" Jesus told them "and I will make you fish for people"
Jesus' challenge is "come, follow Me' —not come follow a system.
Follow Jesus as a way of life.
Follow His teachings as a way of reaching high ethical standards.
Believers are Salt and Light. Matthew 5 verses 13 to 18
V13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should lose it's taste how can it be made salty.
Verse 16 In the same way let your light shine, before men (people), so that they may see your great works,and give glory to your Father in Heaven.
TO SUM UP – Ethics is about rightness or moral quality of an action.
Jesus laid down His life for us, that through rising again we could have new life.
Come follow Him and accept the challenge.
God Bless
O F J
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