Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
Jesus%as%Wisdom%Teacher%
Jesus invites his hearers to leave conventional wisdom behind in order to live by an
alternative wisdom. Jesus’ wisdom teaching takes two forms: Parables and Aphorism.
Overview%
Both!aphorisms!and parables!are!evocative!and!provocative,%invitational!forms of speech.
They are invitations to see something you might not have otherwise seen, to see
differently. Jesus most likely spoke his aphorisms and told his parables many, many times.
No great speaker of one-liners tells a great one-liner only once, no great teller of great
stories tells a great story only once. We can see the gospels as summaries of the lessons
Jesus told again and again as he traveled.
Jesus’ wisdom teaching to invite his hearers to see differently: “The eye is the lamp of the
body.”%Seeing%is%central%to the wisdom teaching of Jesus. There are many sayings and
healing stories about seeing.%How%you%see%makes%all%the%difference.
Jesus’!alternative%wisdom%teaching!undermines!and subverts the!social%boundaries%
generated by the conventional wisdom of his day and ours. Jesus’ wisdom teaching points
to the world of conventional wisdom as a world of blindness. His aphorisms and parables
invite us to see differently.
Conventional wisdom
Jesus’ alternative wisdom
God is punitive lawgiver and judge
God is gracious
A person’s worth is determined by
All persons have infinite worth as a
measuring up to social standards
children of God
Sinners and outcasts are to be avoided and Everyone is welcome around the table and
rejected
in the kingdom of God
Identity comes from centering in the sacred,
Identity comes from social tradition
from relationship with God
The first shall be last...; those who exalt
Strive to be first
themselves will be emptied...
The path of dying to self and being reborn
Preserve one’s own life above all
leads to life abundant
Fruit of striving is reward
Fruit of centering in God is compassion
Source%of%Jesus’%alternative%wisdom%
Where did this alternative wisdom of Jesus come from? Why does he see the way he sees?
Why does he speak of conventional wisdom as way of blindness? Jesus himself must have
had an enlightenment experience.!The reason Jesus sees differently is because he knows
differently. The radical change in perspective which characterizes the wisdom teaching of
Jesus comes from a radically different experience of reality. The path Jesus travels, and
invites his hearers to travel, is a way radically centered in God and not in culture.
!
Sources: “A Portrait of Jesus” web site created by Cam Howard based on the work of Dr. Marcus Borg.
http://www.aportraitofjesus.org/wisdom2.shtml
http://donmilam.com/2013/02/the-jesus-style-of-communication-aphorisms-and-parables-2/
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
Parables%attributed%to%Jesus%
Narratives commonly described as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” They are
metaphorical: a scenario that means one thing but is used to symbolize another. Typically,
they are narratives based on a familiar experience for the purpose of explaining
nonphysical or to illustrate spiritual Truth. They invite the hearer to enter the world of the
story and to see differently in light of the story. Topics or themes: the kingdom of God, the
kingdom of heaven, the nature of God, accessibility of the kingdom. The ending is
determined by the listener, NOT the storyteller.
Note:!The colors relate to the designation of authenticity determined by “The Jesus
Seminar.” The scholars comprising the seminar give these attributes: red, pink, gray, and
black. See The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? by Robert W. Funk et al. !
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Red is that which Jesus undoubtedly or unequivocally said or very like it.
Pink represents “He might have said that, it sounds kind of like him.”
Grey “He didn’t say that, but it might be useful in understanding who Jesus was.” or “lots
of people at that time said things like that.”
Black “He most likely didn’t say this. It represents the perspective or content of a later or
different tradition.”
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WORK!AND!WAGES!!
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Vineyard!Laborers!and!the Generous!Employer!(Matt.20:1E16)!!
The!Dishonest!Steward!(Luke!16:1E8)!!
The!Talents!(money)!(Matthew!25:14E30;!Luke!19:12E27,!Q!19,!Thomas!41)!!
The!Defendant!(Luke!12:58!f.;!Matthew!5:25!f.)!!
The!Unforgiving!Official!or!The!Unmerciful!Servant!(Matthew!18:23E34)!!
The!Rich!Fool,!Build!bigger!barns!(Q,!Luke!12:16E21)!!
The!Wicked!Vinedressers!(Matthew!21:33E41;!Mark!12:1E9;!Luke!20:9E16)!
Ready!Servants!(Mark!13:34E36)!
The!Two!Debtors!(Luke!7:41E43)!!
The!Faithful!and!Unfaithful!Servants!(Matt.!24:45E51;!Luke!12:42E46)!!
NATURE!!
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The!Leaven!(Matthew!13:33;!Luke!13:20!f.)!
The!Sower!and!the!Seeds!(Mark!4:3E9;!Matt!13:3E9;!Luke!8:5E8)!!
The!Mustard!Seed!(Matt!13:31;!Mark!4:30E32;!Luke!13:18)!
The!Barren!Fig!Tree!(Luke!13:6E9)!
The!Vultures!&!the!Carcass!(Matt!24:28;!Luke!17:37)!!
The!Budding!Fig!Tree!(Matt!24:32!f.;!Mark!13:28!f.;!Luke!21:19E31)!
The!Weeds!in!the!Grain!or!the!Tares!(Matt!13:24E30)!!
The!Net!(Matthew!13:47E50)!
The!Seed!Growing!Secretly!or!The!Patient!Husbandman!(Mark!4:26E29)!
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
WEDDINGS!AND!FEASTS!!
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The!Bridegroom's!Attendants!(Matt.9:15;!Mark!2:19.;!Luke!5:34)!
The!Unwilling!Guests!(Q,!Matt!22:1E10;!Luke!14:16E24,!Thomas)!!
The!Wedding!Garment!(Matthew!22:11E13)!
The!Rich!Man!and!Lazarus!(Luke!16:19E31) !
The!Ten!Maidens!(Matthew!25:1E13)!
The!Children!in!the!Marketplace!(Matt.!11:16E19;!Luke!7:31E35)!
The!Tower!Builder!and!The!Warring!King!(Luke!14:28E32)!!
The!Arrogant!Guest!(Luke!14:7E11)!!
OPEN!&!CLOSED!DOORS!
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The!Closed!Door!(Luke!13:24,!25E30)!!
The!Strong!Man!Bound!(Matt.12:29;!Mark!3:27;!Luke!11:21!f.)!!
The!Neighbor!at!Midnight!(Luke!11:5E8)!
The!Son's!Request!(Matthew!7:9E11;!Luke!11:11E13)!
The!Unjust!Judge!or!The!Persistent!Widow!(Luke!18:1E8)!
The!Pharisee!and!the!Publican!(Luke!18:9E14)!
The!Divided!Realm!(Mark!3:24E26;!Luke!11:17E20)!!
The!Doorkeeper!(Mark!13:33bE36,!Matt!24:42)!!
The!Thief!in!the!Night!and!Faithful!Servants!(Matt.!24:42E51;!Luke!12:33E48)!!
LOST!AND!FOUND,!FATHER!AND!SON!!
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The!Good!Samaritan!(Luke!10:25E37)!
The!Prodigal!Son!and!The!Loving!Father!(Luke!15:11E32)!
The!Lost!Coin!(Luke!15:8E10)!
The!Lost!Sheep!(Matthew!18:12E14;!Luke!15:4E7)!
The!Two!Sons!(Matthew!21:28E32)!
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Parable%about%Jesus%%%
The Temptation in the Wilderness or Desert Q6, Matt 4, Mark 1, Luke 4, John 2 and John
6. This is one example of many in the Gospels. See The Power of Parable Part II by John
Dominic Crossan.
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Reflection:%%How%do%you%apply%Jesus’%alternative%wisdom?%%%
Think of an issue in your life or in the world today.
• What does conventional wisdom say about it?
• How does Jesus’ invitation to see differently affect your perspective and response
to the issue?
• What does it mean to radically center your life in God instead of culture?
• Journal your thoughts.
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
Aphorisms%by%Jesus%
One-liners that are short, pithy, memorable sayings; word pictures drawn from the
common world; crystallizations of insight that provoke and invite further insight. The
Sermon on the Mount is a collection of one-liners on kingdom living. Through aphorisms,
Jesus jolted his students’ minds, captured their imaginations and opened them gently and
indirectly to the stirrings of the ancient language deep within them. He encapsulated
heavenly truth in such a way that they would not be forgotten, and often resulted in people
walking away scratching their heads. These condensations of heavenly realities gave hope
to the disenfranchised while they, at the same time, infuriated the religious: with these
words, Jesus challenged the established precepts upon which Jewish society was built. Our
culture is still prevalent with old established religious concepts.“Everyone gets what they
deserve. The righteous will prosper. No rest for the wicked. Life is about rewards,
requirements, judgments, and success.” These precepts never prevailed in the words of
Jesus. These religious leaders were relics of the old ways of religion and just did not fit in
the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Leaven!(Luke!12:35E38)!
The!Hidden!Treasure!(Matthew!13:44)!
The!Pearl!of!Great!Price!(Matthew!13:45!f.)!
The!Birds!of!Heaven!(Matthew!6:26;!Luke!12:24)!!
The!Flowers!of!the!Field!(Matt!6:28E30;!Luke!12:27f.)!!
The!Tree!and!its!Fruits!(Matthew!7:16;!Luke!6:43E49)!The!Lamp!(Matt!5:14E16;!
Mark!4:21;!Luke!8:16,!11:31)!and!The!City!Set!on!a!Hill!(Matt.!5:14b)!!
7. The!Discarded!Salt!(Matt!5:13;!Mark!9:50;!Luke!14:34!f.)!
8. The!Unoccupied!House!or!The!Demon's!Invasion!(Matt.!12:43E45;!Luke!11:24)!
9. The!Doctor!and!the!Sick!(Matthew!9:12;!Mark!2:17;!Luke!5:!31)!!
10. The!Body's!Lamp!(Matthew!6:22!f.;!Luke!11:34E36)!!
11. The!Patch!and!the!Wineskins!(Matt.!9:16!f.;!Mark!2:21!f.;!Luke!5:36E39)!!
12. The!Householder's!Treasure!(Matthew!13:52)!!
13. The!Two!BuildersE!the!Rock!and!the!Sand!(Matthew!7:24E27;!Luke!6:47E49)!!
Aphorisms%most%likely%said%by%Jesus%
Nobody pours young wine into old wineskins, otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and
destroy both the wine and the skins. Instead, young wine is for new wineskins. Mk 2, Mt.
9, Th 47
Since when do the able-bodied need a doctor? It’s the sick who do. Mk 2, Mt 9, L 5
To those who have, more with be given. From those who don’t have, even what they do
have will be taken away. Mk 4, Mt 13. L 8, Th 41
Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. And if
you love those who love you what credit is that to you? Q 6: 32 Mt 5:44, L 6, Th 95
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer your other cheek as well. If anyone grabs your
coat, let him have your shirt as well. Q 6, Mt 5, L 6
Give to anyone who asks, and if someone takes away your belongings, do not ask to have
them back. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to
you? Q 6, Mt 5, L 6
How can you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye and not notice the stick in your
own? First take the stick from your own eye, and then you can see to remove the splinter
that is in your brother’s eye. Q 6, Mt 7, L 6, Th 26
Everyone who hears my words and does them is like a man who built a house on rock. The
rain fell, a torrent broke against the house, and it did not fall, for it had a rock foundation.
Everyone who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on
sand. The rain came, the torrent broke against it, and it collapsed. The ruin of that house
was great. Q 6, Mt 7, L 6 (this is a common rabbinic teaching of the time)
When someone said to him, I will follow you “Let me first go and bury my father” Jesus
said, “Leave the dead to bury their dead” Q L 9, Mt 8
Pay the emperor what belongs to the emperor and God what belongs to God. Mk 12, Mt
22, L 20, Th 100
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened
for you. Q, Mt 5, Mk 11, L 11
Don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body, but can’t kill the soul Can’t you buy five
sparrows for two cents? Not one of them will fall to the ground without God knowing
about it. So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Q 12, Mt 10
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Think of the ravens. They do
not plant, harvest, or store grain in barns and God feeds them. Think of the way lilies grow.
They do not work or spin. If God puts beautiful clothes on the grass…won’t he put clothes
on you, faint hearts? Instead, make sure of his rule over you, and all these things will be
yours as well. Q 12, Mt 6, Th 36
Store up treasure for yourselves in a heavenly account, where moths and rust do not
consume, and where thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be. Whoever tries to protect his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
on account of me will preserve it. Q 12, Mt 6, Th 76
Salt is good; but if salt loses its taste, how can it be restored? It is not good for either the
land or the manure pile. People just throw it out. Q, Mt 5, L 14, Mk 9
Heaven’s imperial rule is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his
field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it has grown up, it is the largest of
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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Jesus’ Teachings –BI802
garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air made nests in its branches. Q
13, Mt. 13, Th 20
Heaven’s imperial rule is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of
flour until it leavened a whole mass. Q 13, Mt 13, Th 96
Reflection:%%How%do%you%apply%Jesus’%alternative%wisdom?%%%
Think of an issue in your life or in the world today.
• What does conventional wisdom say about it?
• How does Jesus’ invitation to see differently affect your perspective and response
to the issue?
• What does it mean to radically center your life in God instead of culture?
• Journal your thoughts.
!
!
©Rev. Kelly Isola, complied from The Five Gospels et al
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