Jesus' Teachings: which have you been most devoted to trying to follow?

[Blue3]

The Beatitudes... the Works of Mercy... the Great Commandment... the New Commandment... the Lord's Prayer... the Sermons on the Mount and Plain... what he told the rich man asking for Eternal Life... the Great Commission... and more.
(Do you believe I've forgotten any that should be included with these above?)


Which do you think you're doing "well enough," since no one is perfect, though we should strive to be?

I figured this is a good things to reflect on and do some soul-searching, as Easter approaches (even if you decide not to vote or comment).

For those who aren't Christian, feel free to reflect and participate too!

[Blue3]

There are a number that I'm deeply committed to and haven't disastrously screwed up on yet, but none that I'd make so bold as to say I'm doing "well enough" at (normal Christian).

Which are you deeply committed to? Maybe that should have been the words I used instead of "well enough." It was difficult to think of the right words to use.

I've been abiding by all of the "don'ts" (thank God!), but none of the "dos". I'm pretty much a terrible person all around.

Well it is very difficult, everyone falls short of the ideal. Which have you tried to do the hardest?

Unless you're referring to a different verse, you've got an error in your list. It should be “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” not "bury the dead".

I referred to this list, to make sure I wasn't forgetting any (and I did originally forget the water and the burying parts).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_of_mercy#Corporal_Works_of_Mercy

[Blue3]

Unless you're referring to a different verse, you've got an error in your list. It should be “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” not "bury the dead".

I referred to this list, to make sure I wasn't forgetting any (and I did originally forget the water and the burying parts).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_of_mercy#Corporal_Works_of_Mercy

Tobit, which is where that comes from, is part of the Old Testament Apocrypha, not the gospels.

My mistake, then.





Is there anything else I've either included by accident, or should have included?

[Blue3]

Temporarily changing thread title to underline that I'm also asking if I missed any.

[Blue3]

Temporarily changing thread title to underline that I'm also asking if I missed any.

Not sure if it's missed per se, but I think it's pretty easy for the uninitiated to confuse the standard definition's of murder and adultery with Jesus Christ's definition.

True. Those were the only two that Jesus elaborated in that way, right?

[Blue3]

Temporarily changing thread title to underline that I'm also asking if I missed any.

Not sure if it's missed per se, but I think it's pretty easy for the uninitiated to confuse the standard definition's of murder and adultery with Jesus Christ's definition.

This.  The true responses should be 0 for every single one of these teachings, in the sense that no one fulfills them to God's standard.

I'm not asking if people fulfill them to God's standard. I said in the beginning that no one does.

[Blue3]

It might not have been Jesus who said it, but is "judge not lest he be judged" on the list?

He did. and it is, combined with "forgive and you'll be forgiven"

Temporarily changing thread title to underline that I'm also asking if I missed any.

Not sure if it's missed per se, but I think it's pretty easy for the uninitiated to confuse the standard definition's of murder and adultery with Jesus Christ's definition.

This.  The true responses should be 0 for every single one of these teachings, in the sense that no one fulfills them to God's standard.

I'm not asking if people fulfill them to God's standard. I said in the beginning that no one does.

The point is that "well enough" is meeting God's standard.  If anything less were acceptable, then Jesus wouldn't have had to die on a cross for our sins.

But my point is that I didn't want anyone to think "well enough" in the question is meeting God's standard.

[Blue3]

Happy Palm Sunday!

I changed the title to better reflect what I meant.


Any more votes, explanations?
(or teachings I forgot?)

[Blue3]

I read through the entire New Testament and made a list of all of Jesus's commands or teachings, I'll try to organize it better and post an updated version of this thread.

[Blue3]

A lot of these aren't things that Jesus explicitly taught.

These are all from what Jesus said in the 4 Gospels of the New Testament:

Blessed states of mind:
1.   Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven
2.   Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted
3.   Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth
4.   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled
5.   Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy
6.   Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God
7.   Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God
8.   Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
9.   Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
10.   Practice what you preach, remove the log in your eye before attending the splinter in your friend's
11.   Let your light shine before others, but don't announce your charity or prayer or fasting for recognition
12.   Cut off that which would cause you to stumble
13.   Become like little children
14.   Don't serve money
15.   Don't worry
16.   Don’t feel entitled
17.   Express thanks
18.   Have faith and courage, persevere, stand firm
19.   Be devoted
20.   Do not be afraid
21.   Do not fear death
22.   Be ready at any time

Loving God:
23.   Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
24.   Hoping God's will be done on earth.
25.   Glorify God’s name/word/being
26.   Pray (Lord’s Prayer)

Loving Jesus:
27.   Be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus
28.   Love Jesus by following his teachings
29.   Eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus
30.   Carry your cross and follow Jesus (Luke 14)

Loving Others:
31.   Love all others as Jesus loved you
32.   Love your neighbor as yourself
33.   Forgive others (and you'll too be forgiven), do not judge or condemn others
34.   Turn the other cheek
35.   Love your enemies
36.   Treat others as you want to be treated
37.   Forgive those who have sinned against us or indebted to us
38.   Serve others
39.   Freely give
40.   Do not murder/be angry
41.   Do not commit adultery/be lustful
42.   Do not steal
43.   Do not testify falsely, or slander
44.   Do not cheat anyone
45.   Honor your parents/guardians/elders
46.   Give all your possessions to the poor
47.   Show mercy, do not demand sacrifice
48.   Do not cause others to sin
49.   Wish peace to others
50.   Don't divide against yourselves

Acts of mercy:
51.   Feed the hungry
52.   Give water to the thirsty
53.   Clothe the naked
54.   Shelter the homeless
55.   Visit the sick
56.   Visit the imprisoned or ransom the captive

Beliefs:
57.   You will have eternal life if you follow the teachings of Jesus
58.   If you ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you, it is never too late
59.   Breaking human rules and dietary laws do not defile you
60.   The exalted will be humbled, the humbled will be exalted
61.   The coming end of the world, kingdom of God, and the sorting
62.   You are valuable, you are loved

Other Commands:
63.   Believe in Jesus
64.   Repent
65.   Spread Jesus' teachings to all people of the world.
66.   Only divorce in cases of sexual immorality
67.   Do not swear an oath
68.   Be born again with water/spirit/breath
69.   Beware false prophets, you can tell by their bad fruit 
70.   Warning against greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, arrogance and folly

[Blue3]

A lot of these aren't things that Jesus explicitly taught.

These are all from what Jesus said in the 4 Gospels of the New Testament:

Blessed states of mind:
1.   Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven
2.   Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted
3.   Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth
4.   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled
5.   Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy
6.   Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God
7.   Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God
8.   Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
9.   Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
10.   Practice what you preach, remove the log in your eye before attending the splinter in your friend's
11.   Let your light shine before others, but don't announce your charity or prayer or fasting for recognition
12.   Cut off that which would cause you to stumble
13.   Become like little children
14.   Don't serve money
15.   Don't worry
16.   Don’t feel entitled
17.   Express thanks
18.   Have faith and courage, persevere, stand firm
19.   Be devoted
20.   Do not be afraid
21.   Do not fear death
22.   Be ready at any time

Loving God:
23.   Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
24.   Hoping God's will be done on earth.
25.   Glorify God’s name/word/being
26.   Pray (Lord’s Prayer)

Loving Jesus:
27.   Be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus
28.   Love Jesus by following his teachings
29.   Eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus
30.   Carry your cross and follow Jesus (Luke 14)

Loving Others:
31.   Love all others as Jesus loved you
32.   Love your neighbor as yourself
33.   Forgive others (and you'll too be forgiven), do not judge or condemn others
34.   Turn the other cheek
35.   Love your enemies
36.   Treat others as you want to be treated
37.   Forgive those who have sinned against us or indebted to us
38.   Serve others
39.   Freely give
40.   Do not murder/be angry
41.   Do not commit adultery/be lustful
42.   Do not steal
43.   Do not testify falsely, or slander
44.   Do not cheat anyone
45.   Honor your parents/guardians/elders
46.   Give all your possessions to the poor
47.   Show mercy, do not demand sacrifice
48.   Do not cause others to sin
49.   Wish peace to others
50.   Don't divide against yourselves

Acts of mercy:
51.   Feed the hungry
52.   Give water to the thirsty
53.   Clothe the naked
54.   Shelter the homeless
55.   Visit the sick
56.   Visit the imprisoned or ransom the captive

Beliefs:
57.   You will have eternal life if you follow the teachings of Jesus
58.   If you ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you, it is never too late
59.   Breaking human rules and dietary laws do not defile you
60.   The exalted will be humbled, the humbled will be exalted
61.   The coming end of the world, kingdom of God, and the sorting
62.   You are valuable, you are loved

Other Commands:
63.   Believe in Jesus
64.   Repent
65.   Spread Jesus' teachings to all people of the world.
66.   Only divorce in cases of sexual immorality
67.   Do not swear an oath
68.   Be born again with water/spirit/breath
69.   Beware false prophets, you can tell by their bad fruit 
70.   Warning against greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, arrogance and folly

I had gone through the gospels a couple years ago, working on citing where all the teachings of Jesus came from, to have a comprehensive list with citations, just didn't completely finish it. Would anyone be interested in me finishing that project?