Wisdom that has stood the test of time?

Look at this video clip about the influence of the Bible on Western culture:

Melvyn Bragg argues that the Bible has been airbrushed out of history by secularism and atheism. It is a phenomenal book that revolutionised our language and culture.

I have argued elsewhere in these web pages that to conclude that Jesus is just a ‘good teacher’ would be to miss the point entirely about him. So I don’t want to labour the teaching element too much. However, I think it is fair to note that Jesus demonstrates profound wisdom in his understanding of human nature and this teaching has endured, even when people have forgotten that it originated with Jesus.

Find a modern translation of the Bible and try the passages below (if you don’t have a modern translation, you can search many translations of the Bible on Bible Gateway website :

Matthew chapter 5, verses 21-30. Jesus draws out the link between our actions and the thoughts that precede them in a way that confronted the legalistic religion of his day. It also continues to hold up a mirror to each of us as individuals in a way that genuinely challenges us if we are honest with ourselves.
Luke chapter 7, verses 36-50. Much of Jesus’ teaching took place in the context of ordinary life (here, a meal). His question is incredibly simple but it exposes hypocrisy, misogyny and brings forgiveness into the open.
Mark chapter 12, verses 15-17. Even when his enemies tried to trap him, Jesus found a way to teach that subverted their purpose and also established a saying that persists to this day.

Use the email address below to give feedback / ask questions to the author, whose views these pages reflect

Six Big Questions Rev John Hibberd sixbigquestions@throughfaithmissions.org