Unit 13: Jesus Builds the Kingdom of God through Words.

Unit 13: Jesus Builds the Kingdom of God

through Words

Section 4: The Controversy Stories

The Gospel According to Mark

The Gospel According to Luke

The Gospel According to Matthew

The Controversy Stories

• A Controversy or Conflict Story – A short narrative in which someone, often with

hostile intent, approaches Jesus with a hard question

– The tense situation provides Jesus with an opportunity to deliver his own wise teaching, to display his superior wisdom, and to escape the trap set for him by his opponents


• The Question about Fasting (Matthew 9: 14-17)– What is the hard question that the group poses

to Jesus?– What is Jesus' wise response to and teaching

about the question?


• The Question about Fasting (Matthew 9: 14-17)– What is the hard question that the group poses to

Jesus?• “Why do we [the disciples of John] and the Pharisees fast, but

your disciples do not fast?”

– What is Jesus' wise response to and teaching about the question?

• Jesus does not reject the practice of fasting– The act of fasting brings us close to God through penance,

purification, and cleansing

• Jesus says that during times of joy, such as a wedding feast, a person must celebrate and display gratitude through eating and dancing


• Picking Grain & Healing on the Sabbath (Matthew 12: 1-14)– What is the hard question that the group poses


about the question?


• Picking Grain & Healing on the Sabbath (Matthew 12: 1-14)– What is the hard question that the group poses to

Jesus?• “Is it lawful to [work or] cure on the Sabbath?”


• Jesus does not reject the practice of keeping holy the Sabbath day

– The Sabbath day helps people to maintain a proper or right relationship with God through prayer and rest from daily work

• Jesus acknowledges that the rules regarding the Sabbath often lead people away from a proper relationship with God or the rules become the false idols of worship

• Jesus states that God desires “mercy, not sacrifice” and “good” acts on the Sabbath


• Paying Taxes to the Emperor (Matthew 22: 15-22)– What is the hard question that the group poses


about the question?


• Paying Taxes to the Emperor (Matthew 22: 15-22)– What is the hard question that the group poses to

Jesus?• “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”


• Jesus does not reject the rights and obligations due to secular governments

• Jesus acknowledges that people often misplace their allegiances and place things of this world, such as politics, before God and the spiritual world

• Jesus asserts that people must be most concerned with the rights and obligations that are granted to them by God

– As such, proper or right relationship with God through prayer and good works is of upmost concern

Unit 13: Jesus Builds the Kingdom of God through Words.

Documents

Transcript of Unit 13: Jesus Builds the Kingdom of God through Words.