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A Study on the Interpretation of the Six Antitheses in the Sermon on the Mount and its ethical Implication for Today

  • The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
  • Abbr : 기사윤
  • 2019, (45), pp.123-157
  • DOI : 10.21050/CSE.2019.45.05
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : November 3, 2019
  • Accepted : December 21, 2019
  • Published : December 31, 2019

Yong-Hun Jo 1

1한남대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper characterizes the ethical principles of Jesus’ interpretation in the six antitheses and the ethical implications for today’s Christians. First, Jesus’ ethics is Christological because he interpreted the Law on the basis of his own authority which came from his character and ministries throughout the whole life. Second, Jesus’ ethics has similarity to the ethics of character or virtue since he judged actions built upon moral agents’ inner side of the hearts rather than outward acts. Third, Jesus sought the ultimate goal and reasons for the Law in that he was not interested in a perfunctory and superficial disputation upon its particular part as he summarized the meaning of the Law and the Prophet as the Double Love Commandment. Fourth, Jesus’ ethics is the ethics of discipleship which asked a thorough praxis and radical obedience to his calling. Fifth, Jesus’ ethics is characterized as the ethics of grace because the motivation of moral action is a response to God’s unconditional love rather than accomplishments of salvation. Finally, Jesus emphasized positive and active attitudes towards praxis of the Law in the teaching of the Golden Rule unlike Judaism and Confucianism which highlight negative or passive attitudes. Thus, this research delves into the ethical meaning of Jesus’ six antithesis for the contemporary Christians.

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