Ethics in Bible

Ethics In Bible

How should we live? To answer that question, many people turn to the Bible. What they find is often inspiring, although it may set standards that are uncomfortably high, love your neighbour as yourself, treat others as you would like to be treated, and walk humbly with God. Christ's Presentation of Himself as teacher at that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man know the Son, but the Father; neither know any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

In this passage Jesus makes two assertions about himself:

1. That he is the almighty Son of God.

2. That nevertheless he is meek and lowly in heart.

He gives two descriptions of his teaching:

1. That it is a yoke to which his disciples must submit, and a burden they must carry.

2. That nevertheless his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

And then on the basis of these two assertions and these two descriptions, he issues two invitations, each accompanied by a promise:

1. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

2. Take my yoke on you and learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls.

The Two Descriptions about ethics in Bible by Lord Christ

1) Christ's ethical teaching is a yoke

Jesus Christ does not hide the fact that his ethical teaching is a yoke which his disciples must accept, and a burden they must carry.

The meaning of the term 'yoke'. In the ancient world a yoke was a specially shaped piece of wood which a farmer would fit on to the neck of his oxen so that he could control them and harness them to plough the fields, thresh the corn, or pull the farm carts. Ancient kings, therefore, called their government a 'yoke' because by it they controlled and guided the people. And teachers of morality and religion called their teaching a 'yoke' for the same reason.

There is a vivid story in the Old Testament (1 Kings 12), which illustrates this meaning of 'yoke'. The people ask the king to make his yoke easier. Instead he makes it harder; and they revolt. Read the story and tell it to the students in full. See also Acts 15:10, where false religious teaching is described as an unbearable yoke.

Christ's teaching, then, is a yoke. He is the Son of God, sent by God to be mankind's rightful king, to govern us and to get us to obey God's rule. This is the authority he claims for telling us what is right and what is wrong; which is why he began his public teaching by proclaiming 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near' (Matt 4:17). In submitting to his ethics, we are submitting not simply to some abstract moral principles, but to a person to whom we owe personal loyalty.

2. Christ's ethical teaching is an easy yoke

A good farmer would see to it that the yokes which he put on his oxen fitted them well and did not chafe them. It thus made it easier for the oxen to do their work. If a boy wants to become a champion tennis player, he must submit to his coach. Obeying the coach's instructions may seem hard at first; but it is better than hitting the ball uncontrollably and in the end it will make the playing easier, more successful and more enjoyable. It is always better to drive a car according to the maker's instructions. Christ knows how our bodies, minds, emotions and desires were meant to work. He made them! His yoke is designed to fit us, and so to make life easier.

The Two Invitations

1. The first invitation and promise of Bible

The first invitation is addressed to people who are weary and burdened. In many big cities of the world the number of young people who commit suicide is going up. Why? Here are some suggestions:

(a) The seeming pointlessness of life.

(b) The difficulty of finding employment, and the consequent feeling of being useless and unwanted.

(c) The boredom, ill health and worry that arise from alcoholism, drugs, frantic lifestyles.

(d) The psychological wounds and guilt feelings that follow immorality.

(e) The basic insecurity caused by strife in the home, parental divorce, one parent families.

(f) Constant failure to live up to one's ideals, leading to disgust with oneself.

To those who come to Bible provide immediate rest, as because:

(a) Immediate forgiveness and release from guilt

(b)A restored sense of purpose in life, 'to serve the living God'.

(c)An immediate sense of being loved and valued by God, and therefore of being of infinite and permanent significance

(d) an assurance of God's care in the practical affairs of life and relief from anxiety

2. The second invitation and promise of Bible

This is to enter the School of Christ and to be taught and trained by him how to live. His teaching will require standards of behaviour that are very different from the world's standards; and for that reason they may well incur the world's hostility and opposition. But here too Christ promises 'rest to our souls', because he can effect within us a 'new birth' by which we become children of God, and receive new powers with which to carry out his instructions and to live according to his moral standards.

The basic principles of the Bible