3. Tick the box! In each of the following, say whether it is true or false.
True
1. Jesus simply wanted his followers to learn his teachings off by heart and not think for themselves.
2. Jesus attracted many disciples because his teaching wasn’t just ‘words’. What he said was backed up by how he lived.
3. A parable is a story with a deeper meaning contained within it.
4. The Parable of the Good Samaritan tells the story of a Jewish man who rescues a Samaritan who has been robbed and left for dead at the side of the road.
5. By the first century CE, Jews and Samaritans were on good terms with one another.
6. Jesus would have delighted his Jewish listeners by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
7. In today’s developing world, women are guaranteed by law to enjoy the same rights as men.
8. Palestine in the time of Jesus was a patriarchal society. 9. Jesus did not include women among his disciples. 10. Jesus treated his male and female followers just the same. 11. The Kingdom of God is all about geography. 12. First-century Jews were allowed to share a meal with non-Jews.
13. Jesus angered the Pharisees by sharing meals with sinners and outcasts.
14. Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is open to everyone. False
4. Think about it!
(a) Why would science students be willing to listen carefully to what a famous and successful inventor has to say to them?
(b) Why were many people in first-century Palestine willing to listen to what Jesus had to say? (c) Why did Jesus use parables to communicate his teachings? (d) Jesus said that to enter the Kingdom of God we need to do three things: 1. Love your enemies. 2. Do what is right without looking for recognition or reward. 3. Treat others as you would have them treat you.
Why do people find it so difficult to live up to these standards of behaviour?
