Distinctive teaching brought by Jesus

1. Jesus taught and acted with authority doing things considered the prerogative of God. This laid the foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity and that Jesus was God in human form.

• Rabbis usually debated within tradition; Jesus claimed to fulfil, reinterpret and give definitive interpretations of Torah (Matt. 5–7).“But I say to you…” — Jesus spoke with his own authority, not only citing Scripture or previous rabbis.
• Jesus did things which were considered the prerogative of God such as forgiving sins. Normally, forgiveness was mediated by Temple sacrifices and priesthood whereas Jesus claimed the authority to forgive sins directly, bypassing Temple and priests.
• Jesus honoured the Temple but also criticised and symbolically replaced it (“something greater than the Temple is here,” Matt. 12:6).
• His cleansing of the Temple set him apart — no other teacher positioned himself as God’s presence replacing it.
• Jesus claimed divine status. “Before Abraham was, I AM”.
• Jesus claimed unique sonship with God (“Abba”), presented himself as Wisdom/Word of God incarnate, and invited allegiance to himself rather than just his teaching.

2. Messiahship and Suffering – overcoming evil, not with more evil, but with good.

• Most Jews expected a triumphant, warrior king Messiah (like David or Judas Maccabeus).
• Jesus spoke of a suffering Son of Man, rejected and killed, yet vindicated by God — a startling reinterpretation of messianic hope.
• Whereas most groups anticipated divine or messianic vengeance on enemies (Romans, Gentiles), Jesus taught love of enemies and non-violence (“turn the other cheek”), a radical break from mainstream expectations.

3. Radical Reinterpretation of the Law

• Torah not abolished but deepened — moving from external observance to internal motives (anger = murder; lust = adultery).
• Downplayed ritual purity and Sabbath restrictions compared to Pharisaic emphasis.

4. Radical Inclusivity

• While Judaism affirmed Gentiles could know God, the covenant focus was Israel. Jesus proclaimed a mission that would embrace all nations as heirs of God’s promises.
• Open fellowship with tax collectors, sinners, Samaritans, women, the poor, and the ritually unclean.
• Many teachers valued separation from impurity to maintain holiness; Jesus brought holiness into contact with impurity.

5. Jesus had come to inaugurate the coming of God’s Kingdom.

• The History of the Jews included a number of key events in which the people were enslaved or oppressed and then redeemed or set free by God, sometimes through a charismatic human leader. These included the Exodus from Egypt, the Exile in Babylon, the oppression by the Greeks and, at the time of Jesus, occupation by the Romans.
• When Jesus was born, the Jews were looking and hoping for a Messiah figure who would do to the Romans what Judas Maccabeus did to the Greeks and “restore the Kingdom to Israel”.
• Jesus was the Messiah but His mission was on a much more cosmic scale that the Jews were expecting. Jesus’ central theme: the Kingdom of God breaking into history through his ministry.
• Jesus battle was not against the Romans but against Evil, Sin and Death and by His death and resurrection, He was victorious over them. Humanity is redeemed from the slavery incurred at the initial disobedience and God has reclaimed His Kingdom.
• For Jesus, the Kingdom of God was both already present and not yet complete. Just as when there was a new Roman emperor following a far off battle, news of the victory could be announced quickly, it would take time for the effects to filter through, the Good News that evil had been defeated had been announced, evil is still clearly present.
• This is the age the Church lives in. A “now and not yet”, and at some unknown time in the future, Jesus will return to claim the Kingdom which He won on the cross.