The New Testament Teachings: Are They Relevant Today?

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The Relevance of NT Teachings in the Current World

The teachings in the New Testament covered broad life aspects which have potentials to influence the lives of people in one way or another. In moving forward, it is necessary to understand certain concepts. For instance; how can the teachings in the NT be relevant for today? Notably, the message of Jesus in the New Testament provides the most profound and hopeful formula for changing the world into a peaceful place. To certify this, my plan is to use the readings from the books of Luke 15:11-32, Mathew 18:21-35 and John 9. Under these scriptures, Jesus presents his teachings in the most powerful way through the use of parables. Herein, I am going to make an analysis of each of the parables provided in the above scriptures and, illustrate how the parable may be applicable in transforming the world in to a peaceful place.

To start with is the teaching in the book of Luke 15:11-32. In this gospel, Jesus presents the parable of a prodigal son by asserting that there were two sons from the same father and the younger son asked for his share of the estate from his father. He moves far away from the family, and squanders his wealth in wild living. After he cleared, he recalls of how many servants are in his father’s place taking care of pigs and eating adequately. He then decides to move back to his fathers’ place to be hired as one of the laborers. However, his father argues that since his son was dead and now alive, was lost and now found, it is necessary to hold a celebration. Clearly, from this parable, it is observed that the teaching illustrates the need to offer forgiveness and create peace with one another. Despite the fact that the son had messed and he knew it, he still humbled himself before his. This teaching is applicable in the modern world and may be used in transforming the world into a peaceful place as supported by Richard (15).

The second teaching is that from the book of Mathew 18:21-35. Herein, Peter is seen asking Jesus about the number of times to offer forgiveness to someone who does him a wrong. Jesus then presents a parable about a king and his servants with whom he wanted to settle accounts. It is illustrated that the king called his servant who owed him 10,000 talents. However, the servant was unable to pay the debt and therefore, he pleaded with the king who understood him and erased all the debts. Nonetheless, on walking out from the king’s place, the servant came across a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii. When the fellow servant pleaded with him to have mercy and be patient, the servant refused. The master was then informed about the incidence after which he became upset, sending the servant into prison for torture. The master says that “You wicked servant; I cancelled all your debts because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Mathew 33). In conclusion, Jesus says that “this is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Mathew 35). This is a powerful teaching which clearly models the world into a place of peace by ensuring that people forgive their brothers each time.

The third teaching is that from the book of John 9 wherein, Jesus is presented healing the blindness of a man who had been born blind. The Pharisees keep on judging Jesus when they heard about the miracle, saying that “this man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” However, Jesus seem to challenge them when they asked him that “are we also blind?” by saying that “if you were blind, you could not have been guilty for sin, but now that you claim to be seeing, your guilt remains.” This teaching may be applicable in modeling the world into a place of peace by ensuring that people remain cautious and avoid the acts of judging others.

Works Cited

Burridge, Richard A. Imitating Jesus: And Inclusive Approach to New Testament Ethics. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007.

Holly Bible. John 9: The teaching about the healing of a blind man

Holly Bible. Luke 15:11-32: The parable teaching about the prodigal son

Holly Bible. Mathew 18:21-35: The parable teaching about the master and his servants