This month in our series Book of Books, we revisit very important programs “Hard Sayings of Jesus”. This usually refers to the challenging and sometimes difficult-to-understand teachings and statements attributed to Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Bible. These sayings often involve moral or ethical principles that go against common human instincts, societal norms, or are difficult to interpret. They may require deeper reflection and understanding to grasp their intended meaning. These sayings have been a subject of contemplation, interpretation, and discussion among theologians, scholars, and believers for centuries due to the profound spiritual and moral implications they carry. They often call for a deep level of commitment, self-sacrifice, and a radical reorientation of one’s values and priorities.
Examples of hard sayings of Jesus include:
1. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) – This statement appears to encourage a level of commitment to Jesus that goes beyond familial relationships, and it is often interpreted to emphasize the priority of following Christ.
2. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) – This teaching implies a willingness to bear hardships and sacrifice in order to be a true follower of Jesus.
3. “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29) – This metaphorical language emphasizes the seriousness of dealing with sin and temptation, even if it requires extreme measures.
4. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) – This saying challenges conventional ideas of success and happiness by suggesting that spiritual poverty is a path to blessings and the kingdom of heaven.
5. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) – This teaching promotes radical love and forgiveness even in the face of adversity and hostility.
6. “I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25) This saying underscores the potential pitfalls of wealth and the challenge it poses to one’s spiritual journey. It does not mean that the wealthy cannot be saved but rather emphasizes the temptation to prioritize material possessions over spiritual matters.Interpreting and understanding these hard sayings often require considering the broader context of Jesus’ teachings, his intended audience, and the cultural and historical background of the time. Different Christian denominations and scholars may offer various interpretations of these sayings, but they all highlight the challenging nature of Jesus’ message and the need for a deeper spiritual understanding, which we are trying to convey to our listeners to our best ability.
As always, we have other projects under development that might be interesting to you. Come and download numerous Christian books, listen to our programs, see several video lessons based on Russian Christian art, look at pictures of beautiful Alaska, the home of our first radio station, KNLS.
Thanks for reading and for listening!
Categories: RUSSIAN