The Master was aware that the apostles were not fully comprehending all of his teachings, especially about the nature of the kingdom – 140:8.1
The apostles had difficulty replacing their old thoughts concerning the future kingdom with Yeshua’s teachings – 140:8.1
Yeshua made it clear that doing God’s will was not mentally resigning everything to fate; we have to do our part while trusting the Father – 140:8.2
The Master’s teachings are for all ages and all worlds – 140:8.2
Yeshua taught Peter, James, and John “the difference between the requirements of apostleship and discipleship” – 140:8.3
He was not against using caution and looking ahead to solve issues; instead, Yeshua was against worrying – 140:8.3
We are to have an engaged and watchful submission to God’s will – 140:8.3
Yeshua called attention to his example of living a simple lifestyle, and to the “careful organisation of the twelve” – 140:8.3
Instead of always thinking the entire world is against us, Yeshua taught that our experiences in life are often a manner of God working with His children – 140:8.3
Yeshua did not use violence to defend himself – 140:8.4
We follow the Master’s example of not using violence in protesting injustices in the world – 140:8.4
Yeshua did not teach that we should be accepting of wrongdoing – 140:8.4
The Master was clear that “social punishment of evildoers and criminals” is required; such punishment is the responsibility of the civil government – 140:8.4
The Lord constantly taught that retaliation, revenge and holding grudges are not acceptable – 140:8.5
“Love your enemies—remember the moral claims of human brotherhood.” – 140:8.6
“A wrong is not righted by vengeance. Do not make the mistake of fighting evil with its own weapons.” – 140:8.7
“Have faith—confidence in the eventual triumph of divine justice and eternal goodness.” – 140:8.8
Yeshua’s religion teaches that we are to use discretion, and not become too involved with the political system – 140:8.9
Yeshua’s mission was focused on the “new way of salvation” instead of politics – 140:8.9
“He was always duly observant of all civil laws and regulations” – 140:8.9
Yeshua did not come to reform the political systems of the world – 140:8.10
Yeshua demonstrated “the best way of living” – 140:8.10
Every generation is responsible for adapting “Yeshua’s life to its own problems” – 140:8.10
We are not to identify “Yeshua’s teachings with any political or economic theory, with any social or industrial system” – 140:8.10
All of humanity is our “neighbour” – 140:8.11
Yeshua’s interest is in every single individual – 140:8.11
The Master “taught pure sympathy, compassion” for everyone – 140:8.11
“Michael of Nebadon is a mercy-dominated Son; compassion is his very nature.” – 140:8.11
Yeshua taught that we are responsible for helping provide “for the poor and the unfortunate” – 140:8.12
The Master’s example was that justice must always be “tempered with mercy” – 140:8.12
While helping the poor, we must be cautious concerning “social parasites” and “professional alms-seekers” – 140:8.12
“Indiscriminate kindness may be blamed for many social evils” – 140:8.13
The Master’s teachings often centred on family life; he “exalted family life as the highest human duty” – 140:8.14
Excessive honouring of ancestors is not necessary – 140:8.14
Yeshua taught that “family relationships must not interfere with religious obligations” – 140:8.14
Relationships will weaken if members of the family are acting contrary to God’s will; “Yeshua did not hesitate to give up his family” in such situations – 140:8.14
The Master taught that the “larger brotherhood of man – the sons of God” is our family – 140:8.14
Yeshua did not hold to strict regulations concerning divorce; the New Testament teaches divorce is permitted due to unfaithfulness in the relationship – 140:8.14 (see also Matthew 19:8)
Yeshua did not attempt to make economic reforms in the world – 140:8.15
The Master taught the apostles “not to hold property” – 140:8.15
Other than the apostles, he did not teach against others having wealth and property, but was against unfair use of wealth – 140:8.15 (see 140:8.12, provide “for the poor and the unfortunate”)
While the apostles were not to hold property, disciples were able to have “earthly possessions” – 140:8.16
It is not necessary that believers live in a commune – 140:8.16
Yeshua did not teach against earthly possessions for disciples (140:8.16), but he warned against covetousness – 140:8.17
Spiritual matters have priority over material things – 140:8.17
“Each age must evolve its own remedies for existing [economic] troubles” – 140:8.17
Yeshua, on earth today, “would not take sides in present-day political, social, or economic disputes” – 140:8.17 (see also 140:8.4,10)
The Master was not against wealth, “but what wealth does to the majority of its devotees” – 140:8.18
We benefit from having a good understanding of Yeshua’s teaching by the example of his life and the cultural background in which he lived while in the flesh – 140:8.19
Yeshua’s life reveals “the Father’s divine character and loving personality” – 140:8.19
The Master was not against the teachings of the ancient Hebrew prophets or the moralists among the Greeks; instead, he “recognised the many good things which these great teachers stood for” – 140:8.20
Yeshua was knowledgable “in the things of this world” – 140:8.20
Yeshua’s life was a perfect example of self-respect; he taught man must “humble himself” so that he can become exalted; his focus was “true humility toward God” – 140:8.20
The Master “placed great value upon sincerity — a pure heart” – 140:8.20
“Patient endurance [was Yeshua’s] ideal of strength of character” – 140:8.20
Yeshua’s religion consists “of valour, courage, and heroism”; this is why he chose “commonplace men” as his apostles – 140:8.20
Yeshua knew that natural, sensual urges can not be put to an end by religious rules or “legal prohibitions” – 140:8.21
Instead of focusing on the social issues, the Master denounced “pride, cruelty, oppression, and hypocrisy” – 140:8.21
Instead of vehemently denouncing others, Yeshua focused on “first making the tree good” – 140:8.22
We would do well to follow Yeshua’s religion which consists of “the acquirement of a compassionate character coupled with a personality motivated to do the will of the Father” – 140:8.23
The gospel that would be preached by the apostles was a new beginning for all of humanity – 140:8.24
We should live as if we are “already citizens of the completed heavenly kingdom” – 140:8.25
Yeshua taught his apostles not to force people to follow a rigid religious pattern – 140:8.26
Every human being must gradually “develop in its own way, a perfecting and separate individual before God” – 140:8.26
Charity must come from the heart, in an unconscious manner – 140:8.26
Yeshua did not focus his teachings on the subject of “self-examination” but did teach “character growth”; he “said nothing which would proscribe self-analysis as a prevention of conceited egotism” – 140:8.27
The only manner in which we can “enter the kingdom” is to have “faith and personal belief” – 140:8.28
“The teaching of Yeshua is a religion for everybody” – 140:8.29
Yeshua’s religion is not all about creeds and laws – 140:8.29
The Master’s teachings were given to all humanity in all generations – 140:8.29
“Yeshua’s teaching stands apart from all religions” – 140:8.29
The religion of Yeshua was not so much about following traditions, but at the same time he “taught nothing to deter his believers from the pursuit of genuine culture” – 140:8.30
The Mater’s focus was not on socio-economic issues, but rather for his disciples to develop “spiritual insight into eternal realities” – 140:8.31
Yeshua taught that “love—truth, beauty, and goodness” was “the divine ideal and the eternal reality” – 140:8.31
The Lord taught that a new spirit and will within mankind would lead to following God’s will, eventually leading to perfection in the kingdom – 140:8.32