Social Justice, Great Commission, Several of Jesus' Teachings

Social Justice

Social justice is "a political and philosophical theory which asserts that there are dimensions to the concept of justice beyond those embodied in the principles of civil or criminal law, economic supply and demand, or traditional moral frameworks" (Investopedia, 2020, October 26).  In modern terms, it revolves around favoring or punishing groups of a population regardless of individual choices.  For economics, this involves "redistribution of wealth, income, and economic opportunities from groups whom social justice advocates consider to be oppressors to those whom they consider to be the oppressed" (Investopedia).  It is often associated with socialism and revolutionary communism.  Socialism is an economic and political system based on public (collective) ownership of the means of production.  "In a purely socialist system, all legal production and distribution decisions are made by the government, and individuals rely on the state for everything from food to healthcare" (Kenton, W., 2020, April 6).   

Great Commission

However, after Jesus has been raised from the dead, He stated, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV).  

Jesus used the Greek word μαθητεύω which means be a disciple. In another words, the word means to "instruct others in the ways or teachings of a specific leader" (Lexham 2020).  In this case, Jesus is telling the twelve to instruct others in His ways and His teachings.  He wanted the disciples to teach all that He has commanded them and that He would be with them always. 

This begins when the Holy Spirit comes upon them as Jesus told them.  He said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).  Then in Acts, it states, "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language" (Acts 2:1-6).

Teaching of Jesus: Greatest Commandment

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, "The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31).  

Interestingly, Jesus referred to Deuteronomy for the first commandment, where God says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:4).  God goes on to say that these words should be on people's hearts.  The second commandment refers to Leviticus, where God states, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" and "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19:18, 34).  

Teaching of Jesus: Seeking the Kingdom of God

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For l the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:30-33). 

Jesus here is talking about how His disciples should not be anxious because Jesus is able to provide for all of their needs when they seek the kingdom of God, where He is the heir of all things.  Hebrews states, "In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs" (Hebrews 1:2-4).

 

Teaching of Jesus: Bearing Fruit

Jesus also said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned" (John 15:5-6).  In this case, abide comes from the Greek word μένω which means remain, stay, and reside.  Jesus is saying that each branch (believer) that is positioned in the vine (Christ) should remain in union with Him (Carpenter & Comfort, 2000).  The fruit "is nothing less than the outcome of persevering dependence on the vine, driven by faith, embracing all of the believer’s life and the product of his witness" (Carson, D., A., 1991).    

 

References

Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained. Holman Reference.  Nashville, TN.

Carson, D. A. (1991). The Pillar New Testament Commentary:  The Gospel according to John.                         Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

Holy Bible: ESV (2001).  Good News Publishers.  Wheaton, Illinois.

Investopedia. (2020, October 26). Social Justice. Social Justice Definition. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-justice.asp.

Kenton, W. (2020, April 6). Socialism. Socialism Definition. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/socialism.asp

Lexham Press. (2020). Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament: Lexham Bible Reference Series.