Website owner:  James Miller

The spiritual principles taught by Jesus are also found in the Old Testament

   When we think about what Jesus taught we think about things he 
   said about "turning the other cheek", avoiding argument and 
   strife, humility, meekness, forgiveness, love of neighbor, 
   compassion for the poor and needy, etc.  These are ideas that 
   we associate with Jesus.  A lot of people don't take these 
   teachings seriously.  They think they are impractical 
   and dismiss them.  They know he taught them, but they don't 
   really take them seriously.  In fact, they don't take much of 
   what he said seriously.  "Surely, he didn't really mean that!", 
   they think. "Not really, literally!" "It sounds like a great 
   ideal but it isn't practical.  I couldn't do it."  And this is 
   true not only of a great many irreligious people, but also true 
   of a lot of people who consider themselves to be Christians, 
   people who go to church every Sunday and believe they "love the 
   Lord".  These people don't really practice much of what he 
   taught but yet regard themselves as Christians because at some 
   time in their lives they became a Christian (by going forward 
   in a church service and "giving their heart to the Lord") and 
   so now they are, in their minds, a Christian.  In their minds, 
   because of the doctrinal ideas in which they have been 
   indoctrinated, practicing his teachings doesn't have anything 
   to do with being a Christian.  They are a Christian just 
   because of that action that they took at some point in their 
   lives.  Other people may regard themselves to be Christians, 
   not because they really practice what Jesus taught, but because 
   they belong to the "true church" and follow the rites and 
   teachings of that "true church".  The human mind is capable of 
   strange tricks, blindnesses and self-deceptions.  One often 
   doesn't see himself as objectively as others do.  At any rate I 
   wish to point out that these novel, "impractical" ideas that 
   Jesus taught, ideas actually practiced by so few people, are 
   also found in the Old Testament.  The ideas didn't originate 
   with Jesus.  They, in some form at least, predate Jesus.  A 
   number are found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and 
   Deuteronomy and many are found in the books of Psalms and 
   Proverbs.

   Following are compiled lists of Old Testament scripture that 
   teach such things as humility, meekness, avoidance of strife, 
   forgiveness, love of God, love of neighbor, compassion for the 
   poor and needy, etc.:    




 HUMILITY / PRIDE 

   Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: 
   but the proud he knoweth afar off.  Psa 138:6

   He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.  Psa 9:1

   The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach 
   his way.  Psa 25:9

   But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight 
   themselves in the abundance of peace.  Psa 37:11

   Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the 
   lowly.  Prov 3:34

   The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and 
   the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.  Prov 8:13

   When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is 
   wisdom.  Prov 11:2

   By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is 
   wisdom.  Prov 13:10

   In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the 
   wise will preserve them.  Prov 14:3

   The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before 
   honor is humility.  Prov 15:33

   The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but He will 
   establish the boundary of the widow.  Prov 15:25

   Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though 
   they join forces, none will go unpunished.  Prov 16:5

   Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide 
   the spoil with the proud.  Prov 16:19 
   
   Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a 
   fall.  Prov 16:18

   Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty and before 
   honor is humility.  Prov 18:12

   By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and 
   life.  Prov 22:4

   A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will 
   retain honor.  Prov 29:23

   A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked 
   are sin. Prov 21:4

   Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of 
   a fool than of him.  Prov 26:12

   Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a 
   stranger, and not thine own lips.  Prov 27:2

   He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts 
   in the LORD will be prospered. Prov 28:25

   A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will 
   retain honor. Prov 29:23

   The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Eccl  
   7:8 




 PEACEABLENESS / STRIFE 

   Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
   together in unity!   Psa. 133:1

   Seek peace and pursue it.  Psa. 34:14

   Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no 
   harm.   Prov. 3:30

   Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.  Prov. 
   10:12

   A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger 
   appeaseth strife.   Prov. 15:18

   A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief 
   friends.  Prov. 16:28

   By pride cometh contention. Prov. 13:10

   Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house 
   full of sacrifices with strife.  Prov. 17:1

   It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool 
   will be meddling.  Prov. 20:3

   It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a 
   contentious and angry woman.  Prov. 21:19

   Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out: yea, strife 
   and reproach shall cease.  Prov. 22:10

   Go not hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the 
   end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.  Prov. 
   25:8

   He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to 
   him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.  Prov. 26:17

   Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is 
   no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coal is to burning coals, 
   and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 
   Prov 26:20,21

   A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious 
   woman are alike.  Prov. 27:15

   He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife.  Prov. 28:25

   An angry man stirreth up strife.  Prov. 29:22 




 FORGIVENESS

   You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the 
   children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as 
   yourself.  Lev 19:18

   If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you 
   shall surely bring it back to him again.  If you see the donkey 
   of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would 
   refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.  
   Exo 23:4-5

   The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory 
   is to overlook a transgression.  Prov 19:11

   Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and do not let your heart 
   be glad when he stumbles;   Prov 24:17

   Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will 
   render to the man according to his work."   Prov 24:29

   If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is 
   thirsty, give him water to drink;   Prov 25:21 





 LOVE OF GOD 

   And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, 
   but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to 
   love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and 
   with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD 
   and His statutes which I command you today for your good? 
   Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your 
   God, also the earth with all that is in it. For the LORD your 
   God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and 
   awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He 
   administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves 
   the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the 
   stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You 
   shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him 
   you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.   Deut. 10:12-20

   Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and 
   judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, 
   that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing 
   over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep 
   all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you 
   and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and 
   that your days may be prolonged. You shall love the Lord your 
   God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your 
   strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in 
   your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, 
   and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you 
   walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You 
   shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as 
   frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the 
   doorposts of your house and on your gates.   Deut. 6:1-2,6-9 




 LOVE OF NEIGHBOR 

   You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely 
   rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You 
   shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the 
   children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as 
   yourself.   Lev 19:17-18  




 COMPASSION FOR POOR AND NEEDY 

   If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any 
   of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving 
   you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from 
   your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and 
   willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 
   For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I 
   command you, saying, "You shall open your hand wide to your 
   brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land."   Deut 
   15:6-7,11

   Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver 
   him in time of trouble.   Psa 41:1

   Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and 
   needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of 
   the wicked.   Psa 82:3-4

   He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy 
   on the poor, happy is he.   Prov 14:21

   He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that 
   honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.  Prov 14:31

   He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that 
   which he hath given will he pay him again.   Prov 19:17

   Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall 
   cry himself, but shall not be heard.   Prov 21:13

   He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth 
   his eyes shall have many a curse.   Prov 28:27 



 HONESTY, TRUTHFULNESS 

   You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 
   You shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane 
   the name of your God. You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor 
   rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with 
   you all night until morning.   Lev 19:11-13

   You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of 
   length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest 
   weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin.  Lev 19:11-36

   A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight 
   is his delight.   Prov 11:1

   Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: But they that deal 
   truly are his delight.   Prov 12:22

   A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh 
   lies shall not escape.   Prov 19:5

   The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed 
   to and fro of them that seek death.   Prov 21:6

   Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to 
   another.   Lev 19:11

   Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.   
   Psa 34:13

   He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that 
   telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.   Psa 101:7 




 JUSTNESS 

   You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial 
   to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In 
   righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.   Lev 19:15

   Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent 
   and righteous.  For I will not justify the wicked.  And you 
   shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and 
   perverts the words of the righteous.   Ex 23:7-8

   You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of 
   him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until 
   morning. You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling 
   block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD. 
   You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial 
   to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In 
   righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.   Lev 19:13-15

   He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both 
   of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.   Prov 17:15  


   Dec 2008