The Difficult Sayings of Jesus

by William Powell Tuck

Publisher:

Smyth & Helwys

, 2018

Overview

Some of what we read in the Gospels challenges and disturbs us, leaving us uncertain how to understand, apply, or discern the intended meaning. These hard words are more commonly discussed by biblical skeptics, people arguing against the Christian faith, than by pastors or teachers. Yet Jesus’ difficult teachings represent the challenges and expectations he has for those who would follow him. The Difficult Sayings of Jesus is one minister’s attempt to understand and apply fifteen of these vital, frequently ignored teachings to our lives. Together with William Powell Tuck, believers will seek to interpret and understand Jesus’ hardest words without lessening their demands.

Key Features

• Examines fifteen examples of difficult teachings from the gospels
• Seeks to interpret and understand Jesus’ hardest words without lessening their demands
• Addresses issues including suffering, anger, and prayer

Contents

• Preface
• The Unpardonable Sin (Mark 3:28-29)
• What Does Eating Jesus’ Flesh and Drinking His Blood Really Mean? (John 6:53-56)
• Turning the Other Cheek (Matt 5:38-42)
• How Can I Keep from Judging Others? (Matt 7:1-5)
• The Danger of Anger (Matt 5:21-24)
• How Can I Love My Enemies? (Matt 5:43-44)
• When It’s Hard to Forgive (Matt 18:21-35)
• If God Already Knows, Why Should I Pray? (Matt 6:5-8)
• Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce (Matt 5:31-32; Mark 10:1-12)
• When Jesus Doesn’t Bring Peace (Matt 10:34-39; 12:46-50)
• The Hand that Offends You (Matt 5:29-30)
• Is It Possible to Live by the Golden Rule? (Matt 7:12)
• Who Can Be Perfect? (Matt 5:47-48)
• The Jot and Tittle of Religion (Matt 5:17-21)
• How Can Jesus Be the Resurrection and the Life? (John 11:17-44)

Endorsements

William P. Tuck’s new books are always an occasion for his fellow pastors and preachers to rejoice, because they know they can invariably count on Bill’s writings to be fresh, reliable, and appealing. The Difficult Sayings of Jesus will be especially welcome, for it casts new light on some of the most important concepts in biblical faith and reminds us of how eminently preachable and exciting those concepts can be.

—John Killinger, Author of 101 Tips for New Ministers and 101 Tips for Minister’s Spouses

Every Christian has the experience of reading along in the Gospels and coming to a saying of Jesus that brings a person up short. Sometimes we puzzle over the clarity of the verse. Sometimes we puzzle over the meaning. Sometimes, a saying seems to have a hard edge that is out of character for how we think of Jesus. Noted preacher and scholar of preaching, William Powell Tuck, looks at 15 such sermons ranging from whether Jesus was serious about cutting off a hand that offends you through Jesus’ seemingly intractable teaching on divorce to what Jesus might mean by eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood. In each case, Tuck is exegetically careful to place the text in its historical and literary context so as to identify what the text really means. He is astute in thinking about the theological claims of the text. And he is hermeneutically pastoral in finding illuminating, practical, and compassionate interpretations. The sermons are lively. They move well. And the stories are worth the price of the book. Preachers and other readers will discover that if they face into these hard sayings in the company of wise guide William Powell Tuck, they will come away ever more impressed with the wisdom of Jesus.

—Ronald J. Allen, Professor of Preaching, and Gospels and Letters, Christian Theological Seminary

A pastoral treasure, rich and full of insight based on years of pastoral experience and meditation on scriptures, The Difficult Sayings of Jesus could serve as a valuable handbook for ministers or serious students of Christian faith and would enrich and enliven classes in Christian spirituality, retreats, or personal meditation.

—E. Glenn Hinson, Emeritus Professor, Spirituality and Church History, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond

Product Details

• Title: The Difficult Sayings of Jesus
• Author: William Powell Tuck
• Publisher: Smyth & Helwys
• Print Publication Date: 2018
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 135
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Jesus Christ › Words
• ISBNs: 9781641730686, 1641730684
• Resource ID: LLS:DFFCLTSYNGSJSS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-09T22:46:18Z

About William Powell Tuck

William Powell Tuck, a native of Virginia, has served as a pastor in Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Louisiana, and as a seminary professor, adjunct college professor, and intentional interim pastor. The author of more than 30 books, he received the Pastor of the Year award from the Academy of Parish Clergy in 1997 and received the 2016 Wayne Oates Award from the Oates Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Emily Campbell, are the parents of two children and five grandchildren and live in Midlothian, Virginia.

Sample Pages from The Difficult Sayings of Jesus