Chapters 16 - 21 Summary and Analysis

Among the first moral lessons Christ taught to his disciples regarded sex and physical possessions. Both of these are good if used legitimately, but excess could lead to sin. In fact, Christ taught his disciples that in order to balance out the excess of others, some would even be appointed by God to voluntarily forgo sex and property. While such sacrifice was good and praised by Christ (and practiced in his life) it was never obligatory.

Unlike other religious teachers in history, who wanted their legacy to be their teachings, Christ taught that he, as a person, was the way to true happiness and to true knowledge of God; in fact, he taught that he was the only way. Further, while other religious teachers were sinners—even if they were still good men overall—Christ was sinless...