The Four Senses of Scripture: The Moral Sense

Over at The Catholic Weekly, we continue our look at the Four Senses of Scripture:

One of the big things Jesus emphasises is that deeds matter more than words.  He tells the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31) to drive this home.  The father asks his two sons to go and work in the vineyard.  One son says “yes” but doesn’t go.  The other son says “no” but does go.  “Which of the two sons did his father’s will?” asks Jesus in one of the easiest pop quizzes of all time.

Likewise, he remarks:

“Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Again, the key is obedience to the Father’s will, not pious blabber and not virtue-signaling for the praise of human beings.

In short, it is not enough to say correct things about Jesus. We must do what he commands.  And because Scripture concerns itself not only with telling us about Jesus, but with helping to instruct us to obey Jesus, it therefore has a third sense—the Moral Sense.

Much more here.