This mini-lesson covers the teachings of Jesus as the 0490 syllabus uses them: the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments as sources of moral principles, the Two Greatest Commandments, agape love, forgiveness, and teaching on wealth, poverty and service of others.
Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Religious Studies asks you to know beliefs and teachings accurately and to evaluate them fairly, so watch for the screens that set out a range of views. Press Start when you're ready.
The syllabus names the Beatitudes as a source of Christian moral principles. They open the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12) and each begins 'Blessed are…'.
Key idea: the Beatitudes turn worldly values upside down. They describe the character of someone living under God's rule, not a list of rules to tick off.
Jesus taught his followers how to pray (Matthew 6:5–15). The Lord's Prayer is named in the 0490 syllabus and is used in almost every Christian tradition.
Jesus also warns against showy prayer 'to be seen by others' — prayer is for God, not for an audience.
Asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus answers with two (Mark 12:28–34):
For Christians this is the summary of the whole moral life. The 0490 syllabus links it directly to agape — unconditional, self-giving love — and to service of others through personal giving of time, work and money.
Tap a teaching, then tap the theme it belongs to.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) a man is left beaten by the roadside. A priest and a Levite pass by; a Samaritan — a member of a group despised by the man's own community — stops and cares for him at his own expense.
Jesus' point is deliberately uncomfortable: your 'neighbour' is not just the person like you. Christian charities such as Christian Aid, Tearfund and Caritas often point to this parable as their motivation.
Peter asks how many times he must forgive; Jesus' answer, and the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21–35), make the point that forgiveness is not to be rationed.
Evaluation: Christians disagree about how far this goes. Pacifists take it as an absolute; others argue that forgiveness is personal and does not remove the state's duty to protect the innocent.
Jesus teaches that you cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24–34), and tells a rich young man to sell what he has and give to the poor (Matthew 19:16–30).
In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) people are judged by whether they fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger and visited the prisoner — 'whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me'.
Not all Christians read this the same way. Some see a call to voluntary poverty; most see a call to generosity, simplicity and justice rather than to give away literally everything.
Tap a term on the left, then its meaning on the right.
The 0490 syllabus asks you to treat the Bible as a source of moral principles with requirements (things Christians should do) and restrictions (things they should not do). The two set texts are:
Exam habit: if a question says 'with reference to Christian teaching', quote or accurately paraphrase one of these, and name it.
Cambridge is interested in how belief is 'reflected in practice'. Jesus' teaching shapes Christian life through:
Strong 0490 evaluation answers on Jesus' teaching usually turn on one of these tensions:
You may also bring in non-religious views — a humanist may share the ethic of compassion while rejecting its religious basis. That contrast earns credit.
Two Greatest Commandments: Love God; love your neighbour (Mark 12:28–34)
Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3–12 — the character God blesses
Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:5–15 — God first, daily needs, forgiveness
Neighbour: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) — even the outsider
Forgiveness: The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21–35); love your enemies
Wealth: Matthew 6:24–34; 19:16–30; Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31–46)
You have covered the moral teaching Cambridge 0490 sets in C2.4 and C6.1. Press Finish to see your score.
You've worked through Christianity: The Teachings of Jesus for Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies (0490). 🎉
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Next: test yourself in the Evaluate stage Confidence Quiz, then lock it in with Verify.