ON LOVE; PART DLVII
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).
In the last essay we discussed the idea behind what the Master referred to as things holy and pearls and how this saying links the idea of from the previous verses regarding the pure heart of the disciple who has “cast out the beam out of thine own eye” to the next idea of asking, seeking and knocking. Here we see the disciple who has overcome this idea of seeing other’s faults being cautioned as well about the dangers of offering his revelations and realizations to others who would not understand them because of their focus upon the self and the self in the world. The part of this that says “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine” makes little sense except in the sense of things which the Master Himself covers in parables and parabolic sayings and the doctrinal explanation that this IS the the holy word of God, and the truths of the Gospel 8 as Mr Gill says makes little sense as in that day as the Master is offering His words to ALL. In our view then, the man of pure heart, the man who has overcome the same issues that John and James have in asking to be placed above the other disciples, and that ALL the disciples have in their quibbling about who is the greater, must protect those revelations and realizations that he will receive and, perhaps this is a reference to ALL such Wisdom from above that the disciple may receive even before he can overcome this carnal trait.
In either sense, this reference IS to things of God and not carnal things and the saying, as a parabolic one, does not imply any True reference to men as pigs or to dogs as some paint this; these are but His examples that say that if you would NOT do this one thing, then don’t do this hidden idea either. ALL too often the interpreters of the Master’s word use His examples as that they are His subject. For us here then we see this link between the Masters words to “cast out the beam“, His words on protecting things holy, and then on His words regarding the ability of a man to discover these things holy for himself, by asking, seeking and knocking. Reading this ALL together we see:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:6-11).
We should be able to see here that the Master’s message IS that God will provide the things of God, which CAN ONLY be in spiritual things, in spiritual revelation and realization, in much the same way that an Earthly father will give “good things” to his Earthly son; not serpent for fish nor a stone for bread. The key words here are that God gives the “good things” which are not the things of the world which IS the reality that we have pointed out in listing those sayings on the world versus God a few posts back. Repeating the Apostle John’s words here we should see this reality as we read: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). There should be no question here as to what the “good things” Truly ARE. We discussed in the end of the last post the Apostle James’ words on asking and on Wisdom as they should help to clarify the Master’s words; this clarifying IS the intent of ALL of the words of the apostles. In James we find that the asking must be True, focused upon the object of the asking with faith, the same sense of faith that the aspirant and the disciple show as they “take no thought“. This faith IS KNOWING and in James’ saying it IS KNOWING that God will provide those spiritual things to ALL by measure; a measure that is directly proportionate to the degree of one’s ardent focused asking. We should try to see here as well that this asking IS accomplished by the ardent focus itself.
Our next saying from this seventh chapter of Matthew’s Gospel is most familiar to us and it IS linked to this last saying of asking and seeking and knocking by the word therefore which shows that because that God “your Father which is in heaven”, will “give good things to them that ask him” that men, especially those who profess their spirituality, should do likewise. In this we can see the breadth of the Master’s words which say:
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12)
We have discussed this idea many times and it IS a part of our Quote of the Day where we cite this as the ever important High Ideal as taught by the Christ. And this IS what this saying IS. He tells that this IS “the law and the prophets“; in this idea we can see that these few words can be the summation of ALL of His teachings. This IS NOT a saying of reciprocity as some believe, there is nothing of that nature in its structure; this IS NOT a saying which measures what others may do so that this can be returned; this IS a saying that clearly says that it IS what one would want done to himself, that he should do to others. And this should be interpreted as do for as well as do to, that we would do for others what we would want done for us and the idea here, from ALL perspectives, IS that one do so willingly and consistently. Here we repeat those words form Emmet Fox which we often use; he says:
I PRACTICE, the Golden Rule of Jesus instead of merely admiring it. He said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” The important point about the Golden Rule is that I am to practice it whether the other fellow does so or not***.
This IS the ultimate reality, and the link here then IS clear; if God will will “give good things to them that ask him” so then should we and, we should add here that the asking IS NOT the requirement. Jesus tells us twice in the preceding words, once on prayer and the other on “take no thought”, that “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8) and in this combination of ideas we should see our own point, that it IS by our Life, our ardent focus, and our spiritual intent that we ask. The intent of this Golden Rule as it IS stated and as it is interpreted by Mr. Fox is that we just give to ALL whatsoever we would want that others would give to us and here then we have a stronger combination; doing to, doing for and giving. Here, even if we wait until asked to give those things, the other two points ARE NOT hidden from view in His words; and, there IS NO criteria placed upon this saying except that a man be Truthful with himself and offer to ALL what it IS that he would want for himself.
In this IS the ultimate of Love as the Master teaches it; in this IS the reality of who IS one’s neighbor and how one can Love himself. The self Love is found in what one wants for himself and here we should see that from the disciples perspective this has naught to do with carnal things. However, from a worldly perspective this includes ALL things and the most of it is caught in just how one wishes to be treated, to be seen and to be understood; it IS these that one should offer to others. And the idea of the neighbor, an idea that is still controversial even among those who profess to be Christians, IS clearly defined here as men, ALL men; not a select few that may agree or be similar….ALL men. In the reality of these words IS the ultimate of discipleship as well and most ALL that we have read so far in this Sermon on the Mount can be seen as being wrapped up in this Golden Rule. If a man were to practice this ‘religiously’ there would be none of those things that the Master teaches us on coming from him, this man would be the disciple and this regardless of his spiritual orientation; this IS the fulfillment of Love which IS the fulfillment of the Law and which IS the totality of keeping His words. So simple a saying and so powerful a message.
We often use John Gills words to show our differences to doctrine as he does generally expound ideas that we do not see or that we see differently regarding the Master’s words and the words of the apostles. Here however, in regard to the Golden Rule, Mr. Gill gives us his Wisdom according to the Master’s intent and it IS unfortunate that while many do understand the Truth of the Master’s words, few Truly keep them. Mr. Gill says:
Therefore all things whatsoever; These words are the epilogue, or conclusion of our Lord’s discourse; the sum of what he had delivered in the two preceding chapters, and in this hitherto, is contained in these words; for they not only respect the exhortation about judging and reproving; but every duty respecting our neighbour; it is a summary of the whole. It is a golden rule, here delivered, and ought to be observed by all mankind, Jews and Gentiles. So the Karaite Jews say, “all things that a man would not take to himself, “it is not fit to do them to his brethren”. And Maimonides has expressed it much in the same words our Lord here does; “all things whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, (says he,) do you the same to your brethren, in the law, and in the commandments:” only there seems to be a restriction in the word “brethren”; the Jews, perhaps, meaning no other than Israelites; whereas our Lord’s rule reaches to all without exception, “all things whatsoever” ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: let them be who they will, whether brethren, or kinsmen, according to the flesh, or what not; “for this is the law and the prophets”: the sum of the law and the prophets; not the whole sum of them, or the sum of the whole law: but of that part of it which respects our neighbours. Remarkable is the advice given by Hillell F14 to one who came to be made a proselyte by him; “whatsoever is hateful to thee, that do not thou to thy neighbour; “this is all the whole law”, and the rest is an explication of it, go and be perfect:” yea, this rule is not only agreeable to the law of Moses, and the prophets, but even to the law and light of nature. Aristotle being asked, how we ought to carry ourselves to our friends, answered F15, as we would wish they would carry it to us. Alexander Severus, a Heathen emperor, so greatly admired this rule of Christ’s, that he ordered it to be written on the walls of his closet 8.
Mr. Gill captures the spirit of these words in his commentary and from our perspective misses just one point as he says that the is not the whole sum of the law. In the reality that is presented by the apostles, in the reality that “all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14), and the reality that encapsulated in this saying IS the Truth of the Great Commandment, ALL the law IS fulfilled. And this IS our view as well, that if we can Love as the Master teaches us in this Golden Rule, then we have kept ALL the law, we are Truly keeping His words and we are accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God. The Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible captures this reality as well as they say:
Therefore–to say all in one word. all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them–the same thing and in the same way. for this is the law and the prophets–“This is the substance of all relative duty; all Scripture in a nutshell.” Incomparable summary! How well called “the royal law!” (James 2:8 ; compare Romans 13:9). It is true that similar maxims are found floating in the writings of the cultivated Greeks and Romans, and naturally enough in the Rabbinical writings. But so expressed as it is here–in immediate connection with, and as the sum of such duties as has been just enjoined, and such principles as had been before taught–it is to be found nowhere else. And the best commentary upon this fact is, that never till our Lord came down thus to teach did men effectually and widely exemplify it in their practice. The precise sense of the maxim is best referred to common sense. It is not, of course, what–in our wayward, capricious, gasping moods–we should wish that men would do to us, that we are to hold ourselves bound to do to them; but only what–in the exercise of an impartial judgment, and putting ourselves in their place–we consider it reasonable that they should do to us, that we are to do to them 8.
One must wonder here why, that if this IS the True understanding of the Christian commentators, that this IS NOT taught by ALL as a Life principal; not only as the Way of the disciple but of the way of the man who would would be a Christian of any degree. While Mr. Gill’s view is that these words are the conclusion of the Master’s words here in this Sermon, this IS NOT quite True as in these words Jesus has presented only a part of the view of the disciple from the perspective of the spiritual man in the world; He has outlined some of this man’s responsibilities in regard to his brother and his neighbor as well as some of the inherent Truths concerning the man’s relationship to God. These words that follow are as much a part of these realities as those before and offer the aspirant and the disciple some guiding Light for his journey. Our next saying is:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
We could say this IS the first instruction for the journey.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
Potency |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Great Invocation |
In relation to the Christ |
|
GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
|
Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
|
Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Life Within |
Mind of God |
Way |
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:16-21).
Today’s Quote of the Day from the First Epistle of John is his reflection on God and on Love. John tells us that God is Love and, as we have discussed, Love is certainly as aspect and an attribute of the Godhead and one which is supremely represented by the Christ. John tells us further that without Love there is no relationship with God and likens the Truth of dwelling in Love to being in His Kingdom and in His Presence. He draws for us the idea of Love for ones fellowman being the prime prerequisite for Love of God for although one may say that he Loves God, it cannot be True unless he first Loves his fellowman. In John’s words the equation is certain: “he who loveth God love his brother also“. And, lest we forget that the idea of Love that the Master teaches in not the emotional attraction that we live with daily, we repeat again: LOVE is….
In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men’. To this we add the ever important High Ideal as taught by the Christ: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!
- 8 Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com
