Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
The Sermon on the Mount is a reminder of God's higher demands (and gracious equipping) on those who chose to follow Him. Thus, Jesus often began with the phrase you have heard it said. The people had heard Matthew 7:12 stated in another way - what we would call the negative form. Religion is full of "do not's". They had heard, "Do not do to others what you would not like done to you". But, Jesus calls His followers to do MORE; He calls His followers not to simply refrain from evil, but to do good. Thus, the "But, I say" of Jesus is Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.
I was drawn to this last phrase of this verse: for this is the Law and the Prophets. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus' statement in Matthew 7:12, was nothing new. It was simply the correct application of the second great commandment (see Matthew 22:37-40).
Whatever you want men to do to you... I love that. That says to me that my desires regarding treatment of others is normal and not to be ignored. It is natural to want from others. But, this verse also shows me what I am to do when I find myself looking to others; I am to do for them. Over and over again in Scripture, we find this to be God's answer to our desires from others. The remedy for wanting from others is to counter with seeking a way to bless them. In this is the Law and the Prophets.
I love the "put off's" and the "put on's" of these verses. We are to put off: judging others and being a hypocrite when we do, and to put on discernment and doing good. And then, we are reminded that we cannot do these things without first asking, seeking and knocking. We must be persistent in prayer and not try doing the MORE without the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI loved Pastor's reminder to focus on my relationship as servant to my Master, and leave my magnifying glass in the drawer. The "golden rule" is a calling, and a command to disciples. If I call myself a disciple, then I must love on my brothers and sisters in Christ, not judge them.
When I have a conflict or a difficulty with another person, I find myself asking the question, "What can I do to make it better? The answer is really not so elusive as it seems...I need to revise my question, "What would I want them to do?" and then do it! Or "What would I want them to be assuming about me?" This sure would set me straight and keep me assuming the best of them and their intentions.
ReplyDeleteRudy
ReplyDeleteThe asking, seeking and knocking need to start with me for others. praying is not just talking to the LORD, it is also listening to what He has to say, about what we are asking,seeking and knocking. I find myself closer to the LORD when I take my eyes off of my needs and start praying for the needs of others. I look at verse 12 as telling me even when I treat other the way I would like to be treated, they do not I need to reprocess with good. so my prayers need to meet that kind of action.