Friday 16^th November

Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:34-40 

I remember coming home from a family retreat to spring harvest a few years back, memorising the words of Jesus taught to me by the Kings Kids leader. “Do to others what you want them to do to you”. I fervently kept this up as best I could for ….5 days. Then I hurt someone, said something cruel and acted in a typically selfish manner.  Looking back now I realise that that was one of the most important lessons ever taught to me. I would like to say that I did try to live by this “Golden Rule”. Although yes, many times I stumbled and treated people in a manner that is much rather the opposite of this command, it proved a worthy gob-stopper on many occasions.

However, notice that this is a positive ‘doing’ command. Throughout history many people have turned this into a ‘negative’. For example “don’t do to others what would make you angry if they did it back”. This encourages passivity, whereas Jesus’ command is a positive ‘doing’ command. This is were I went wrong. Rather than not doing things or saying things to upset people, my focus should have been serving and building others up in Christ’s love.

In fact Jesus in Matthew 7:12 not only gives this command but summarises the whole Hebrew Bible in one sentence. He is saying something radical here and of great importance. (That is not to say that the Hebrew Bible is not important. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it). Moreover, the Hebrew Bible for all Jews was and is, so important as many children and adults read the Torah everyday, memorising portions of it and meditating upon those words. So when Jesus says that this command is the Law (The Torah) and the Prophets, it should cause the reader and hearer to stand up and pay attention, both in His time and in the present day.

In Matthew 22 Jesus is tested by the Pharisees in highlighting the greatest commandment of all. Jesus in all His wisdom summaries the Hebrew Bible by giving 2 commands this time. ‘Love God with everything within you and love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus’ wise answer really does summarise the Law. If we love God and love others we are not only being obedient but also showing Gods love to others. In order to love God and love others, first we must pray for God to increase our capacity to receive His love, to love Him and to love ourselves (not vanity); For Jesus commands to love others as ourselves. If we do not see ourselves as God sees us, then we cant love others or ourselves. Then in turn we cannot do unto others and we would have them do to us.

                  A simple equation to remind ourselves of this Golden Rule

             “Receive Gods Love – Love God – Love ourselves – Love others”