ON LOVE; PART MDXII
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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “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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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? 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. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God.
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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
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We ended the last essay with some thoughts on one of our blog’ themes which states the undeniable fact that we live on One World, we ARE a part of the One Humanity and we ARE the creation of but One God. While these words should reflect a common Truth in the world today, a world which IS largely devoid of the barbarity and superstitions of times past, it unfortunately IS NOT. Most ALL religions hold fast to their version of the Godhead and while they may have an inner sense that there can ONLY be One, they nonetheless carry forward the idea that their God IS a unique and superior Being that reigns over ALL other religious affirmations of the Godhead. While there IS some carryover from religion to religion, there IS yet an issue with names and depictions as well as the very nature of the God which each ‘worships‘ and we should understand that these depictions ARE based in the thoughts of men and carried forward through their doctrines. And religion IS NOT the ONLY area of separation; the dominant doctrinal ideas ARE carried into governments and cultures often defining them, for example, the Indian government recognizes Hindu gods while Arab Nations recognize Allah and places like America consider themselves a Christian nations despite the widespread presence of other world religions. Perhaps the Godhead IS the wrong place to start this discussion but it IS, to be sure, the most prevalent separation of humanity and perhaps the most difficult to reconcile. That we live in One World, while an easier idea to understand, IS also a part of the contentious attitudes of men and here especially men in Power. Most ALL of the wars fought over the centuries have been wars of aggression by one nation or group of nations that seek to instill their will over the will of those that they seek to conquer and, to be sure, such contentious attitudes ARE yet at play in the world today. Under the concept of One World we should see that Unity which we call Unity in Diversity, In this we should recognize that through ALL the worldwide differences in cultures and societies we ARE yet living on one planet which ALL governments and cultures and societies should be seeking to protect without the selfish attitudes that we see yet today.
The United Nations was an institution that was formed to DO just that, to join the multiplicity of governments, societies and cultures into a single United expression and while there was much hope that this world be effective, in recent years we have seen little progress and evermore separation. Early in our blog posts we DID say much about the United Nations but this for us has waned as we see and sense the futility that has overtaken this world body and has nearly paralyzed it. Much of the fault IS linked to the ways of the so called superpowers and it IS their selfish national attitudes that has largely contributed to the failure of the United Nations to effect world change. Finally there IS the center point of One Humanity which IS an idea that should be recognized by ALL but, again, unfortunately IS NOT. Mankind has separated itself from each other in so many ways that it IS difficult to understand them ALL. Most ALL of this separation IS based in prejudices and this IS a far ranging word idea. The primary defining idea of prejudice IS that it IS: an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason* and this IS largely True. It IS based in the nurturing and indoctrination of men in this world of vanity and much prejudice IS passed down continually from generation to generation. Perhaps it IS with this idea of prejudice in mind that the Master tells us “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2) as both a commandment and a caution. We should try to see the karmic ideas embedded in these words and the similar words from Luke’s Gospel saying that “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Prejudice IS in every way the type of judgment that the Master IS referencing here as we should be able to see through Google’s interpretive AI query of the word; we read that prejudice IS: a preconceived judgment or opinion, often negative, formed about someone or a group based on their membership in a particular social group, rather than on actual experience or knowledge 7. We should understand that the idea of social group, while a predominant factor, IS NOT necessarily a limiting factor in the many different prejudices that prevail yet today. We should note that there IS NO word that IS rendered as prejudice in the whole bible while the idea of judgment IS often used and in many different contexts. Here of course the context we ARE using in in the judgment of others based on a wide variety of factors from skin color to religion to country of origin, etc. etc.
Without considering the added idea in Matthew’s Gospel that “with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:2) we go on to what we see as the related idea regarding the Master’s caution and one that also has far reaching consequences. While the idea of measure IS an important one even in this context of judgment , it DOES NOT lend anything to our view of prejudice save that we can have varying levels of prejudice but, in the end, any measure of prejudice IS itself prejudice. The Master, according to Matthew, goes on to link certain human behavior to His idea of judgment saying “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 7:3-5). While this saying IS spoken of in terms of understanding the nature of a mote and a beam, these ARE NOT the important aspects of the Master’s words here. The main idea IS that we judge others based upon some combination of nothing, prejudiced opinions, or perhaps some minor flaw in another’s character when we ourselves have major flaws in ours and perhaps the most intended here IS our sense of judgment, our prejudices if you will. Can we see the point here? And can we see how that the One Humanity IS divided by our prejudices and the judgments that they enable against others individually and en masse. While the idea of prejudice may be absent from the bible text, it IS included in the many observations and even commandments regarding men’s judgment of others and we should try to understand that these ARE largely the same thing. We should remember here that the whole idea of judgment IS NOT spoken against by the Master who also tells us “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). While this should serve to somewhat define Matthew’s words, the meaning has been lost, perhaps through the idea of appearance. The rendering of appearance from the Greek word opsis IS rather universally in reference to sight in most ALL translations but we should try to see more than this and understand the idea in a psychic tone as well as a physical one. For example, the appearance of a certain race of people need NOT be based upon our visual seeing of the people as it IS our prejudice against that race that supersedes any vision. The final idea here from John’s Gospel IS that our judgment should be righteous and NOT based in the human ideas of prejudices against any. And, of course, “righteous judgment” IS judgment that IS in agreement with that of the Lord.
One World, One Humanity and One God should be enough to unite the world based upon ALL that we share, ALL 8.2 billion people, thet current count, would DO well to understand this concept. Of course this IS a concept that IS NOT hidden, this IS a concept which, while NOT spoken of, definitely exists in the background of the minds of men and this because there can be NO Truly logical alternative. We should try to see that current human thought can rant against our concept of One World, One humanity and One God and such rants ARE against what some may see as this being contrary to multiculturalism or to the polytheistic ideas of some religions. However, our concept embraces the idea of Unity in Diversity, the idea that beyond our differences in cultures and religions we ARE yet One Humanity….One very diverse human family. Perhaps the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, shows us this idea of Unity in Diversity best; we read “That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of goodness” (Bhagavad Gita As It IS Chapter 18 v. 20). In this IS the reality of the Soul as part and parcel of the Lord living through innumerable forms and in this IS our Unity. Perhaps the diversity of forms in the human race ARE an intentional test or perhaps the differences in races IS based solely in the evolutionary past of each but regardless of the reasons or purpose, they DO exist. While in times past the differences in race, in color and in culture kept men apart and interracial marriages and partnerships were frowned upon and ofttimes illegal, today’s world IS much different. Today interracial marriages ARE an open book and, as we have said in a recent post, they seem to be promoted in advertising directed at ALL people. Cultural differences seem today the more difficult to merge as many hold on to their traditions in food, clothing and habit. Religion IS another area where the change, while seemingly difficult, abounds as interreligious bonds less often create barriers and many change their religious affiliation to match their partners. These of course ARE but observations that should be showing us that the idea of One World, One Humanity and One God IS spreading across large parts of the world where freedom of choice prevails. This melding of races, colors, cultures and religions IS, from our perspective, the product of the New Age Energy and here we should NOT see any ideas of occultism as that idea IS commonly understood. Individually and corporately the entire world has been moving ever so slowly to a point where the diversity of forms disappears in both the minds of men and in the actuality of biracial children whose appearance can ONLY help humanity to enter fully into this New Age.
We have spoken about the idea of and the effect of the New Age in several past essays but today our point IS simply to show that entering into this Age of Aquarius as it IS called IS the harbinger of that part of the concept of agape that sees the Unity in Diversity that IS so necessary to our future. It IS in this vein that we should look at the words of the Apostle James who tells us rather bluntly that we ARE to be God like in much the same way as DOES the Master and the other apostles who show us that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). Jesus tells us of the Way of the Father saying such things as “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45) and “he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35). This acknowledgement of the Truth that “there is no respect of persons with God” IS ill understood by most but it IS reflected in many New Testament sayings as we ARE directed to share that same Truth. In Jesus’ admonition that we should “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect“(Matthew 5:48) and that we should “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36), we should try to see the greater picture and form a greater vision of the reality of Unity in Diversity as being God like. The Christian world today, especially as it exists in America, however DOES NOT see that this idea of Unity in Diversity IS important to Christian doctrines as so many have allowed politics into the religious arena where political influence IS working against such Unity. Too many in the political world continually demonize other races and cultures with little or NO understanding of their race, culture, religion or whatnot and in this we should see the classic definition of prejudice. And this they DO while claiming that they ARE NOT and the recent American government ploy of eliminating even references to diversity, equity and inclusion while gutting the very institutions that bring the lower parts of our society into the game. We ARE NOT political here in this blog and will ONLY add to this observation that this IS the work of vanity, that ever strong human idea of self IS at work to minimize or eliminate the cry of the masses to the reality of our Unity in Diversity. They DO so to ‘protect’ their own views without ever realizing the harm that they DO cause as they alienate large segments of the population. Of course we should understand that such ‘conservative’ behavior DOES NOT ‘protect’ anything but ONLY serves to delay the inevitable changes that ARE coming and our hope here IS that this DOES NOT become a physical conflict which can result in war.
ALL that happens on this front where the selfish nature of humanity IS allowed to be on full display IS of course contrary to the Truth that the Christian religions should be embracing. The tenets of the Master ARE clearly being ignored by so many in church leadership that this ignoring has become the view of so many that they lead. As Christians there should be NO greater idea that which was presented to the Judeo Christian world by Moses, reinforced by the prophets and proclaimed the greatest Truth by the Master; there should be NO greater idea than “Thou shalt love agape thy neighbour as thyself” plus the ageless explanatory saying that “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). When the Apostle John says that “God is love agape” (1 John 4:8, 16) he IS showing us the importance of agape as a force in this world through showing us the very nature of the Godhead and while this IS NOT Truly understood, it IS an accepted view held by most ALL of the church. Let’s take some time here to analyze these words and their acceptance. Of course we must begin with the idea that this agape that IS God IS in NO way related to the common understanding of Love as it exists in this world. Agape IS NOT this Love nor IS it amore or any other translated word. Most ALL of the ideas of Love that circulated among men, and this regardless of the language, ARE either that emotional and mental attraction and attachment to others and to the things of this world or they DO lean heavily in that direction. Most ALL ideas of common Love ARE steeped in the sense of self and its extension to others that ARE close as family and friends. In the prologue to our blog posts we cite a definition of Love from Webster’s 1844 Dictionary which tells us that 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 1. We should be careful here to understand there however that this definition, while explaining Love, IS the definition of charity which IS the translated word used for some renderings of agape in the New Testament. While the ideas of this definition of charity better mark the idea intended by agape in those days, this IS NO longer true as the idea of charity now mimics the ideas attached to mercy and, of course, both ideas ARE wrong in a spiritual context. Despite this definition offered to us nearly 200 years ago and likely before, the idea of agape has NOT taken on these defining ideas save for in the hearts of the Truly progressive Christian of which we fear that there ARE so very very few.
We can say that agape IS: benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good and this would be largely True when viewed as a human virtue. Unfortunately however this IS NOT the idea that IS used by men yet today save for some ethereal ideas found in literature and perhaps in some sermons. In practice the idea of Love IS NOT this definition of charity but rather that emotional and mental attraction and attachment to others and to the things of this world. It IS to this that the idea of Love IS attached and it IS to this idea of Love that agape IS attached; this of course should NOT be so. The reality of agape IS shown to us throughout the New Testament and while it can be easily understood from the context of the Master and His apostles, this understanding has NOT come to fruition. And this has been True throughout the Judeo-Christian era; from the beginning men have largely ignored the emphasis put on interpersonal relationships in favor of the rites and the rituals that their doctrinal approaches to God have engendered. It IS this failure that the Master shows the Jews as He rails against their doctrinal approach and it IS this same attitude that we would find from the Master should He return to comment on the current state of religion in the world today. While the fact that the reality of agape IS NOT taught in the churches yet today should be alarming enough, we must add to this that the churches ARE teaching the common idea of Love in its place. This they DO without ever understanding that the idea of the neighbor, regardless of color, race, culture or location on this One World, IS to be the beneficiary of our expression of agape and NOT in the largely superficial way that this IS applied by some. Our expression of agape Love must be a universal expression without favor if we ARE to ever so slightly approach the idea that the Master shows us in saying “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect“(Matthew 5:48) and “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). If we were to consider that these statements by the Master ARE a part of His commandments we would better understand that this should be the motivation of men but so much of what the Master tells us IS NOT regarded as commandments for the Christian world. For this we have NO explanation save for the fact that we have highlighted in past essays; the fact that the church has allowed their doctrinal ideas to override the Truth of the Master’s words and have designed their ‘clever’ doctrinal ideas to cover their error. A part of this IS found in replacing DOING with a sense of worship of which there IS also little understanding. Jesus DOES discuss the reality of our worship saying “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) but few Truly understand what this means.
True worship should be understood to include that we keep His words and this idea IS a prevalent one throughout the Master’s teachings as we should note in such sayings as “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). If we can understand that the admonition that we must “worship him in spirit and in truth” requires more that mere carnal consent we would DO well. What we should try to see in these words IS the Inner Man, the Soul, the Christ Within, coming forth into one’s carnal Life as the Spirit and the Truth that IS required. But this IS NOT understood as men ‘worship‘ the Lord in churches through prayer and song while failing to understand His words saying “in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). While we see these words as very important to the Truth of Christianity, the average Christian DOES NOT. Why this IS so IS likely caused by the general demeanor of the church which DOES NOT hold this idea as important; as the purveyors of doctrine, it would be against their interests to believe that these words were intended to be as timeless as they Truly ARE. At the same time the church as a whole DOES NOT see their doctrines as contrary to the Master’s words; they DO NOT see that their ‘worship‘ IS in vain as it IS NOT based in the reality and the Truth that the Master brought to us 2000 years ago. On one side of Christianity the belief IS that, according to their doctrines, we ARE ‘saved‘ by our affirmations of the Master as the Savior of the world along with our emotional and sometimes mental commitment to such belief. This part of Christianity believes that it IS in this affirmation and belief that they ARE Christians entitled to ALL of the rewards and benefits that ARE spoken of without ever applying the KEY idea of keeping His words. This however IS exactly what the Master tells us in our trifecta as well as in numerous other places in the gospels. Repeating our trifecta we read:
- “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
- “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).
Another part of the church has relied on rites and rituals to create men’s ‘salvation‘ and most ALL of these ARE NOT a part of the Master’s teachings. Some offer or, better, demand baptism of infants to deflect the ‘effects’ of ‘original sin’ and such ritual ideas have created friction with other Christian communities, To be sure those denominations and sects that DO NOT rely heavily on rites and rituals also have their own forms of them and while these may NOT be as pronounced as the Roman Catholic and like denominations, they ARE nonetheless present and ofttimes contrary to the Master’s words. Our point here IS NOT a condemnation of the rites and rituals nor of the idea of ‘salvation‘ by affirmations and the associated professions of faith, we ARE simply commenting on the reality in the Christian churches way of “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). While the idea of worship has become a large factor in the “the commandments of men“, it IS an ill placed doctrinal idea that DOES NOT find its meaning in the defining ideas applied to the Greek words of which there two ARE used. The first is sebomai which IS the word used in Jesus’ remarks that ARE taken from the words of Isaiah centuries before. This word IS used ONLY twice in the gospels, in our subject saying, and IS rendered both times as worship. Strong’s tells us that sebomai, or sebo, means simply to revere while then giving their their example of adore saying that sebomai IS: middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, i.e. adore:—devout, religious, worship 9a. From our perspective the ideas of adoration and worship ARE NOT similar enough to interchange today yet adoration IS used as part of the defining ideas for worship in today’s dictionary. For us the main idea that the Master IS showing us IS in terms of reverence which should be the guiding definition of worship. Today’s dictionary tells us that reverence means: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration* but this IS but a shadow of Webster’s ideas from his 1844 dictionary which we should remember was steeped in a religious reverence. There Webster’s tells us that reverence IS:
Fear mingled with respect and esteem; veneration.
When quarrels and factions are carried openly, it is a sign that the reverence of government is lost.
The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him.
Reverence is nearly equivalent to veneration, but expresses something less of the same emotion. It differs from awe, which is an emotion compounded of fear, dread or terror, with admiration of something great, but not necessarily implying love or affection. We feel reverence for a parent, and for an upright magistrate, but we stand in awe of a tyrant. This distinction may not always be observed 1.
There IS much here regarding reverence that we should try to understand and many of these ideas ARE NOT even similar to the defining ideas of worship from the same dictionary. We should note that the idea of worship IS NOT included in the Webster’s definition and that it IS only included as a synonym by Strong’s in defining sebomai. It the subject verses the idea of reverence would be the better choice as we try to understand the Master’s point saying to of Jews “in vain do they worship me“. What we should see here IS their failure to revere the Lord by NOT accepting His commandments as they enacted their own “commandments of men“. This IS important to us as Christians because the early church DID the same thing as DID the Jews while denying that this IS what they were DOING. Can we see the point? Can we see how the plain language of Jesus teachings was deflected and the rites and the rituals and the doctrines were enacted in their place? And can we see how that those that rely upon affirmations of faith altered the rites and rituals to create a different model of “the commandments of men“. Surely there ARE other Christian paths that we have NOT discussed here but these two ARE those that ARE the most popular and, we should understand that others that DO NOT at least strive to conform to the Master’s words ARE NO better off than these….ALL ARE “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men“. That few see this IS Truly unfortunate but we should note from the gospels and somewhat from the epistles that this was indeed predictable based on the ways of men that minimize any True requirements and this IS the product of their individual and corporate vanity.
The other Greek word rendered as worship IS proskuneo which IS used across a broad range of ideas. Proskuneo IS perhaps a carnal version of the ideas cited above in regard to sebomai. It IS ONLY rendered as worship and should NOT be confused with sebomai as they ARE entirely different word ideas with different purposes. While sebomai IS defined in terms of reverence, proskuneo IS defined in strictly carnal terms; Strong’s tells us that proskuneo IS: from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship 9a. Can we see the differences here? Can we see that the idea behind sebomai IS a spiritual version of worship while proskuneo shows us a carnal version? Even in the Master’s words to the ‘woman at the well’ the idea of worship IS used in a carnal fashion as He tells her that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”. Here Jesus uses the same word, proskuneo that the woman DOES saying “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship“ (John 4:24, 20). What we should try to see here that this form of worship, this proskuneo, IS as it was understood by the Jews, which idea is shown us in the lexicon’s definition which says that proskuneo is: kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication 1. The point here IS that these Greek words ARE NOT equally worship and that sebomai should be understood in terms of reverence or veneration but this latter idea has lost its meaning which IS today stated as: to regard or treat with reverence; revere*. Going again to Webster’s we find that the definition of veneration IS largely the same as reverence; they define veneration as: The highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with some degree of awe; a feeling or sentiment excited by the dignity and superiority of a person, or by the sacredness of his character, and with regard to place, by its consecration to sacred services 1. Both of Webster’s defining ideas include ideas of service; in reverence the idea IS that it: produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him while to venerate IS identified by its consecration to sacred services. Bringing this to a conclusion, the idea IS perhaps best understood through the Master’s own words saying “why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Matthew’s longer version of this idea can show us the reality of service versus the mere show of such service so as to properly explain what one’s consecration should be to while sacred services seem to be understood as doctrinal ideas. Jesus tell us in Matthew’s Gospel that:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).
We should try to see the interrelationships of these ideas and how that the idea of worship in the saying “in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7) shows us the reality of reverence as the defining idea for the Greek word sebomai. It IS through such combinations of ideas that we should get the point that it IS in keeping His words that we venerate and revere the Lord and that whatsoever we DO that IS founded in the “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” IS both vain and worthless as a Truly spiritual undertaking. Perhaps the depth of this idea of consecration to sacred services can be understood from Jesus words to His disciples saying “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). Here we should try to see that our reverence must be unbounded and NOT restricted to those things that we see as our instructions and, to be sure, it IS our expression of agape that DOES cover ALL these things. We close this idea of the relationship between our reverence and keeping His words with the Master’s own words which ARE repeated three times in John’s fourteenth chapter. First we read “If ye love me, keep my commandments“; then the Master tells us “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me” and finally “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (Jonn 14: 15, 21, 23). ALL that IS necessary to Truly understand these ideas IS to understand that in agape for the Lord lies the reverence and the veneration that so many claim to have without understanding that we should keep His words.
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 |
- 1 Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913 from https://1828.mshaffer.com/
- 2 New Testament Greek lexicon on biblestudytools.com
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition
- 7 Google generative AI on prejudice
- 9 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon on blueletterbible.org
- 9a The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible on blueletterbible.or
- * Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road
Voltaire, Writer and Philosopher
