What did HE say? (continued)
Thoughts on The Sermon (Part 11)
“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). This phrase should be the keynote in all bible study and in every Christian denomination. It could be said that this is the epitome of Jesus entire teaching for in it is the practical administration of his Great Commandment of Love. In today’s world the Master’s teachings on Love seem lost in a whitewash of sentiment and emotion but this is not the Love that He taught. What He taught is that we should Love another as we Love our self and this is captured perfectly in our subject verse which is His saying that we DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO US. What is it that we want for ourselves? No matter where we are on the social ladder we want respect; we want to be appreciated for who and what we are; we want kindness and the goodwill of others; we want to be treated fairly and decently and with dignity and we want to live in peace and harmony with all. This then is what we are to offer to others; ALL OTHERS regardless of race or caste or religious background or color or height or weight or any possible differences. This is LOVE. This is the Love thy neighbour as thyself type of Love that our Lord Jesus Christ brought to us over 2000 years ago.
The common definitions of love do not measure up to the intent of the Christ in His commandments to us. It seems more a matter of there being no English word to adequately represent the Greek words agapao and agape in the context that the Master intended than that our definitions of love are right for His intent. Perhaps this is why the King James Version (KJV) chose to use the word charity in place of love in many places especially in 1 Corinthians 13 which has come to be known as the great Love chapter. In the KJV translators minds the agape that the Apostle Paul speaks of could not be translated and understood adequately using love and so they chose charity. Lets look at this: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth…….” (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
The modern definitions of charity do not lend themselves to the proper use in this passage or Christ’s intent but if we look at the Webster’s definitions from 1828 we can catch a glimpse of what the KJV translators saw. Websters defines charity as: In a general sense, love, 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. In a more particular sense, love, kindness, affection, tenderness, springing from natural relations; as the charities of father, son and brother. Liberality to the poor, consisting in alms giving or benefactions, or in gratuitous services to relieve them in distress. Alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the poor for their relief. Liberality in gifts and services to promote public objects of utility, as to found and support bible societies, missionary societies, and others. Candor; liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to think and judge favorably, and to put the best construction on words and actions which the case will admit. The highest exercise of charity, is charity towards the uncharitable. Any act of kindness, or benevolence; as the charities of life*. This is the full definition from that edition and it seems that every good thing that one can do or think of another is included. We should see here how this word, in its older usages, meets the call of Jesus intent and so we should also see again how language and translation can dim the light that was intended and given. I leave it to you to look up in modern dictionaries both love and charity and see for yourselves the ill fit of them into the expressed intent of the master. However, in spite of this lack of clarity we do have His other words Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them to help us to understand what it is that He meant for us to do.
What more can be said here? These two sayings from the Master have overcome the prisons formed by words and translations so that His ideas and His intent are free for us to see and to hear.
-
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.
-
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them
In the first we have the Great Commandment that brings us to the gate of the Kingdom and in the second we have the definitive way to accomplish that Commandment. Thank you Lord.
We move now to a discussion on how to enter into the Kingdom, into life. Jesus starts by showing us that it is not an easy task and then gives us some instructions and some cautions to help us on the path to God. Let us begin with: “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). In previous posts we have seen that strait is used biblically to reflect narrow which is the only definition in the Greek Lexicon and in Strong’s for the Greek word stenos. It should be noted that in the same verses we also find the word narrow which is translated from the Greek word thlibo. This leaves us with two different Greek words with an biblical English meaning of narrow in the same sentence. By looking deeper into this we can find a bit more complexity and perhaps a better understanding of what the Master was trying to tell us. The English word strait is defined by Webster’s as: Narrow; close; not broad. Close; intimate; as a strait degree of favor. Strict; rigorous. Difficult; distressful. Straight; not crooked*. By viewing these verses using the definition as rigorous, difficult, and distressful along with the idea of narrow we can perhaps get a clearer understanding of the nature of this gate into the kingdom. This idea is then borne out by the wording of the same thought in the Gospel of Luke where He says: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in , and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). The point of note here is in idea of not being able to enter. What could the reason for this be other than the difficulty and the need for strive to enter rigorously. Those who have an understanding of this concept most likely saw these meanings in the word strait but there are many who believe that it is just a matter of finding one’s way.
Yes it is a narrow path by comparison to the wide path of carnal living and it is also a difficult path by the world’s measure and to enter requires a rigorous effort of setting one’s heart and mind onto the things of God. As Jesus tells us a few verses later which we will read here today as well: “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). So this should all be clear. In the words of Jesus the way to the Kingdom of God, to His Presence and to all that this means it to do the will of the Father. Spiritually this is an easy task but through life in form it becomes a difficult undertaking in that it requires us to step away for the only thing that we really know and that is this life we live. This is the true test of faith. That when we see the Light and hear and feel the calling of the Inner Man, of the Soul, of the Christ Within, we listen and we focus our attention on our spiritual lives and we step out into it; we strive to enter.
In another chapter that we will cover at a later time there is a place where the Master tells us about the burden of living spiritually; let’s close with that thought today. After speaking to the multitudes about the relationship between the Father and the Son, Jesus says: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). For today, and in relationship to what we have been discussing, let us accept this as the Master telling us that if we are tired of this worldly existence and all its burdens that He will give us rest. If we take His yoke, if we turn to the Christ Within and give our attention to Him we will find the restful peace of His Presence and release from the burdens of this life.
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.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Today’s Quote of the Day from the Apostle Paul is a positive affirmation of the grace of the Lord in which we will always have victory. This verse follows this one: “the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56) which should show to us that by this worldly life and carnal living comes the sin in which many are dead in and that this sin gets its strength from the world of right and wrong. Thus the affirmation that through Christ we can have victory over this sin and death and that victory is being in His Presence.
* Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913
