ON LOVE; PART MCXCIII
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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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).
In the last essay we began with our thoughts on the idea of Unity in Diversity, a theme which ends every blog post, and we progressed into the way that such diversity IS attached, and purposefully so, to the existence of men in this world. In most every facet of human Life there IS diversity and while the most apparent IS race and skin color, this diversity stretches across the mental and the emotional aspects of the personality as well as such ideas as religion, wealth, education and other cultural considerations. This idea of diversity IS the background upon which we should see that the whole of the idea of Love as agape IS built; and it IS the effects of the carnal view of this diversity that must be overcome by agape.
While it IS this diversity that leads us to the sense of separation that pervades Life in this world, it IS the discovery of our Unity in Diversity that IS the intended result of ALL world religions and it IS this Unity that IS apparent to everyman who will look to see that this IS One World….that we ARE One Humanity and that there IS and can be ONLY One God in whose image we ARE ‘created‘ (Genesis 1:27). Save for the relative Unity of the Jewish nation, the view of the Unity of the human family was severely muted in Old Testament times and it IS this sense of separation that feeds the barbarism and the superstitions of the times.
In the Jewish belief that they ARE God’s chosen people, a belief that IS fed by the spiritual Power of the man Moses that IS expressed through a yet somewhat carnal personality, IS both the Truth and the lie of their very existence. They ARE God’s chosen people as a race and as a nation when they DO live according to the precepts that Moses sets forth; however they ARE NOT God’s chosen people when they turn away from his precepts which ARE, for the most part, representative of the word of the Lord. We should remember here that the barbarism and the superstition ARE the products of the times and the application of spiritual concepts in those times and that from the time of Moses to Jesus it was the words of the prophets that sought to ameliorate the harshness that was their history. It IS toward this that Jesus words of comparison worked and this we should see in the way that He frames such ideas as:
- “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,c shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire“
- “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39).
- “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
Jesus expands upon each of these as He includes more on the subjects of adultery, divorce, and oaths in Matthew’s version of the Sermon on the Mount and in these we should see the steady changing of the meaning of Moses’ precepts and their treatment by the doctrines of men, a changing that goes to the heart, to the thoughts and the attitudes of a man. And this change IS NOT sudden; it IS a change over time and, in many ways, it IS NOT a change at all. The precepts of Moses ARE the source of the points of the Great Commandments which were perhaps before their time….that IS that the barbarous and superstitious people were NOT ready for such ideas.
And such precepts were NOT the main focus of the Jews which idea IS easily seen in reading their history as it IS presented in the Old Testament; the main focus has ever been on the relationship of the Lord with His people and their own historical perspective going back to patriarchs. As we have discussed the prophets of the times DO try to change the way that the Jew views his own religious experience and his God but most, in their day, were relatively ignored regarding their attempts at the ‘refinement’ of the Jew’s religious beliefs.
Jesus shows us the Jew’s disdain for the prophets as He says to the Jews “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets” (Matthew 23:29-31). We can ask why were the prophets killed but the answer lies in the way that the Master IS killed….by men whose doctrines have so overwhelmed their thinking that they believe that they ARE DOING the work of the Lord. And Jesus shows us this as well as He warns His apostles, the prophets of the day, saying “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:2).
The Jews had set up their own criteria for their Messiah and it was NOT Jesus nor His apostles whose message IS NOT in accord with the Jewish doctrinal approach that had been building for nearly 1500 years. And this same dynamic can be seen in the lives of the prophets whose message was NOT accepted against the doctrines of the Jews and their barbarous and superstitious ways. They were not moved by the words of the prophets; they believed that they had their covenant but DID NOT understand the basic quid pro quo which unlocks it; and they resisted such ideas as brought by the Prophet Jeremiah saying “this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
While much of doctrine sees Jeremiah’s words as pertaining to a New Covenant in Christ, we should remember that this IS written to the Jews nearly 600 years before Christ and in the midst of the fall of Israel; the Northern kingdom IS already captured by Assyria and the Southern IS about to fall to the Babylonians. If we can try to see that the words of the prophets ARE intended to be the beginnings of the New Covenant, that they ARE intentionally parabolic, and that their culmination IS found in the Advent of the Master, we can likely better understand the intended steady progression in the thoughts and the attitudes of the Jews.
We should see here also the constant peril that their doctrines bring….while the Jewish nation becomes less barbarous and less superstitious, they DO, at the same time, rely heavily upon their doctrinal approach which greatly inhibits the words of the Lord through the prophet saying “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts“. Historically this never happens and it IS this failure that the Master speaks against in so much of His words to and about the Jews in His day and this IS also the foundation of the Apostle Paul’s railing against the way of the law. Paul DOES NOT speak against the law per se, he rather speaks against the Jew’s carnal applications of the law that was NEVER “in their inward parts” nor “in their hearts“.
And we should view the words of the writer of the Book of Hebrews in the same way; we should try to see that there IS a Old Covenant of words to follow, much of which leaned heavily upon the interrelationships of men and the principle of Love. This was then intermingled rites and the rituals imposed upon the Jews by the man Moses’ interpretation of the words of God in his day and, if we look closely from an historical perspective, we can see that the rite and the ritual IS become their doctrine while the ideas of Love and brotherhood remained but words.
In the Book of Hebrews we should try to see an admission of the failure of the Old and, in repeating the words of Jeremiah, we should try to see the beginnings of the New against the writer’s argument that the Old, “that which decayeth and waxeth old“, “is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13). This writer tries to persuade the Jews to abandon their doctrines, which have ever failed them, in favor of the New emphasis upon the “royal law” (James 2:8), the law of Love, that must perforce stream from the heart and from the “inward parts“. And here we should see the Master’s words, using the words of another prophet, saying “if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” (Matthew 12:7).
Jesus words here ARE a reflection of the words of the Prophet Hosea which show to us the way that the prophet’s words DO show the Jews that their doctrinal approach to God “is ready to vanish away“; Hosea says “I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me” (Hosea 6:5-7).
Hosea’s words ARE considered as mystical by some and as about the Advent of the Christ; the Jews however would NOT agree with this. What should be evident here in these particular words IS that the prophet IS telling Judaism that it IS the way that they ignore the tenets of Love, in favor of Moses strict laws on the rite and the ritual and the ceremony, that so overwhelm their doctrines….and in this they “have transgressed the covenant“. And we should note there that the way of the Christian over the last 2000 years IS NO different; the Christian has NOT learned from the Jews error and here we should note as well that they DO NOT even see the error clearly. The error IS NOT that they fail to see Jesus as the Messiah but that they failed again to embrace Love as the prima facie Way of Truth.
As we have discussed in previous essays, NOT ALL the Jews fail to see the greater Truth of the original message of the Lord through Moses; there ARE those who DO accept Him and, even among those who DO NOT, there ARE those who DO see the greater Truth. The Apostle Mark’s version of Jesus; discussion with the scribes and the Pharisees regarding the Great Commandment shows us that this particular scribe KNOWS the greater Truth as he says to the Master “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33).
The Apostle Luke shows us another view of this idea; we read “a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him,What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him,Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:25-28). While doctrines focus attention on the ideas that begin these words and those that follow, they miss the point that this lawyer KNOWS the edict of Love that flows from the law.
This idea that the lawyer IS versed in the precept of Love shows us that those who ARE versed in the law, the: interpreters and doctors of the Mosaic law 9 as Vincent defines the Greek word nomikos, as well as the scribes which ARE the same office as Thayer defines grammateus saying: a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher 4, DO KNOW that the whole idea of Love IS a most basic tenet of Truth. And this IS our point; the whole idea of Love begins in the words of Moses and IS regarded by those learned in the Mosaic law as the Way to eternal life which we can interpret as the Kingdom as well as the idea that Love “is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices“.
In those days, as it IS yet today, the reality of Love IS understood as the most basic part of the Truth yet it IS understood and practiced by ONLY the “few there be that find it“. If we can see in this idea that Love IS “the straight gate” of which Jesus tells us that “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 can perhaps see the whole of the human problem. We should see here as well that these words from the Master follow upon a most basic idea of Love as it should be understood….they follow upon the Golden Rule which shows us that “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
And Luke treats this idea in a similar manner saying “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). While Luke’s words may NOT be in direct relationship to the precept of Love, of agape, they ARE in regard to the Kingdom of God and if we can put ALL these ideas together and understand that men’s access to the Kingdom IS in keeping His words and that Love IS a most essential part of DOING so, we can perhaps begin to see the greater Truth that IS lost in the doctrinal wrangling about salvation and atonement. In relating ALL these ideas we again repeat our trifecta of spiritual reality which shows us that to KNOW the Truth of Love, to enter into His Kingdom and to have the Presence of God in one’s Life IS to keep His words which includes that Love; we read again:
- “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).
And we should remember here that the ideas from the trifecta ARE but an example of the many ways that the Master shows us to keep His words and to express Love, to express agape, to ALL men; there IS NO shortage of His words on Love. Yet with ALL His emphasis on the Truth of Love, of agape, as the singular Way to free oneself from “the bondage of corruption” and to enter into “the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21), men yet fail to see its importance and they fail to grasp the simplicity with which this idea IS presented. This despite these most instructional words from Paul who shows us that we should:
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:8-11).
Here in these words we should see the greater Truth of salvation and one that IS most concretely shown us in scripture. Here we should see that “for now our salvation nearer than when we believed” IS NOT in regard to the Lord’s second coming 4 as some may suggest but rather in regard to one’s ability to “awake out of sleep” and to Love, as Love IS “the fulfilling of the law” and the Way par excellence for one to “Strive to enter in at the strait gate“. It IS the same failure that plagued the Jews that yet plages the Christian and most ALL of humanity and much of this failure IS found in the way that the Greek and the Hebrew words ARE rendered in terms of Love. In our selection from Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians the King James translators render agape as charity as DO several others and this word IS equally misunderstood; our selection again:
“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” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
“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: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
As we discuss in the opening words for every post, the idea of charity, when the King James Bible was translated, IS closer to the reality of agape than is the common idea of Love which was also prevalent in the seventeenth century when the translation work was done. This assumption IS based upon the definitions of both words according to the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary which ARE too lengthy to repeat but which can be found at https://1828.mshaffer.com/ . Our point here IS to refresh the idea that charity, as the defining idea of agape in this King James time period, shows us that charity IS: 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 1.
Comparing the idea of Love from the same time period we find that Love IS defined as: In a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification 1; can we see the difference here. Webster’s definition DOES briefly include: To have benevolence or good will for 1. as well as such ideas as courtship, endearment, patriotism and lewdness 1. We should note here that the ONLY common ideas ARE benevolence and GoodWill and it IS upon these, especially the latter, that the Truth of agape can be Truly found.
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.
We change our Quote of the Day today to the words from Solomon on Wisdom along with our thoughts on them from the original postings of them in In the Words of Jesus parts 46 and 556. These words ARE a testament to those things that we should be asking of the Lord and which are representative of the Holy Ghost. Wisdom, understanding and knowledge which will lead us to understanding the fear (reverence and respect and awe) of the Lord and the knowledge of God so that in this world we can understand righteousness and judgement and equity and be preserved by discretion and understanding. Thus are we in a position to treat everyone as we would want to be treated ourselves.
Since we are centered on the ideas of Wisdom today we offer the following from Proverbs as our Quote of the Day. Solomon, who is KNOWN for his Wisdom, which we read in the story of his Life was His gift from God, a gift that he receives because he does not want for the things of the world. But Solomon gains as well the things of the world in plenty and as his Life story proceeds we can see clearly that it is his Life in the world that is to his detriment. The wisdom however produces for us the writings of the Book of Proverbs and it is this that he is remembered for. His Life is interesting reading and is well documented in the Books of Kings and Chronicles.
….incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee (Proverbs 2:2-11).
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts
- 1 Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913 from https://1828.mshaffer.com/
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition
- 9 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon on blueletterbible.org
Those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.
Voltaire,
Writer and Philosophe
