Post by foxjj on Jun 24, 2019 6:04:47 GMT
Do Onto Others
While teaching the disciples along with a crowd of listeners, Jesus said: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Luke 6:27-31)
Jesus spoke these words to people who believed in “an eye for an eye.” When a country went to war in those days thy would annihilate their enemies. Those who were not killed were put in chains and brought back as slaves. Now along comes Jesus teaching: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Who is going to risk turning the other cheek to receive a second hit? Do you know of anyone who prays for their enemies? If someone takes your coat, you are expected to give him or her your sweater also! Which would be today’s equivalent to the cloak or tunic. This is not the way of the world.
The key to Christian living is verse 31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This verse has become known as The Golden Rule. We are to treat others, as we would wish them to treat us. From a human perspective, this instruction from Jesus is not always easy to obey, especially when we think of people that we may not like for one reason or another. If we can have a “do onto others” way of looking at life we will be great examples to the world of people who follow Jesus. A great example of “do onto others” is found in the story of the Good Samaritan:
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37)
The expert in the law understood well the greatest of the commandment’s Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, along with, Love your neighbor as yourself. Firstly, we must love God. If we truly love God, then we will also love our neighbor, who is made in the image of God. When Jesus said “Go and do likewise” He was speaking to one who was seeking eternal life.
Today, let us thank The Lord for the teaching of Scripture.
John Joseph Fox.
While teaching the disciples along with a crowd of listeners, Jesus said: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Luke 6:27-31)
Jesus spoke these words to people who believed in “an eye for an eye.” When a country went to war in those days thy would annihilate their enemies. Those who were not killed were put in chains and brought back as slaves. Now along comes Jesus teaching: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Who is going to risk turning the other cheek to receive a second hit? Do you know of anyone who prays for their enemies? If someone takes your coat, you are expected to give him or her your sweater also! Which would be today’s equivalent to the cloak or tunic. This is not the way of the world.
The key to Christian living is verse 31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This verse has become known as The Golden Rule. We are to treat others, as we would wish them to treat us. From a human perspective, this instruction from Jesus is not always easy to obey, especially when we think of people that we may not like for one reason or another. If we can have a “do onto others” way of looking at life we will be great examples to the world of people who follow Jesus. A great example of “do onto others” is found in the story of the Good Samaritan:
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37)
The expert in the law understood well the greatest of the commandment’s Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, along with, Love your neighbor as yourself. Firstly, we must love God. If we truly love God, then we will also love our neighbor, who is made in the image of God. When Jesus said “Go and do likewise” He was speaking to one who was seeking eternal life.
Today, let us thank The Lord for the teaching of Scripture.
John Joseph Fox.