Rule of Gold. Matthew

Transcription

1 Rule of Gold Matthew

2 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them, for this is the law and the prophets. (Mt 7.12) This verse is known as the Golden Rule, and is the highest peak of Jesus teaching, of personal and social ethics. A fact recognized even by many non-christians. It is a general principle which summarizes the teachings of the Law (the Ten Commandments), and the Hebrew prophets

3 Emperor Alexander Severus had it written in gold his wall, after which it became known as the golden rule. on It s worth noting that Jesus gave this principle a positive thrust. Confucius, the Stoics, Epictetus, and the famed Rabbi Hillel, all taught a negative version of it. Rabbi Hillel, challenged to teach the whole law while standing on one leg said, What is hateful to yourself, do to no other; that is the whole law and the rest is commentary. Go and learn.

4 Refusing to bully, or steal from someone is good. But that does not mean that we re helpful. Refusing to join in gossip about a neighbor is good. But saying a good word in his defense is better---more in line with what Jesus is teaching here. If a neighbor you don t like has a car which breaks down, and he s standing beside the road looking for help, it would be good not to run him over---but stopping to help is much better! A story..luke 10.25ff

5 However, practicing this principle, consistently, in the real world is not always easy. It s often difficult. For most of us, loving ourselves is much easier. And probably, family-love comes pretty easily too. Loving others---doing helpful things for others---is harder. Forgiving others is harder. It takes greater faith and discipline. Avoiding people---neglecting them as the priest and Levite did--- is the easy way.

6 Take recent events in the Central African Republic,where Muslims and Christians have been caught up in waves of violence. Muslims raped and killed; now Christians pillage and kill One young man said, I m looking for Muslims, to kill them all. It s not in the bible, but they killed my father and mother. Another person, watching the looting, said Clearly, these are not good Christians. (WSJ, April 28, A9) Life is often hard and difficult.

7 The person commenting on the looting in Central Africa is right. But real difficulties, real hurts, real injustices committed by real people are anything but easy to deal with. The desire for vengeance is understandable. Forgiving takes great faith. We need our Father s help! Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. For what man of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a serpsent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

8 To truly, consistently, forgive and help others we need help. So we must ask God to give us the renewed heart and mind that makes it possible for us to treat others helpfully--- as Jesus (and Law & Prophets) emphasize. The Holy Spirit working within us is what we must ask for, and seek. And keep seeking, asking and knocking till we receive the help and strength we need. It may take time, soooo Just keep on knocking, seeking, asking. The promise is that God our Father WILL help!

9 In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is not setting down a bunch of new rules and regulations, rather, he is encouraging those who would follow him to become a new kind of person. A person in whom the Spirit of Jesus is at work, transforming their outlook on life, so that more and more they desire to forgive, to help people----- to treat others as they would like to be treated. The kind of person who desires to help, and actually does so. Not only when they feel like helping, but even when they don t feel like it because their will is being shaped and disciplined by the Spiritually-motivated principle we know as the Golden Rule.

10 Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Mt ) Becoming this new kind of person involves choice, a decision, on-going decisions to be committed, disciplined, faithful. Narrow in the sense of focus, and faithfulness to God. Hard in the sense that it requires commitment and discipline. It s the way to wisdom, happiness, life. Sadly, not many choose it. The broad way---the self-indulgent way, the selfish way, the easy way, ---but it leads eventually to destruction. To death. To Hell.

11 Donald Sterling The boys of Brandywine The bomber-boy of the Midwest Which road have they taken?

12 The winter of 1940 in France was ferocious. The world was at war. In the small village of Le Chambon, in southern France, there was a small Protestant church. And one evening that winter, a woman knocked at the door of the manse. Magda Trocme, wife of Pastor Andre Trocme, opened the door to find a woman covered with snow, cold, and frightened. A German Jew from northern France, in danger for her life, had heard that in Le Chambon somebody could help her. Could she come in? And Magda Trocme said, Naturally, come in, and come in The narrow and hard way of the Golden Rule, chosen by Magda and Andre Trocme and the Christians of Le Chambon, saved the lives of 5000 Jews. Which road are you and I on?