2. Understanding Our Neighbor's Humanity
22 January 2006
It is that famous verse 12, the so-called “Golden Rule,” that really is the center of this passage. The rule is so famous that one can easily point to other religions and philosophers expressing similar sentiments. But have we ever considered why this verse is placed here?
I used to think that the Sermon on the Mount, of which this is the tail end, was a disjointed series of sayings, haphazardly woven together by the Evangelist. But as soon as one takes Scripture seriously and takes the claim of historical accuracy at face value, deeper truths appear. As soon as one accepts that it was Jesus Himself who consciously put that Golden Rule in this place, one sees so much better what is going on on that hillside in Israel.
If we remember the section before, that is where Jesus reminds his audience not to judge people. With common sense we are to approach situations. But Jesus’ message is also about fairness, and the epithet “hypocrite” (v. 5) was not used loosely. Verses 7-11 are meant to teach the exact same lesson as verses 1-6, except in a less confrontational way. Our Redeemer goes out of His way to win over His audience with a sweet lesson of grace. First, He gives the hard rebuke of God the Son (vv. 1-6), then He proves that He is also truly man and understands the human heart.
Christ brings the people to the emotional acknowledgement what their own desires are. He impresses on them their thirst for righteousness. After all, they made a point of coming to listen to this Teacher. In the same way, He reminds them that all people have desires. It is only fair that we should treat other people in that understanding. But more than that, He also shows us how fair God is: He gives us when we ask. So we should also give when our neighbor asks something of us. And yet more deeply than that, we are to see our neighbor as real human beings, with real human desires, rather than as faceless creatures, hindrances or adversaries. We are to understand our neighbor’s humanity. So verses 7-11 are there as a lesson in compassion, holding up a mirror to the audience then, and the reader now, to remind us all of our deepest desires, in order that we might remember who we and our fellow human beings are. And love our neighbor as ourselves.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will
be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son
asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will
give him a serpent? 11 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! 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do
also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12, ESV)
It is that famous verse 12, the so-called “Golden Rule,” that really is the center of this passage. The rule is so famous that one can easily point to other religions and philosophers expressing similar sentiments. But have we ever considered why this verse is placed here?
I used to think that the Sermon on the Mount, of which this is the tail end, was a disjointed series of sayings, haphazardly woven together by the Evangelist. But as soon as one takes Scripture seriously and takes the claim of historical accuracy at face value, deeper truths appear. As soon as one accepts that it was Jesus Himself who consciously put that Golden Rule in this place, one sees so much better what is going on on that hillside in Israel.
If we remember the section before, that is where Jesus reminds his audience not to judge people. With common sense we are to approach situations. But Jesus’ message is also about fairness, and the epithet “hypocrite” (v. 5) was not used loosely. Verses 7-11 are meant to teach the exact same lesson as verses 1-6, except in a less confrontational way. Our Redeemer goes out of His way to win over His audience with a sweet lesson of grace. First, He gives the hard rebuke of God the Son (vv. 1-6), then He proves that He is also truly man and understands the human heart.
Christ brings the people to the emotional acknowledgement what their own desires are. He impresses on them their thirst for righteousness. After all, they made a point of coming to listen to this Teacher. In the same way, He reminds them that all people have desires. It is only fair that we should treat other people in that understanding. But more than that, He also shows us how fair God is: He gives us when we ask. So we should also give when our neighbor asks something of us. And yet more deeply than that, we are to see our neighbor as real human beings, with real human desires, rather than as faceless creatures, hindrances or adversaries. We are to understand our neighbor’s humanity. So verses 7-11 are there as a lesson in compassion, holding up a mirror to the audience then, and the reader now, to remind us all of our deepest desires, in order that we might remember who we and our fellow human beings are. And love our neighbor as ourselves.
posted by Unknown at 4:42 PM
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