Bible discussion
Bible Talk => Christian Walk => Topic started by: Hal on October 11, 2017, 06:21:40 pm
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The following is an excerpt from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Luke 6.
The Golden Rule
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)
Versions of this, the so-called Golden Rule, existed in the rabbinic writings, Greek philosophy, and in Hinduism and Buddhism. Those formulations, however, cast the rule in a negative sense; they advocate not doing to others what you would not want them to do to you.
The Greek philosopher Isocrates wrote, “Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you” (Nicocles, 3.60). In his Analects, Confucius counseled, “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself” (XV.24). The apocryphal book of Tobit commands, “Do that to no man which thou hatest” (4:15). The famous Jewish rabbi Hillel summed up the Torah in the statement, “What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor” (Talmud; Shabbat 31a).
There is a subtle but significant difference in the way the Lord phrased this principle. The negative versions of the Golden Rule are the epitome of human ethics. Yet they are little more than self-serving expressions of self-love, concerned primarily with obtaining good treatment for oneself in return. Jesus, however, calls for selfless love, love that focuses solely on the well-being of its object. The love He commands seeks to treat others the way it would want to be treated by them—even if they do not love that way in return. That is how God loves, and that supernatural love is impossible on the human level. Only Christians are capable of it, “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5).
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I had these verses to help prove John McArthur’s point.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1, NASB)
27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27, NASB)
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44, NASB)
27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27, NASB)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14, NASB)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:35, NASB)
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Basically what he saying here that ‘love your neighbor,’ can be used or seen as a ‘work’ instead of a true heart felt reaction.
Christ teaches us to forgive others, can we truly do that as a work?
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Basically what he saying here that ‘love your neighbor,’ can be used or seen as a ‘work’ instead of a true heart felt reaction.
Christ teaches us to forgive others, can we truly do that as a work?
Christ forgiveness comes without any strings attached, ours must also have no qualifications. What if Christ said that you must buy your forgiveness?