Peter Gregerson Sr. Special to The Times
I have been a student of the Bible for over 70 years. Today I humbly ask you to consider this truth: The greatest commandment God has given to us — is The Golden Rule! What? “Treat other people the way you want to be treated” is that important? Please examine the evidence.
In Matthew 22, Mark 12 and Luke 10 — three times! — these questions are asked of Jesus: 1) “What is the great commandment”; 2) “What is the first commandment of all”; and this one, 3) “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer is always the same: “Love God with all your heart, soul and strength, and (love) your neighbor as you love yourself.” We know that this is THE GREAT COMMANDMENT? Christians everywhere believe that it is. Jesus left no room for us to doubt it. In Mark 12, Jesus says, “There is NO COMMANDMENT greater than these.”
In Matthew 22:40, Jesus gave this commandment the one supreme accolade, which sets it apart as unique: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The Bible itself hangs on THIS commandment, according to Jesus Christ Himself. No higher valuation is possible. Now for the question: Did Jesus give us this command again in nearly the same words?
The one and only other time in the Scripture that this superlative accolade is used by Jesus is in Matthew 7:12: “Whatever you want men to do to you, you also do to them — FOR THIS IS(sums up) THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”
Carefully compare the two commands: 1) “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”; and 2) “Treat others as you, yourself, want to be treated.” Exactly the same thought in both commands! The Golden Rule is just a cornbread way of saying The GREAT Commandment!
How could The Great Commandment and “The Golden Rule possibly be that important to God and to us? Isaiah 45:18 says God formed planet Earth to be inhabited — but now with the squabbling and hate we see today. Rather, Jesus taught us to pray for the time when “God’s Will is done on Earth as it is in heaven.” That means peace, respect, real love. He is searching for hearts that yearn for that, and where love for God impels them to love and treat others in that loving way. No great leader ever expected and required more of His followers.
In fairness, I suppose someone could treat some people as they would want to be treated without loving God. But you cannot love God with all your heart, soul and strength and not love all others as you love yourself. The love of God, alone, gives you that kind of love for all others.
But Peter — LOVE EVERYONE? C’mon.
A lawyer questioned Jesus about who all was to be loved. Jesus told a story, full of wisdom and powerful enough to blow apart our ideas about who was to receive this “love” in Luke 12:29-37.
A man was attacked by thugs on the road from Jerusalem and Jericho, and was stripped of his belongings and left for dead. A priest of the true religion saw him and passed by, offering no help. Why in the world would Jesus have a leader in the one true religion not help? Jesus doesn’t explain and expects us to figure it out. Then Jesus has another religious worker do the same thing! What is he telling us? Maybe Jesus was implying that those religious leaders had priorities different from his.
Then a despised Samaritan came along. There can be no more bitter enemies than religious enemies. Samaritans believed in the Bible, but only in a small part. They were hated as “apostates” by the Jews. But this Samaritan had compassion, and he personally worked to help and spent money to help the injured man. Who was the hero of the story? Answer: The one who showed genuine compassion. THE SAMARITAN was the one who pleased God! Think about that. The hated Samaritan was a neighbor — a good one!
Jesus said to His followers back then and to us today: “GO and DO likewise!” The Golden Rule, The Great Commandment — no commandment is greater than these. This story by Jesus makes us think, really think, and look at ourselves, doesn’t it?
If you and I want respect from others, even from those with whom we differ politically, religiously and racially, we must give respect to others. If we want tolerance and understanding from others when we make a mistake or say something not quite what we meant, then we must give that patience and tolerance to all others. If we want appreciation and honor for our point of view based on our life’s experiences then we will give that same appreciation and honor to others. I’m sure I haven’t said this very well, but I hope you get the point and can fill in your own examples.
We must seek peace, we must pursue peace. You and I are to be peacemakers. “Blessed and happy are the pacemakers for they shall be called — SONS OF GOD.”
And here is the frosting on the cake: Humans are wired by God to reciprocate. Kingdom love, like yeast or leaven, will spread — in our community, in our country, in our world! It is a power from God.
What a concept! What a life blessing? The Golden Rule — thank you, Jesus.
Now, in conclusion and as you think of how The Golden Rule can affect your life, please consider these profound, wise excerpts from the writings of the world-renowned Bible scholar William Barclay.
“This is probably the most universally famous thing that Jesus ever said. This is something which had never been said before. With this commandment, the Sermon on the Mount reaches its summit. It is a new teaching and a new view of life and life’s obligations.
Barclay continues, “To obey this commandment, a man must become a new man with a new center to his life; and if the world was comprised of people who sought to obey this rule, it would be a new world.”
Peter Gregerson Sr. is a longtime Gadsden businessman.
