Do unto others. . . .
The religions of the world have really been beating this one for a long time. I don’t see that this has improved the world.
Let us look at the examples of the text.
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0319.htm JPS 1917
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) http://bible.cc/leviticus/19-18.htm
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
“thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”
This has a number of ramifications and willful (by humans) re-interpretations.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) http://bible.cc/matthew/7-12.htm
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
New International Version (©2011)
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
But it is only a piece of the text, so there is no context, which allows all of this carnage. Let us take a closer look at the original text –in English. JPS1917 again.
Leviticus 19:
17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
This is to the point as I see it. Treat you family carefully, have mercy on them because they are your family. Each of us makes mistakes from time to time, and so each of us will also need them to have mercy.
But, everyone keeps expanding this to mean everybody, don’t they? So if you want to know how to treat those that are not your family, take a look at this:
Leviticus 25:
17 And ye shall not wrong one another; but thou shalt fear thy God; for I am the LORD your God.
18 Wherefore ye shall do My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.
Let’s keep this simple, Okay?
The Lord God says what is right and what is wrong. HE will take care of both sides, rewarding good for good and evil for evil. This reward system is probably not going to happen in your time frame, but it will happen at the perfect time and the perfect amount based on HIS JUDGMENT. Remember this is ALL HIS. HIS Heavens and Earth, HE Created it and keeps it going or not.
What I mean is this, if you think you can get away with something, you won’t. But, neither has HE forgotten HIS people and their reward.
A short one today.
Remember: You shall not wrong one another, HE is keeping watch.
IT is to our benefit to HEARKEN until the LIVING GOD OF ISRAEL, and to our pain and shame to do otherwise.
My prayer is that The LORD grant you eyes that see, ears that hear and an understanding heart, then you return unto HIM soon!
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Shalom,
Yaakov