"do to others what you would have them do to you"
- Matthew 7:12
"if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also
- Matthew 5:38-42
i am sure lots of christians have heard the above two bible sayings before..and like me have wondered what on earth is going on. i mean, the first teaches you that if someone does bad to you, give it back to that person and the second tells you to be gracious and just take it! well, i have been thinking about sunday's sermon quite a bit and the answer suddenly hit me...
while they may seem to contradict each other, what i see is that in fact, the two sayings complement one another. cannot see how it is possible? well, sunday's sermon addressed the issue of sin, repentance and consequence and it is from understanding this that i found the answer...
essentially, Christ's teaching is all about the second saying..which is graciousness. so how does the first one come into the picture then? when you look at it straight on, it seems to mean that after someone strikes you on the right and left cheek, you should just give it back to him/her on both cheeks!
now apply the logic of sin, repentance and consequence and it makes perfect sense. the saying takes reference from "you" and not "others"..meaning it is not the same as "do to others what others do to you" (which takes reference from "others"). note also that it says "what you would have them ("others") do to you" and not God or Jesus do to you. what this says is you can be bad to "others", you repent and God will forgive you..but you still have to be prepared to face consequences from "others" (the people you offended). now when you tie this in with the "turn the other cheek" theory, both teachings encourages graciousness..but should we choose not to be so (be it in anger, jealousy or vengence etc.), then even if God forgives, we will still have to face judgement from Man for our ungraciousness...
enlightenment! :)
addicted to a new scent.. "jana", simply oo-some!
- Matthew 7:12
"if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also
- Matthew 5:38-42
i am sure lots of christians have heard the above two bible sayings before..and like me have wondered what on earth is going on. i mean, the first teaches you that if someone does bad to you, give it back to that person and the second tells you to be gracious and just take it! well, i have been thinking about sunday's sermon quite a bit and the answer suddenly hit me...
while they may seem to contradict each other, what i see is that in fact, the two sayings complement one another. cannot see how it is possible? well, sunday's sermon addressed the issue of sin, repentance and consequence and it is from understanding this that i found the answer...
essentially, Christ's teaching is all about the second saying..which is graciousness. so how does the first one come into the picture then? when you look at it straight on, it seems to mean that after someone strikes you on the right and left cheek, you should just give it back to him/her on both cheeks!
now apply the logic of sin, repentance and consequence and it makes perfect sense. the saying takes reference from "you" and not "others"..meaning it is not the same as "do to others what others do to you" (which takes reference from "others"). note also that it says "what you would have them ("others") do to you" and not God or Jesus do to you. what this says is you can be bad to "others", you repent and God will forgive you..but you still have to be prepared to face consequences from "others" (the people you offended). now when you tie this in with the "turn the other cheek" theory, both teachings encourages graciousness..but should we choose not to be so (be it in anger, jealousy or vengence etc.), then even if God forgives, we will still have to face judgement from Man for our ungraciousness...
enlightenment! :)
addicted to a new scent.. "jana", simply oo-some!
1 comment:
addicted to what scent? human scent? wakakaka!
btw i've got free air freshener for your car. supposed to pass it to you last night but i forgot la!
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