Overarching Truth:
The Importance of Evaluating Good and Evil
Limitations and parameters for evaluating: We began chapter 7 by examining how we ought to evaluate the behavior of others and Jesus gives us some limitations and rules to use in that endeavor. So, we take a stand against evil, but it is people who conceive and commit such deeds and we too are people who are just as capable as anyone of doing the same things. So, we saw that there should be:
Jesus' teaching:
We have noticed that Jesus has established one truth after another that
may seem to be randomly chosen bits of wisdom but are actually designed to build
one upon another to demonstrate even greater truths. Here, one overarching theme is that of
evaluating ‘good’ and ‘evil.’
Man’s teaching:
While today man has asserted that there is no such thing as moral good
and evil, yet his very actions depend on an innate sense that some things are
right while other things are wrong. We
pass laws and create regulations because we believe they are ‘necessary’ for
the greater ‘good.’ While such man-made
laws do not claim to be from the mouth of God yet the very fact of the common
clamor for the creation of such laws demonstrates that man is intensely
interested in promoting the ‘good’ and defeating ‘evil’ however these may be
currently defined. Limitations and parameters for evaluating: We began chapter 7 by examining how we ought to evaluate the behavior of others and Jesus gives us some limitations and rules to use in that endeavor. So, we take a stand against evil, but it is people who conceive and commit such deeds and we too are people who are just as capable as anyone of doing the same things. So, we saw that there should be:
1)
No
condemnation: When we evaluate someone's behavior, we are not the judge and jury. Rather we are attempting to help someone to meet God's standard. Our goal is not punishment by restoration.
2)
No
hypocrisy: We are not to judge hypocritically. We determine to shine the light of truth on
our own behavior before we examine another.
This allows us to approach the erring one in humility and grace.
3)
Not prematurely: We are not to judge prematurely. Not everyone is ready to face the truth about
themselves. Even some believers can
drink only milk and cannot handle meat.
4)
Always be
constructive: All judging is to be done in a constructive manner. Its
purpose is not condemnation but edification.
What is ‘Good’ and ‘Evil?’ In the next part of Jesus sermon we saw how He began to unfold this evaluation of ‘good’ and
‘evil’ in the context of supplying our needs in an evil world. Even though Jesus calls us 'evil' He also says we tend to do 'good' for our own loved ones. He argues then that since God is 'good' how much more can we trust Him to supply what is 'good' to His children. What God supplies is 'good.' That was last time.
1)
The Law:
Jesus has constantly lifted up the Law of Moses as revealed by God to be the
known standard of ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ But,
as He points out, the Law cannot police our heart attitudes which are the
greenhouses for our outward activity.
This was the great failing of the Pharisees attempt to evaluate
‘good’ and ‘evil.’ They completely
ignored the heart although it was central to the tenth commandment which
evaluates the heart attitude of covetousness as the evil precursor to sinful
behavior.
2)
The
provision of God: Then in discussing
prayer and its essential connection to our family relationship to our Father in
heaven, Jesus gives us another clue to the identity of what is ‘good.’ We saw that what God provides, even in answer
to prayer, is always ‘good.’ This is always true even though His provision may
not be what we envisioned. God does not
give us ‘evil’ gifts.
The Golden Rule: So now we look at this famous verse
in Matthew 7:12 sometimes called
‘the golden rule.’ Notice that Jesus is
talking about our relationship to
“others” and our behavior toward them.
Here on this sinful earth, where Jesus has placed us until His kingdom
comes, we are to be “other-centered” even though these others may do evil. The Christian life is not for “lone
wolves.” It is NOT “me and Jesus got a
good thing going.” George Jones and
Tammy Wynette went on to say, “We don’t need anybody to tell us what it’s all
about.” It’s not just bad grammar, it’s
bad theology. You and I do need each
other. When God said it is not good for
man to be alone, He wasn’t just thinking about the need for a spouse. Not everyone gets married or even wants to,
but everyone needs other people in their life.
The writer of Hebrews begs us to continue to assemble ourselves together
to stimulate one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). The constructive edification of other
believers is in view.
The golden rule tells us even more—that every person we come
in contact with needs something from us.
They need to know that you care
just as much about them as you do for yourself. What if they are giving us evil before they
even know us? How would you wish to be
treated? You give them ‘good’ not
‘evil.’ Remember back in Matthew 5:38,
Jesus told them that not only do I not
retaliate in kind but I proactively do ‘good.’
“Do good to those who despitefully use you.”
So this is not new in Jesus sermon AND it is not new
theology. Jesus says it is the Law and the Prophets. This was a Jewish way of referring to their existing
Bible. In it, in Leviticus 19:7, it
says, ‘Love your neighbor AS yourself.’ Jesus
point is that we are to turn from being
self-centered to being other-centered.
Not self-love!
Now I need to point out a fallacy that some have promoted here. Some have said, well, my problem is that I
loathe myself and I need to learn to practice self-love first so I can actually
love others. By the way, I understand
this is supposed to be the reason for so many behaviors that are definitely
hurtful to the person doing them, but remember, they are not really thinking
straight either—or else we wouldn’t try to get these people into counseling. These people love themselves but loathe their
circumstances. They care more about
their own disappointment in life than they care about their loved ones who are
devastated by their behavior. Yes,
hurting people are not thinking straight and they do need people helpers who
will care for them and love them. But we are being misled to think that we can’t
love others because we don’t know how to love ourselves. Jesus tells
us here how to love others! We treat
them the way we might wish to be treated.
So how does this help us to evaluate others? Our evaluation of others should be the kind
of evaluation we would wish to receive!
No, not a dishonest piece of flattery!
But a kind, hopeful, and helpful constructive evaluation that will
encourage them to change their choices.
There are things about a person that they cannot change: their past, their appearance perhaps, their
circumstances maybe, but they can change their choices about their behavior.
Next time we will evaluate good and evil in light of
eternity.
© 2018 Eric Thimell
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