CFM: Matt 6-7 ~ Sermon on the Mount, cont.

March 4–10. Matthew 8–9; Mark 2–5: ‘Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole’

Last week I had a big breakthrough on my understanding of the Sermon on the Mount, with Christ asking us to turn to Him instead of each other for recompense for our injuries, He being the mediator in all of our relationships, and having paid the price to offer both mercy and justice to all.

The verses this week just continued that concept for me and built onto it.

Not only does Christ act as the mediator in all our relationships, but He says He will give to us what we have given to the other party. He will forgive me as I forgive others. He will judge me as I judge others.  What I face at the final judgement bar won't be a surprise, because Christ will treat me how I have treated others.

I'm reminded of the parable of the debts, the man who has his huge debt forgiven, and then turns around and will not forgive a minuscule debt owed to him.  How often do I do the same?

Our lives and our salvation are truly in our own hands (and hearts). If I want no man to condemn me, then I should condemn no man. If I want the benefit of the doubt to be shown to me, then I should give others that same benefit. 

Joseph Smith asked us not to condemn each other - Do Not Accuse the Brethren, "I charged the Saints not to follow the example of the adversary in accusing the brethren, and said, “If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours—for charity covereth a multitude of sins." [TPJS, p193]

When we let go of having to receive something from another person to be made whole, we are free to act for ourselves.  We aren't dependent on an apology to forgive, and forgiveness isn't something to hold out on in order to punish someone else - because it just damages us, not them.  Like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

I've never much liked the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, because I'm very particular, with unique tastes, and I know most people don't like the same things I do.  I think it's better to figure out what they like and do that for them.  But in this case I think the golden rule is really more like: do unto others as you would have Christ do unto you.  Because that is exactly what He promises He will do unto you.

What it comes down to is: will you allow Christ's Atoning sacrifice to heal your hurts, pay your debts, both the ones you make towards others, and the ones towards you, and to pay for your sins and disappointments and weaknesses?  Will you partake?  Or will you cling to the mortal perspective that it isn't enough, that His infinite and Eternal sacrifice can never make up for _________ that someone has done to me, or that I have done to them. 

Can we have charity and help each other to Heaven?  Because our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ want us back, they want us ALL back, and the only thing that will prevent us from getting there is ourselves.  We are all works in progress, not perfect yet, that will only come through Jesus Christ, as we strive more and more to be like Him.