MATURE LOVE
Matthew 5:46-48
" 'For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you, shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.' "
This command to be perfect seems to be out of context. What does being perfect have to do with loving others? The word "perfect" does not mean to be sinless. It means to be whole, mature or complete. In the context, it seems to refer to having maturity when it comes to dealing with people that I am at odds with. It is easy to love people who love me and agree with me. Even the ungodly do that. But when I have a clash with someone, the natural response is to avoid them – cross to the other side of the street, or shun them. When husbands and wives argue, they turn their backs to each other without kissing each other good night. The mature person does not shun people just because there is a disagreement. In the ancient culture, people greeted one another with a kiss on the cheek. The Apostles said to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16; I Peter 5:14). This was not a kiss of passion, but was a form of greeting -- an indication of acceptance or respect for the person, and not necessarily agreement. To not kiss was a form of rejection. A Pharisee invited Jesus into his home for dinner, but showed that he did not really accept or respect Jesus by denying Him the normal courtesies of washing His feet, anointing Him with oil, or giving Him a kiss of greeting (Luke 7:44-46). Love and acceptance is not dependent on agreeing with each other, but of respecting one another as a person. I'm so glad that Jesus does not shun or reject me when I mess up. He is complete in His love for me.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The whole, complete, mature person can respect other people even when they disagree.
[end]
Have a mature day. Love you.
Matthew 5:46-48
" 'For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you, shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.' "
This command to be perfect seems to be out of context. What does being perfect have to do with loving others? The word "perfect" does not mean to be sinless. It means to be whole, mature or complete. In the context, it seems to refer to having maturity when it comes to dealing with people that I am at odds with. It is easy to love people who love me and agree with me. Even the ungodly do that. But when I have a clash with someone, the natural response is to avoid them – cross to the other side of the street, or shun them. When husbands and wives argue, they turn their backs to each other without kissing each other good night. The mature person does not shun people just because there is a disagreement. In the ancient culture, people greeted one another with a kiss on the cheek. The Apostles said to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16; I Peter 5:14). This was not a kiss of passion, but was a form of greeting -- an indication of acceptance or respect for the person, and not necessarily agreement. To not kiss was a form of rejection. A Pharisee invited Jesus into his home for dinner, but showed that he did not really accept or respect Jesus by denying Him the normal courtesies of washing His feet, anointing Him with oil, or giving Him a kiss of greeting (Luke 7:44-46). Love and acceptance is not dependent on agreeing with each other, but of respecting one another as a person. I'm so glad that Jesus does not shun or reject me when I mess up. He is complete in His love for me.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The whole, complete, mature person can respect other people even when they disagree.
[end]
Have a mature day. Love you.
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