Things I learned today:
In reading a book entitled Gospel Parallels, A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels, which uses the Revised Standard Version, 1952, I was reading the accounts at Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 6:27-26, 32-36. I’ve read these accounts many times before, but I hadn’t read them in “parallel” form. It reads, in pertinent part, as follows:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”—Matthew 5:43-48.
The above was in the left column of the page. On the right column of the page, parallel to Matthew’s account, it read:
“But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
To be “merciful” is to be “perfect" and to be "perfect" is to be "merciful."
May Jah, the Most Holy, bless you, and His Son, Jaheshua, give you Peace.
--Armand
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