Matt 7:12

12 "Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

NLT

I once read an imaginary story about a man who had a dream about what he should do to fulfil the Law, as Jesus said He had come to “fulfil the law not do away with it.”

It goes like this:

“In my dream I was in conversation with Jesus Christ trying to understand how to fulfil the terms of the Law with out being a legalist.

Jesus took me to a room with a very large round table, in the centre of which was an enormous pot of wonderful looking stew. Seated around this table were a dozen or so weak, sick, malnourished, miserable looking folk drooling and flaying at the food, trying to eat some stew. The problem was that they each had a very long handled spoon attached to their arms, which enabled them to reach the stew, but not able to manoeuvre their arms to feed themselves. The spoons and the arms combined were too long!

 Next, we moved to an identical room. Same stew same spoons and around 12 or so people seated around the same sized table. The difference was these 12 were fast asleep, well nourished and content.

Jesus saw the look of bewilderment on my face and proceeded to explain. “Those who are malnourished “, He explained “were selfish and greedy, thinking only of themselves”

“The second group have learned the secret of co-operation and have not focused on their own needs, but fed those within reach of their spoons and so fed each other.”

“This is the meaning of Matt 7:12, it is not about the things you don’t do to each other, but rather about doing. The teaching is that the fulfilment of the law is not about prohibition, but rather about actively seeking to do for others, that which you would like others to do for you. The result? A world full of contentment.”

Matt 5:16-17

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.

What about you? Does this make sense to you?

If it does, “go and do likewise”

Rev. Keith Rudman