But we have progressed over time slowly but surely. Are we where we should be with regard to loving our neighbors as ourselves regardless of race, religion or gender? Hardly, but we have still progressed. And we will continue to progress.
Jesus knew the law but He had better ideas. Not to override it but to complete or fulfill it. This is usually referred to as the higher law. The higher law cannot be memorized because it was only ever meant to be understood.
I can only describe it by contrasts, for example; Mosaic law says that we should take an eye for an eye but Jesus said to love even our enemies.
Mosaic law says thou shall not commit adultery but Jesus said that if we look upon another with lust in our hearts we have already committed adultery.
Mosaic Law says to love our God with all our heart, with all our might and with all our mind but Jesus said the second part of that is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
As if to say "Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people; before you tell me how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children; before you preach to me of your passion for your faith, teach me about it through your compassion for your neighbors. In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have to tell or sell as in how you choose to live and give."That quote was from Cory Booker. But this is essentially what Jesus was preaching, that if you truly love God you will love His children without condition or exception just as Christ Himself did.If we truly love God our love will be evident in how we treat, talk to and talk about His children. It will be evident in how we serve them.People often justify their mistreatment of others by saying they deserve their mistreatment. Here is something more Jesus said "
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." Matthew 5:21-25 KJV
Mosaic law says thou shalt not kill but Jesus equates anger with murder.
Love God and love His children without conditions or limits, that is the higher law. It's that simple but simple does not mean easy. Mosaic law was revolutionary in its progressive tint in the dark world it came into. But the progress made byJesus' teachings is like a lighthouse burning bright on a dark and stormy night. It further progressed the Gospel. And we still have much further to go.
And it is not literal belief in Christ that saves us its living out that higher law that leads us into true salvation. That is what will save us and our community, our country and the world as a whole.
The Old Testament was progress. The New Testament was further progress but our love for Hod and His children day by day is what really builds up the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Romans 13:10 KJV "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
