Season 4 Podcast 79, “The Golden Mean and the Decline of Democracy” 

The popular Greek Myth of Daedalus and Icarus tells the story of a father and son imprisoned in the Labyrinth on the isle of Crete by the wicked king Minos.  Daedalus, upon being commanded by Minos, had designed the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur, a monster bull that devoured all prisoners.  In danger on land and sea, to escape, Daedalus created wings of bird feathers held together by wax for him and his son Icarus.  

Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the wax would melt, and he would fall into the sea and drown.  Icarus was young, however, and once he learned how to fly, he soared high in the azure sky and low to the frothy waves of the turbulent sea, dashing past his troubled father who stayed a steady course.   

Icarus flew too close to the sun, the wax melted, the feathers flew to the wind, and Icarus, under the watchful eye of his horrified father, plunged into the sea and drowned.

The story is about moderation.  The story of Icarus illustrates what happens when man violates the golden mean.  The ancient Greeks preached moderation.  The Greek view of freedom would be a perfect balance between any two extremes.

On the Temple of Apollo at Delphi were written three Delphic Maxims:

1.     Know thyself

2.     Nothing in Excess

3.     Give a pledge and trouble is at hand.

Of the three maxims, “Know thyself” is probably the most quoted and the most written about. The Golden Mean, however, refers to the second maxim, “Nothing in Excess.”  We see this philosophy in In Milton’s Paradise Lost. In Bk XI, the Archangel Michael shows Adam the future of man and the coming of Christ. Adam, painfully aware that he has brought death into the world, wonders if death can be less painful.  Adam asks Michael:

I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.
But is there yet no other way, besides
These painful passages, how we may come
To Death, and mix with our connatural dust?

Michael echoes the same principle that was so important to the Greeks, “Nothing in Excess.” Michael said to Adam:

There is, said Michael, if thou well observe
The rule of not too much, by temperance taught
In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence
Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
Till many years over thy head return:
So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop
Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease
Gathered, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:
 
 

Aristotle in The Nicomachean Ethics, BOOK II, explains the Golden Mean. The text is published by the Guttenberg Project.

In all quantity then, whether continuous or discrete, one may take the greater part, the less, or the exactly equal, and these either with reference to the thing itself, or relatively to us: and the exactly equal is a mean between excess and defect. Now by the mean of the thing, i.e. absolute mean, I denote that which is equidistant from either extreme (which of course is one and the same to all), and by the mean relatively to ourselves, that which is neither too much nor too little for the particular individual. This of course is not one nor the same to all: for instance, suppose ten is too much and two too little, people take six for the absolute mean; because it exceeds the smaller sum by exactly as much as it is itself exceeded by the larger, and this mean is according to arithmetical proportion.

Aristotle emphasizes that the Golden Mean is relative to the individual. What is too much for one may be too little for another.  When Aristotle uses the word mean, substitute Golden Mean, meaning the perfect balance between the two. He continues.

Season 4 Podcast 78, “The Language of Liberty Pt II.” 

In Pt I, I use as my example the congressional argument over The Parents Bill of Rights Act. In this podcast, I shall use as my example the Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress. The following is the opening statement:

     The Biden Administration took power only two weeks after the January 6th insurrection. That day, the whole world watched the storm troopers of violent white supremacy act as the vanguard of a mass violent political insurrection against the Government of the United States that smashed our windows, invaded our Capitol, wounded and injured more than 140 Capitol Police officers and Metropolitan Police Department officers, and left several people dead. The protest that turned into a riot and an insurrection had been promoted and incited by then-President Donald Trump.

A verification of the 140 Police officers who were wounded or injured was not given, neither did they distinguish between those who were wounded and those who were merely injured, neither was the identification of the several people murdered given. It has since been proven that President Donald Trump was innocent of the charge of inciting a riot on January 6th, just as it was proven that he was innocent of the charge of Russian collusion. The charges were not just an error in judgment. They were lies consciously promoted by the left to discredit Trump. 

With the above introduction one can only imagine that what follows will not be an objective look at terrorism in America. Though that is the stated purpose of the series of committee meetings on terrorism in America, the true theme is to destroy Donald Trump and the MAGA republicans who support him. What Hillary Clinton, former Presidential Candidate, referred to in her campaign speech four years earlier as the 'basket of deplorables'. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic — you name it.” The committee dominated by the left referred to them as domestic terrorists, violent extremists, and white supremacists. They called the mob 

·      Well-trained battalions of domestic violent extremists

·      Nearly toppling the peaceful transfer of power in our country. 

·      The most dangerous domestic terror threat facing America today. 

·      The most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland 

They continued:

    We are facing an unprecedented situation in which political leaders, up to and including a former President, (meaning Trump) have been actively promoting corrosive anti-democratic messages that circulate paranoia, cynicism, and violence. This cesspool of conspiracy thinking is activating unstable individuals predisposed, because of a mixture of ideological grievances and personal disappointments, to commit violence. 

Notice the hyperbole of “Cesspool of conspiracy thinking” They hiss their words with venomous tongues. The alliteration of sibilant sounds is literally spit out of their mouth. Trump actually called for a peaceful demonstration, but that was left out by the press and of course by the democrats in congress. 

In this podcast I shall analyze the language of the 117th session of the Committee listed above. The pretense of the meeting is to address violence in the United States. The actual content of the meeting proves otherwise. It was an attempt to impeach Donald Trump though he was already out of office and to attack his supporters now referred derogatorily as MAGA republicans as if it were a swear word. The contents of the meeting are far too long to cover assertion by assertion; therefore, I shall summarize.

Season 4 Podcast 77, “The Language of Liberty Pt I.” 

Once upon a time we liked terms such as God, flag, country, mother, father, apple pie, patriotism, American, freedom, liberty, independence. Of course, in our umbrageous age we have seen the assault on God, flag, and country. A Stanford University document said we shouldn’t use the term American because somehow those on our southern borders might find it offensive. The Publishers of children’s author Roald Dahl removed the words mother and father from his children’s books for fear of offending somebody. Personal pronouns are commonly being banned to avoid offence. 

But there is another assault on language that is as strange as any of the above. In “The Language of Liberty Pt I.” I am going to analyze the democratic argument against the Republican Bill entitled “The Parents Bill of Rights Act.” In “The Language of Liberty Pt II.” I am going to analyze the House Hearing before the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representative 117 Congress, First Session Sep 29, 2021. It illustrates the beginning of the degradation of the language of liberty.

This article is more about the abuse of language than the use of language by our Congress. It is as astonishing as it is appalling that persons in such high office in our nation do not display even a shred of critical thinking in their attempt to solve problems facing our nation. They do not use language to think, to analyze, to synthesize or to solve problems. They use language like rabid mobs use tanks and cannon and rockets and bullets to decimate their enemies. They charge their opponents for hate speeches while they themselves are foaming at the mouth. 

In this podcast I shall illustrate my point with the argument of the left against the Republican supported bill called “The Parents Bill of Rights Act.” The act itself should not have even been necessary. The fact that it was necessary illustrates how far the left has destroyed the Bill of Rights. 

The act is rather straight forward. As described on PBS News Hour

“The bill would require schools to publish course studies and a list of books kept in libraries, as well as affirm parents’ ability to meet with educators, speak at school board meetings and examine school budgets.”   

We have all watched the news. Parents have expressed concern over the Woke agenda in school board meetings. Suddenly concerned parents found themselves classified as white domestic terrorists by the US Department of Justice for speaking out against exposing elementary students to pornography. They also object to their children having their heads filled with transgender idealism or by having their daughters referred to as he or their sons referred to as she. They objected to teachers even in the third grade who glorified the virtues of transgenderism without informing the parents.

For their concerns anyone who spoke out against the agenda of the left were called domestic terrorists, or white supremacists because they opposed the agenda of the left. Even the President said that white domestic terrorists pose a greater threat to our government than foreign terrorists which includes those who murdered thousands of innocent people during the 9/11 attack.   

You may listen to the Congressional hearings which include the full text as I did.  It is rather tedious as one would expect, but it is not without its moments. If the subject were not so serious, one would find some of the comments so hyperbolic and outrageously absurd that one would hardly be able to stop laughing.  

Season 4 Podcast 76 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XII, Pt XLIV (44), “Expelled From Eden, Pt IV” 

This is the final part of the final book of Milton’s Paradise Lost. In the prologue to Book XII, Milton writes.

The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension; the state of the Church till his second Coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their Stations to guard the Place.

Following the resurrection Christ will be on earth only a short time. He leaves his Apostles in charge to teach the gospel to all nations. Baptism is a sign that all guilt is removed. The gospel of salvation shall be preached not only to the children of Abraham but to all the world.

Nor after resurrection shall he stay
 Longer on Earth then certain times to appear
 To his Disciples, Men who in his Life
 Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge
 To teach all nations what of him they learned
 And his Salvation, them who shall believe
 Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
 Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life
 Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall,
 For death, like that which the redeemer died.
 All Nations they shall teach; for from that day
 Not only to the Sons of Abraham’s Loins
Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons
Of Abraham’s Faith wherever through the world;
So in his seed all Nations shall be blest.

Christ shall then ascend into heaven victorious. Satan lost the greatest battle of his life. Christ enters into his glory, above all the names in heaven, sits on the right hand of God. Christ will return when the world is ripe in iniquity to judge those who are resurrected. He will punish those who are unfaithful and reward those who are faithful. The Earth shall be a Paradise during the Millennial reign of Christ, happier than Eden.

Then to the Heav’n of Heav’ns he shall ascend
 With victory, triumphing through the air
 Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
 The Serpent, Prince of air, and drag in Chains
 Through all his realm, & there confounded leave;
 Then enter into glory, and resume
 His Seat at Gods right hand, exalted high
 Above all names in Heav’n; and thence shall come,
 When this world’s dissolution shall be ripe,
 With glory and power to judge both quick & dead,
 To judge the’ unfaithful dead, but to reward
 His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
 Whether in Heav’n or Earth, for then the Earth
 Shall all be Paradise, far happier place
 Than this of Eden, and far happier days.

Adam is overcome with joy and sings praises to God that evil will be turned to good. Adam recognizes that the fall was necessary to bring about the eternal happiness of man. Grace will abound.

So spake th’ Archangel Michael, then paused,
As at the World’s great period; and our Sire
Replete with joy and wonder thus replied.

Season 4 Podcast 75 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 7: The Sermon on the Mount Pt VII “The Strait and Narrow Path.”

We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 7, the end of the Sermon on the Mount.  The final chapter contains the following concepts.

1.     Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-5)

2.     Prayer (Matthew 7:7-11)

3.     The Golden Rule (Mathew 7:12)

4.     The Strait and Narrow Path (Matthew 7: 13-14)

5.     False Prophets (Matthew 7: 15-29)

In previous podcasts we discussed Judging Others, Prayer, and the Golden Rule.  In this podcast, we shall analyze Matthew 7: 13-14, “The Strait and Narrow Path.”

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Clearly we have our agency.  We must of our own freewill enter at the strait gate. The scriptures tell us.

·      And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

·       I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

·       How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.

·       Choose you this day whom ye will serve; …as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

In the scriptures there are two forms: S-T-R-A-I-T and S-T-RA-I-G-H-T. First let’s examine S-T-R-A-I-T.

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:14

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

A S-T-R-A-I-T is a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. Metaphorically the word is sometimes used to indicate heavy onerous restrictions as in the following scriptures.

·      “place where we dwell with thee is too strait,” 2 Kgs. 6:1.

·      “removed thee out of the strait into a broad place,” Job 36:16.

·      “place is too strait for me,” Isa. 49:20 

Traditionally Christians have interpreted S-T-R-A-I-T to mean baptism because of the image of a narrow body of water. Baptism is the gate way into the kingdom of Heaven. Remember that the Beatitudes contain conditions for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. 

·      Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

·      Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

·      Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

·      Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

·      Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Season 4 Podcast 74 “The Law of Liberty.” 

Freedom and agency are gifts of God governed by law.  Liberty is a creation of man which is made possible only when the laws of man are in perfect balance with the laws of God.  Language cannot preserve liberty.  Language may help us to celebrate liberty, but only divine law can help us to create liberty. Only commitment to truth can preserve, protect, and perfect  liberty.  When the laws of man move away from the laws of God, even if the language of liberty is kept, the concept of liberty is lost, and man becomes a prisoner to his on self-deceptions. Just as when the spirit leaves, the body dies, so it is that when the Spirit of Christ leaves, liberty dies.  The body without the spirit is dead. Liberty without the Spirit of God is dead.

History has shown that freedom without voluntary moral restraints will consume itself.  Man cannot survive in a world of moral relativity, uninhibited pleasure and moral decadence.  It is against moral law and will eventually self-destruct.  If we feed the natural man and starve the spirit, we fall below the animal kingdom.  We will exceed the animals in cruelty, in dissipation, and in degradation.  True freedom requires a perfect knowledge of temporal law.  True agency requires a perfect knowledge of spiritual law.  Good and evil are absolutes.  They are established by God, the very God who created all mankind equal.  Man can determine what is allowed, but he cannot determine what is good.  Truth can be discovered, but not created.  That is fixed.  Obedience to the laws of God is the only good, disobedience the only evil.  If man calls evil good and good evil, then our knowledge of agency becomes confused, conscience becomes corrupted, imbalance occurs, and liberty becomes the victim.  

Here is the difference between a society ruled by manmade ethics and a society ruled by moral absolutes.  Moral absolutes are defined by God as stated in the Holy Scriptures. Our government was built upon the Ten Commandments. Hence our laws were based upon the absolute laws of God. 

A society ruled by manmade ethics redefines good to mean any new ideology or ethical system based on the opinions of man. Absolute laws override personal opinion and do not regard man’s opinions.  Absolute laws are no respecter of persons. A majority may change manmade laws, but a majority cannot change the laws of God or the laws of liberty. In other words. Law is the standard upon which everything is based and does not change with the philosophies of man. 

In a society ruled by the absolute laws of God man’s behavior is judged by those absolute standards. In a society ruled by man’s opinions, then the standards of judgment are shifted to accommodate the majority.  Ethics change as opinions change and laws are rewritten to accommodate the new standards of judgment.  That is where we find ourselves today. Our nation is in transition from the Ten Commandments to the revised ethics of a godless society. The majority no longer believe in moral absolutes. They believe in moral relativism. A democratic republic cannot survive moral relativism. Moral relativism leads to the breakdown of law and order. Good is called evil and evil is called good. 

There are four absolute laws of liberty upon which this country is founded:

1.     The Ten Commandments, also called the Law of Liberty.

2.     The teachings of Christ, also called the Perfect Law of Liberty.

3.     The Law of Equality, expressed in the Holy Bible as the truth that God is no respecter of persons.

4.     The Royal Law, which means to Love the Lord with allyou heart and love your neighbor as yourself. 

Season 4 Podcast 73 “Tragedy.” 

As a good soldier prepares for the assault of the enemy, we must prepare for the assault of tragedy. Tragedy does not define our nature.  Tragedy reveals our nature and defines the weaknesses in our armor against evil, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Tragedy comes to us all.  Those who use tragedy to strengthen their armor are true disciples of Christ. Those who use tragedy as an excuse to abandon God, to abandon truth, or to abandon that which they know is right and to run to sin will find, upon reflection, that they used tragedy as an excuse to follow their true desires.  Tragedy does not create one’s nature. Tragedy is the magic mirror that reflects one’s true character. Tragedy does not cause one to lose his faith. Tragedy reveals the strengths or weaknesses of one’s faith. Paul said, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Tragedy is never neutral. Tragedy either causes us to strengthen our faith or Tragedy causes us to drop the illusions that we had about our faith. James calls tragedy “the trial of our faith.” 

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

In. First Peter we read

1 Peter 1:7

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Paul adds

Romans 5:3-5 

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In other words, tragedy puts our faith on trial. Without our faith being put on trial, we cannot measure our progression or the strength of our faith. It has its analogy in nature.  Things are tested only by resistance and strengthened only by opposition.  Few of us in life escape tragedy.  Just as we physically prepare for a storm before the storm, we must spiritually prepare for the tragedy before the tragedy. True faith is in God not in the fiery fluctuations of our factitious lives. True faith in God is a shield that protects us from the “fiery darts” of the wicked.  

Life is filled with ten thousand trials, but there is only one tragedy and that is spiritual death brought about by willful rebellion against God. To die physically is to have the spirit separate from the body. To did spiritually is to have the soul separate from God through willful disobedience. 

God, ever preserving agency, by necessity, leaves the choice entirely to us. Perhaps our daily prayer should not be, ‘Let me avoid sorrow,’ but our prayer should be, ‘Let all my sorrow be godly.” In Man’s Search for Meaning, Doctor Frankl quotes Dostoevsky: 

“There is only one thing that I dread: not to be worthy of my sufferings.”  

In patience in suffering lies the hope of redemption.  It is easier to believe in God than it is to believe that God believes in us.  In Candide, Voltaire’s brilliant satire, that would have made Juvenal blush, Candide and two philosophers, Pangloss and Martin, pass the time in endless disputes over the nature of good and evil.  They consult a famous Dervish, known for his wisdom.  

Season 4 Podcast 72 “Pt II, The Second Beast.” 

In Chapter 13 of Revelation, John mentions two beasts.  Many have attempted to identify the beasts. It is not my purpose to determine what John saw or what he specifically referred to.

My purpose is to use my literary license to employ the beasts metaphorically, as I would any other literary allusion regardless of the source, to illustrate what is happening to our world today.  In Podcast 69 we discussed the First Beast. In this podcast we shall discuss the Second Beast.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

The first beast came up out of the sea suggesting it had power over the seas. When the First beast stepped on the land it appeared as a man. The prophet Daniel saw the same beast 600 years before.

DANIEL 7

The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

The second beast envisioned by John came up out if the earth, suggesting he had power over the land. The first beast had seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. The Second beast had “two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”  The first beast was compared to a leopard, a bear, and a lion both by John and by Daniel. The first beast is a predator. The lion, the bear, and the leopard rule the jungle. They prey. They are not preyed upon. The second beast, however, appears as a lamb, with only two horns. He appears harmless, vulnerable, the least of the animals. They are not sly like a fox or swift as a dear.  Lambs are helpless, yet the second beast is more cunning than the first beast. He has the power of the first beast, meaning they do what he tells them to do. It suggests that three very powerful nations are under his single command. The lamb-like image is a false image.  People are naturally on guard if stalked by a lion, a bear, or a leopard. No one is afraid of a lamb. It is a Christ-like image, meaning the second beast is a false Christ. The lamb’s alliance with the leopard and bear and lion is kept a secret. The image of the lamb is doubly deceitful because some sheep have horns and can fight, but a lamb has no defense.  One is reminded of the words of the Savior.

Matthew 7: 15

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Christ went to great lengths to teach us how to identify a false prophet,

Matthew 7

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The cunning of the second beast has no boundaries.   Notice how the second beast actually has power over the first beast. The image appears very strange that a lion, a leopard, and a bear would take orders from a lamb until it begins to unravel before our eyes. 

Season 4 Podcast 71 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XII, Pt XLIII (43), “Expelled From Eden, Pt III” 

This session is from Book XII, Pt XLIII (43) of Milton’s Paradise Lost. Podcast 71 is entitled “Expelled from Eden, Pt III.”  In the prologue to Book XII, Milton writes.

The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Ascention; the state of the Church till his second Coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their Stations to guard the Place.

In the previous Podcast Michael showed Adam the wickedness that brought about the flood. He also showed Michael that the seed of Noah would also eventually become very wicked; therefore, the Lord chose Abraham as the patriarch through whom all the children of the earth would be blessed. Michael finished speaking and Adam speaks.

Here Adam interpos’d. O sent from Heav’n,
Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things
Thou hast revealed, those chiefly which concern
Just Abraham and his Seed: now first I find
Mine eyes true opening, and my heart much eased,
Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would become
Of me and all Mankind; but now I see
His day, in whom all Nations shall be blest,
Favor unmerited by me, who sought
Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.
This yet I apprehend not, why to those
Among whom God will deign to dwell on Earth

So many and so various Laws are giv’n;
 So many Laws argue so many sins
 Among them; how can God with such reside?

Adam, conscious of his role in bringing evil into the world, asks Michael how God can reside with man when they become so sinful. Michael explains that man was given laws or commandments to reveal their natural depravity. Without law there is no sin.  In other words, sin is violation of law. Man can only recognize sin through law. However, man does not have the power of atonement. The blood of bulls and goats is insufficient. More precious blood must be paid, meaning, of course, Jesus Christ, the just for the unjust. However, they can only recognize Christ through faith. Only through Christ can they find peace of conscience.  Ceremonial law is insufficient. Also, imperfect man cannot atone for his own sins. 

Doubt not but that sin
 Will reign among them, as of thee begot;
 And therefore was Law given them to evince
 Their natural pravitie, by stirring up
 Sin against Law to fight; that when they see
 Law can discover sin, but not remove,
 Save by those shadowy expiations weak,
 The blood of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude
 Some blood more precious must be paid for Man,
 Just for unjust, that in such righteousness
 To them by Faith imputed, they may find
 Justification towards God, and peace
 Of Conscience, which the Law by Ceremonies
 Cannot appease, nor Man the moral part
 Perform, and not performing cannot live.

Only through Christ can mankind be justified. The purpose of the Mosaic law is to prepare them to believe in the Savior. The Mosiac Law is a type and shadow of things to come, what Milton calls, “From imposition of strict Laws, to free Acceptance of large Grace.” He tells Adam that only faith in Christ can save them not works. They must make a higher covenant than the covenant of the Law of Moses. The higher covenant requires even greater discipline. 

Season 4 Podcast 70 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 7: The Sermon on the Mount Pt VI “The Golden Rule.”

We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 7, the end of the Sermon on the Mount.  The final chapter contains the following concepts.

1.     Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-5)

2.     Prayer (Matthew 7:7-11)

3.     The Golden Rule (Mathew 7:12)

4.     The Strait and Narrow Path (Matthew 7: 13-14)

5.     False Prophets (Matthew 7: 15-29)

In previous podcasts we discussed Judging Others and Prayer.  In this podcast, we shall analyze Matthew 7: 12, “The Golden Rule.”

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Most religions have the equivalent of the Golden rule. Christians draw their authority from the Sermon on the mount. The law and the prophets refer to the Hebrew Scriptures; therefore, The Golden Rule is an ancient teaching to the Children of Abraham. The Sermon on the Mount is revolutionary; however, as with The Ten Commandments Jesus is reaffirming the eternal commandments taken from the law and the prophets such as the Golden Rule. 

The concept of the Golden Rule is also taught in what James calls The Royal Law.

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The Royal Law is as follows.

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Notice how parallel the Royal Law is with the Golden Rule: “Love thy neighbor as thyself” and “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”   Notice that both the Royal Law and the Golden rule are confirmed by “all the law and the prophets.” 

Inherent in the Golden Rule and the Royal Law is that concept that we must love ourselves. Self-love, of course is a double-edged sword, for certainly selfishness is destructive as the scriptures often remind us. Paul for example reminds us that charity “seeketh not her own.” What is charity, the virtue Paul places about Faith and Hope? He said, “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Synonyms for charity are kind, beneficent, benevolent, merciful, compassionate, unselfishness, altruistic, self-sacrifice, love of mankind, Christian love, agape. Agape according to Wikipedia is “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God.” The Holy Bible is rich in teachings of agape also known as charity also known as the pure love of Christ. Think of the Golden Rule and the Royal law as Linda reads the following verses.

1.     love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, Deut. 6:5 

2.     I have loved thee with an everlasting love, Jer. 31:3.

3.     Love your enemies, Matt. 5:44 

4.     God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, John 3:16.

5.     ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another, John 13:35.

6.     If ye love me, keep my commandments, John 14:15 

7.     in him verily is the love of God perfected, 1 Jn. 2:5.