Article October 31, 1914 Issue

"Ye have done it unto me"

JULIA S. KINNEY

In the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew's gospel, Jesus explains the nature of what is called the last judgment. We find him earnestly endeavoring to unfold that condition of thought which enables one to enter into the kingdom of heaven, the realization here and now of God's power and presence. The Master's words are of deep significance, because they show the separation which each individual must make in his own consciousness between thoughts and motives which are spoken of as "blessed of my Father," and those which bring only suffering. Moreover, his words reveal a sure standard by which to measure and pass final judgment upon each thought before it develops into an act, so that each act may be indelibly stamped by our Lord's characterization, "Ye have done it unto me."

Jesus' every word and deed showed that his view-point was different from that of mankind in general. He looked upon man from the standpoint of the Biblical teaching that God created him in His own image, with the result that, when confronted by the appearance of a maid whom all others declared dead, he affirmed that she was not dead (though they laughed him to scorn), and he proved the truth of his words even to the most skeptical. Again, when brought face to face with a woman who had been found in a very grievous offense, whom all others were united in condemning, and insisting that Moses declared death to be the punishment of this sin, Jesus, after quietly rebuking the self-righteousness of her accusers, assured the woman that he did not condemn her, and admonished her to "go, and sin no more." Many instances related in the gospels prove that, as Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 476), "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals."

The Master's steadfast adherence to the one standard, namely, "Be ye therefore perfect," was rendered possible because of the entire separation which he made between what is and what is not the image and likeness of God. Having made this separation, he utilized every opportunity to reflect the godlike qualities of mercy, kindness, patience, meekness, and love. He realized that to be about his Father's business required of him not only that he teach others what love is, but that he should so intelligently reflect divine Love as to dispel all the illusions of evil. He never allowed himself to be influenced by material sense or to manifest anything but love and forgiveness. Even when nailed to the cross, these were uppermost in his thought. He knew that every act springing from the pure thought of man as the child of God, spiritual and perfect, must be such as to win the divine approval.

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