Bible Notes: Substance
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
Hebrew: Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. (and...: or, that thou bear not sin for him). The alternative is provided by Bible Works, a computer program for Biblical research.
Verse 17 belongs in an exposition of concrete ways of keeping the commandment “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” In verses 9-10 are provisions for social welfare; 11-12 summarize several of the 10 commandments; 13 governs commerce so as to protect the poor from destitution; 14 insists on kindness in dealing with the disadvantaged; 15 and 16 pertain to an impartial judiciary based on truthful testimony; 17 and 18 take up the responsibility to protect one another from sin, and to work through disagreements rather than let them fester into wrongful action. This little collection of laws is a good blueprint for a society governed by the principle to love another as oneself. It are well worth thoughtful study on many levels, ranging from the wisdom of breaking down communal values into these broad sectors all, the way to providing concrete guidance that can be applied to specific situations today.
Greek: Matthew 6:19-21 (19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 19:21 is virtually identical to Luke 12:34 . It differs only by using a plural form of “your,” and the order of words in the second clause is different in Greek, but produces the same English sentence. Yet a comparison of the two verses in their respective contexts shows that Matthew and Luke had distinctive messages. Matthew’s setting of the idea immediately follows the Lord’s Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, and is part of a larger discussion of the difference between godliness and worldliness, spirituality and materialism, inner piety and religious practice. Matthew’s message is spoken to you—in the singular—and has the individual salvation in view.
Luke’s version of the same idea immediately follows the parable of the rich man who laid up his abundant produce for himself rather than “being rich towards God”—that is giving the lawfully designated amount of his wealth to provide social welfare. Rules for this purpose recorded in the books of Moses include not reaping the corners of his fields and vineyards, leaving produce dropped where gleaners could pick it up, letting the land lie fallow every 7th year while allowing the poor to gather its fruits, and distributing tithes for the priestly class on some years, and to the poor on others. Luke literally advocates social welfare because he values the character of justice and benevolence as a substantial and incorruptible good working immortality in the character. Luke addresses his last line to you in the plural—the collective salvation is in his sights.
Luke 12:32-34 (32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.