I wish I could say that I understand the new electronic age. And perhaps, compared to the generation before me, I do have a basic understanding of it. Nonetheless, when someone suggested that I “compress” a file they needed, that was too large for me to send via email, they might as well have been speaking a foreign language.
I have made a “new” electronic discovery, however, one that significantly simplifies my life: ChatGPT. Not that I know all hings it can do for me! Nonetheless, even with my limited knowledge, it has become a powerful tool for editing, summarizing, and shortening lengthy pieces.
Those of you who have been reading my posts over the years know that I don’t write short! I hope you have noticed that I now keep my devotionals under 800 words. Let’s just say any success I’ve had in this area is largely thanks to my limited knowledge of ChatGPT!
Anyone who has spent much time in the first five books of the Bible probably wishes that Moses had access to ChatGPT… All those laws! Of course, those were mostly Old Covenant laws about sacrifices and purification rites, and are known as the Mosaic Law. But when this proved difficult to follow, the Jewish rabbis later added the Mishnah, consisting of teachings, sermons and sayings, that were meant to help interpret the original Mosaic Law. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day prided themselves on following not just the letter of the Mosaic Law, but even the letter of the Mishnah.*
Talk about confusion! If you were not a religious scholar, how could anyone figure out all of those laws?
Unfortunately ChatGPT didn’t exist in that day. Nonetheless, they had something far better: They had the Author of the law!
One day the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with their questions, and one of them asked, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (Matthew 22:36 NLT).
Although their purpose wasn’t necessarily pure, they opened the door for a very neat, concise — and complete! — summary of the entire law: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NLT).
But the people of Jesus’ day shouldn’t have been too surprised by this response, for Jesus had already given an even shorter summary. During His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” (Matthew 7:12a NLT)
We are all familiar with this famous saying. We even call it The Golden Rule. But why would I call it a summary of the law?
Because that’s what Jesus called it in the second half of the same verse! “This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12b NLT)!
Friends, when it comes to God’s law, we don’t need ChatGPT to give us a concise summary! Jesus already did! When we treat others the way we, ourselves, would want to be treated, we are keeping God’s entire law!
Wait. Jesus’ later summary was a two-part command: Love the Lord and love others (See Matthew 22:37-40). Doesn’t this “Golden Rule” only focus on the second half?
Let’s think about this a little farther. Have you noticed that the more you try to treat others the way you want to be treated, the harder it is? That’s because, in our human state, we don’t even have the desire to do so! In my experience, there is only one way for me to even want to love others to that degree! I need God to put that love for them in my heart! And He can’t do that unless I love Him above all else!
So yes, the Golden Rule does summarize the law and the prophets! If I love God above all else, my love for Him makes me want to please Him at all costs, including loving my neighbour as myself! Even if that neighbour is unloveable!
No, the Author of the law didn’t need ChatGPT to condense the law into something understandable. In His wisdom, He also gave us the short and sweet version: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” (Matthew 7:12a NLT)!
Let’s allow our love for God to grow so much that pleasing Him becomes our desire. This will help us to treat others the way we would want to be treated! And in so doing, we will fulfill “…all that is taught in the law and the prophets.“
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
*https://www.pursuegod.org/rules-pharisees/#:~:text=them%20outwardly%20distinct.-,These%20included%20laws%20about%20what%20to%20eat%2C%20what%20to%20wear,inward%20spirit%20of%20the%20Law.
