To see the context, let us read first the entire passage in Matthew 7:1-12:

“(Verse 1) Judge not [or condemn not, see margin in New King James Bible], that you be not judged. (Verse 2) For with what judgment [or condemnation] you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Verse 3) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? (Verse 4) Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and look, a plank is in your own eye? (Verse 5) Hypocrite! First remove the speck from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Verse 6) Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

“(Verse 7) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Verse 8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Verse 9) Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (Verse 10) Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? (Verse 11) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Verse 12) Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Also note the parallel Scripture in Luke 6:31:

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

The clause “the Law and the Prophets” in Matthew 7:12 is oftentimes used as a summary term for the entire Old Testament; sometimes the word “psalms” or “writings” is added as well. (Notice Luke 24:44, 26-27; 18:31.)

For instance, Christ stated in Matthew 5:17 that He had NOT come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill—to magnify the Law, to exalt it and to make it more honorable (Isaiah 42:21), to fill it up with its intended meaning, to show how to keep it perfectly in the flesh. The Greek word for “fulfill” is “pleroo.” It literally means “to fill” or “to make full” (Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible). In Matthew 3:15 it is used in this context: “…it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

In addition, the word “Law” is also used many times as a summary term for the Ten Commandments, by dividing our duty towards God (which duty was written on the first tablet of the two tablets, containing the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments) with our duty towards neighbor (which duty was written on the second tablet in the form of the last six commandments). The Law of the Ten Commandments tells us how to love God and neighbor. The first four commandments describe our love towards God, and the last six commandments describe our love towards neighbor.

We discussed the concept of the “Law,” being a summary term for the Ten Commandments, in a Q&A on Romans 13:8. Limiting our quotes to Paul’s statement that we must fulfill our debt of loving one another (“… owe no one anything except to love one another,”), we stated this:

“When we love our neighbor, we fulfill the law of the last six of the Ten Commandments, which deal with our relationship with our neighbor. The last six of the Ten Commandments define for us HOW to love our neighbor, and how NOT to do him any harm… when we love our neighbor by keeping the last six of the Ten Commandments, then we fulfill or DO the law. And when we break just one of these commandments, as the apostle James says, then we have broken them all (James 2:8-11).”

We also stated this:

“Regarding our general duties toward one another, we read in Proverbs 3:27-28: ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.’ Compare Galatians 6:10 and James 2:15-16.

“In light of this, true servants of God should have the attitude, that loving conduct towards others is their duty, obligation and debt. Christ said in Luke 17:9-10: ‘Does he [the master] thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”’

“… we are always indebted to others to love them and show our love to them. We do this by keeping God’s law from the heart. It is His Law which defines for us what is and what is not true godly love…”

In our free booklet, “Paul’s Letter to the Galatians”: we wrote about Galatians 5:14:

“‘(Verse 14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’

“Having introduced in the previous verse ‘love,’ which IS the keeping of God’s commandments (1 John 5:3), Paul continues to summarize the law as love toward neighbor. He speaks of ‘all the law,’ as it relates to our relationship with man… The last six of the Ten Commandments show us how to love our neighbor. In Romans 13:8–10, Paul writes: ‘Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.’

“Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible states regarding Romans 13:8: ‘Love is a debt… it is a sin not only to devise evil against thy neighbour, but to withhold good from those to whom it is due; both are forbidden together… This proves that love is the fulfilling of the law… Love is a living active principle of OBEDIENCE to the whole law.’

“The New Bible Commentary: Revised, agrees, stating: ‘This conclusion does not invalidate the Ten Commandments in the interest of a nebulous, existential “Love, and do as you please”… Love… is the spirit in which we are to keep the law; but we need the law’s particulars and prescriptions to give body and definition…’

“John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible writes: ‘… he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law… of the decalogue; that part of it particularly which relates to the neighbour; the second table of the law… for fulfilling the law means DOING it, or acting according to it; and so far as a man loves, so far he fulfils, that is, DOES it…’”

In this light, we will proceed to explain what Christ meant when He said that it “is the Law and the Prophets” to DO to others whatever we want them to do to us. Christ talked about helping others (in Matthew 7:11), making the point that when even carnal people help their children when they ask them, how much more should we ask God to give us “good things” and especially His Holy Spirit (compare Luke 11:13), bestowing on us His love (Romans 5:5) which, in the context of Matthew 7, enables us to love our neighbor even more perfectly. Also, Christ had just addressed the fact that we must not have a spirit of condemnation (Matthew 7:1-2), admonishing us to look at ourselves first before we try to “help” others (verses 3-5).  He also cautioned us against “helping” those (in physical or spiritual ways) who would reject that help (verse 6).

All of this shows how to love our neighbor, as this is how we would want to be treated by our neighbor. We would not want to be condemned by him for our faults, while he is committing great sins; nor would we want to be left destitute when we are in need of help.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible writes about Matthew 7:12: “This is the law and the prophets – That is, this is the sum or substance of the Old Testament. It is nowhere found in so many words, but it is a summary expression of [what] the law required.”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary adds: “… for this is the law and the prophets—‘This is the substance of all relative duty; all Scripture in a nutshell.’ Incomparable summary! How well called ‘the royal law!’ (Jas 2:8; compare Ro 13:9)…”

The Matthew Poole’s Commentary writes: “This precept containeth in it the substance of all that is to be found in the books of the law and the prophets which concerneth us in reference to others, the sum of the second table, which requireth… justice and charity. Christ doth not say, this is all the law and the prophets, but this is the law and the prophets…”

The Pulpit Commentary explains:

“… Verse 12. ‘Therefore.’ Summing up the lesson of vers. 1-11… ‘For this is the law and the prophets.’ For this. This principle of action and mode of life is, in fact, the sum of all Bible teaching (cf. Leviticus 19:18)…  with its necessary limitation to the second table, in Matthew 22:40 (cf. Romans 13:10).”

As mentioned before, Isaiah 42:21 tells us that Christ came to exalt the Law and make it more honorable, explaining the spirit and intent of the Law, and showing by His example that we can keep it from the heart and in its ultimate and perfect sense, as God’s Holy Spirit of love has been poured out into our hearts. Our new free booklet, “God’s Law… or God’s Grace” explains this misunderstood topic in great detail.

The concepts of loving neighbor, as mentioned in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, are of course mentioned throughout the Law (the five books of Moses) and the Prophets (the former prophets such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings and the latter prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and the twelve minor prophets). [For the correct breakdown of the Old Testament Scriptures, see our free booklet, “The Authority of the Bible,” chapter 14, page 79]. But Jesus points out in His brief statement and with a few examples the ESSENTIAL teaching of the Law and the Prophets (and by extension, the Psalms or the “writings”), in respect to loving our neighbor: “DO to them as you would have them do to you.”

That says it all. If you don’t want to be killed, then don’t kill. If you want to be saved by others, then save them, if you can, when they are in need. If you don’t want your neighbor to lie to you, but tell you the truth, then don’t lie to him, but tell him the truth (cp. Ephesians 4:25). If you don’t want to be robbed, but rather receive help, then don’t rob and steal from your neighbor, but rather, give him if he has need (Ephesians 4:28). If you are a parent and want your children to treat you with respect, then treat your parents with respect. If you are married and don’t want your neighbor to commit adultery with your wife, then don’t commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife, but do the right thing by avoiding evil situations which could tempt you to sin. And if you don’t want your neighbor to be envious of your possessions and desire them (and show by his conduct HOW MUCH he desires them), then don’t be envious of your neighbor’s possessions and don’t desire what he has; but rather, enjoy that your neighbor has been blessed with possessions and show him your joy.

Focusing again on the examples in Matthew 7:1-12, if you want to be helped in time of need, then help others in their time of need. And if you don’t want to be condemned for your sins which you commit (and sin is the transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4), then do not condemn others for their sins, but rather, show them mercy and help them in the right way and with a humble heart to find again the right path of overcoming and to “restore” them in the faith (Galatians 6:1-5). Because THIS is the teaching of the Law and the Prophets.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

On November 8, 2016, many Americans will vote for either one of two candidates running for the highest office in the land, wishing to become the most powerful person in the world. This election is truly extraordinary, as we have never seen in the recent history of the USA two candidates who are both very much disliked by a majority of the people, and whose reputation is one of being untrustworthy and dishonest. The mud-slinging libelous contest by both candidates and their campaigns is unparalleled, with new charges and accusations being raised on a daily basis.

The media is having a field day, with endless discussions and mindless debates, and people are taking positions, not because they are convinced of “their” choice, but they fear the “greater evil” of the other candidate.

Looking at this unique disastrous development, even people in God’s Church might be tempted to vote in a few days to “prevent” greater harm. If they do, they are not only engaging themselves in taking an absolutely ridiculous position (no matter whom they are voting for), but they might be held responsible by God for sinning greatly.

In our Q&A #684, dated April 17, 2015, titled “Is It Really That Important to Understand that We Must Not Vote in Governmental Elections?“,  the following was stated:

“To be blunt, voting in governmental, national and presidential elections violates God’s plan for true Christians and constitutes a grave sin. It manifests the absence of faith in God; reveals a complete lack of understanding as to what the role of a true Christian is today; and shows utter ignorance as to who is ruling this world. We will not mince words in this Q&A, because FAR TOO MANY Christians are deceived and are deceiving others on this topic, foolishly thinking that they are serving God and their country by voting in governmental elections.

“We point out the following in our Statement of Beliefs: ‘We believe that a Christian’s duty to God is of a superior and higher nature than our duty arising from any human relationship (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-29). We therefore, following Biblical commands and principles, do not participate in voting for national elections or jury duty, and we do not join the military.’

“Why is this? WHY do we take such a strong stance against voting in national elections, while other Christians do not seem to see any problems with this? WHY do we claim that it is part of the Christian DUTY NOT to vote in governmental elections?

“The simple answer is: We will NOT water down the truth of God, even though many others do. We will NOT swim with the stream of national pride, patriotism and nationalism, if it involves violating God’s Law. We WILL obey God rather than man, not being afraid of men and their antagonistic reactions and hateful persecution, but being FEARFUL of becoming luke-warm and compromising with God’s Will, even though many Christians do.

“In our free booklet, ‘Should You Fight in War?’, we address biblical passages which PROHIBIT a true Christian from voting in governmental and presidential elections and from getting involved in political campaigns in ANY way, pointing out that one cannot separate the issues of voting, jury duty service and FIGHTING IN WAR! We state the following:

“’It is inconsistent to take the position that one cannot join the military because one is an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a citizen of another government – the Kingdom of God – while at the same time serving on a jury or voting in governmental elections. For instance, in the United States, the President is also the Commander-in-Chief, having both the right and the obligation under the Constitution, in certain circumstances, to declare war. How can one refuse to participate in war, while voting for a person who has the right and the obligation to declare war? In the past, people were disqualified as conscientious objectors because they did not refuse to serve on a jury or to vote in governmental elections. It was ruled that such an obvious inconsistency in position showed evidence for non-sincerity of the applicant.’

“We also explain in our booklet that it is SATAN who rules this world and EVERY country, WITHOUT exception. It is true, of course, that Satan can only do what God ALLOWS him to do, but generally speaking, God is NOT getting involved in the affairs of this world, and neither should we. God will ONLY intervene and see to it that certain individuals end up in governmental positions, if they are temporarily needed to fulfill aspects of God’s plan. But this would be GOD’s doing, NOT ours.

“We state the following in our above-mentioned booklet: ‘Another reason why a Christian is not to vote for a candidate in governmental or local council elections is because he understands the truth about this being Satan’s world at the present time. It is Satan who, with the general permission of God, places candidates into governmental offices. If we were to vote, we might involve ourselves quite directly in Satan’s system. Hosea 8:4 gives us God’s warning in this regard: “They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.”

“‘Sometimes, in order to ensure that certain aspects of His plan are fulfilled, God Himself might intervene to see to it that the person best (or perhaps worst) suited for the job at that time gets the job… How would God look at us when He intervenes directly to place a specific person into office, while we did not vote for that person, but rather for someone whom God does not want to see in charge at that time? It is obvious that our vote would be found to be in opposition to God’s Will.

“‘To give a prophetic and an historical example, Biblical prophecy reveals that a final political leader of the resurrected Roman Empire – the “beast” – will soon arise in Europe. According to God’s prophetic plan, this person will be placed in office in the very last days, wreaking total havoc on this planet. It is Satan, with God’s permission, who will give his power and authority to this person (Revelation 13:4-5). A Christian could not and should not vote for this person, of course, as he will persecute and kill many of the ‘saints’ (Revelation 13:7), and he will even attempt to fight the returning Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:19). Neither should a Christian have voted for Adolph Hitler, although it is clear now that Hitler came to power, as prophesied, to bring about the ninth resurrection of the Roman Empire. This is to say that God allowed Hitler to become ruler over Germany so that prophecy could be fulfilled.

”The Bible shows that God sometimes appoints directly, or permits Satan to place into office, strong or weak leaders, depending on the situation, in order to insure that God’s purpose will be carried out. For example, God allowed ancient Pharaoh, at the time of the Exodus, to be ruler over Egypt for a very specific reason – ‘that [God] may show [His] power in [him], and that [God’s] name may be declared in all the earth’ (Exodus 9:16).

“In regard to Pharaoh, we read that God placed him into power because he was a stubborn, self-righteous and ungodly person who would refuse to obey God and do His Will. God announced to Moses that He was ‘sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand’ (Exodus 3:19). Pharaoh would only yield after God had stricken Egypt with ‘all Mywonders which I will do in its midst’ (verse 20). God pronounced to Pharaoh that ‘indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth’ (Exodus 9:16). Paul later quoted this passage in Romans 9:17 in the context of God’s Will and His decision as to whom He wants to grant mercy in this day and age. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:4 that ‘The LORD has made all FOR HIMSELF, Yes, even the WICKED  for the day of doom.’ The fact that GOD raised up and gave rulership to wicked Pharaoh for the day of his doom in order to show His mercy towards Israel PROVES that any HUMAN voting for governmental leaders is useless, futile and CONTRARY TO GOD’S Will.

“While the Jewish leadership was willing to fight the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar, the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed God’s Will to the Jewish people NOT to fight, but to put down their weapons and to surrender to the foreign king. Jeremiah did not find a popular acceptance of this command; in fact, he was labeled a traitor and imprisoned as a consequence. King Nebuchadnezzar conquered and subdued the house of Judah, as it had been prophesied, but he was by no means a righteous king. He was full of pride and because of his arrogance and lack of humility, God removed him from his throne for seven years and let him become insane, living with the animals. After that, God restored his sanity and placed him back on his throne. The accompanying lessons before, during and after Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity are strikingly revealed in the Bible. We read in Daniel 2:21 that God ‘removes kings and raises up kings’ (Daniel 2:21). We also read in Daniel 4:32; 5:21 that it is GOD who gives a kingdom to whomever HE chooses. God wants us to know that ‘the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever HE WILL, And sets over it the LOWEST of men’ (Daniel 4:17). The Authorized Version even says that He ‘setteth up over it the BASEST of men.’

“As mentioned, God will do so when His plan requires it; otherwise, He leaves it to Satan to appoint those whom he wants to rule this world. Satan understands this. He showed Jesus in the wilderness all THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD in a moment of time, and said to Him: ‘ALL this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to ME, and I give it to WHOMEVER I WISH’ (Luke 4:5-6). Jesus knew this to be true, and we do not read that He disputed Satan’s claim. This is simply NOT God’s world, and neither is it the world of true Christians. Jesus said that the world hates us because we are not part of it (John 17:14). How FOOLISH to think that we should be a part of it by voting in governmental elections, believing that we can thereby make this world a better place or help our country in any way. How FOOLISH to think that we should be trying to improve Satan’s handiwork.

“In our before-mentioned booklet, we state the following about the related topic of jury duty service: ‘A true Christian is a stranger, alien and exile (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13) while here on earth; an ambassador for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20); and a representative of God’s Kingdom. As such, and in being a light to the world by proper conduct (Matthew 5:14-16), a true Christian does not take part in this world’s governmental or political affairs, as presently, it is not God who rules this earth, but Satan the devil (Revelation 2:13; Luke 4:5-6). Christians are challenged to come out of the governmental and political systems of this world. Christ, knowing that God’s Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), refused to judge a civil matter when He was asked to do so (Luke 12:14). Paul, likewise, prohibited judging those ‘who are outside’ the church (1 Corinthians 5:12).’

“As Christ did not JUDGE a civil matter, so He did not VOTE in governmental elections either, and Christians are likewise PROHIBITED from doing so. The Bible is very clear: We are SINNING if we judge in jury duty services or vote in national elections, while forgetting our true responsibility of being AMBASSADORS for Christ and the coming Kingdom of God. Once God rules on earth, there will be NO MORE VOTING in political campaigns. For true Christians, there must be no voting today.”

We are afraid that this biblical warning will fall on deaf ears of those who in their misguided zeal are determined to vote, no matter what God says. They will do this at great personal peril, because God is not mocked; and what a man sows that he will reap. Especially in this coming presidential election, their vote will only contribute to the destruction of the flesh.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link