Parents cannot leave children home alone, but they can leave brother or sister home alone. As children come to own their parents’ rules, they are trusted with freedom and responsibility.

In this process, children get to know and love their visible and invisible Parents and gain dominion. Jesus expressed this in a parable. Filial piety first: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.” Then, freedom and responsibility: “he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” In fact, that master himself “will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”

As children internalize parents’ rules, they are trusted with freedom and responsibility.

Brothers and sisters are to imitate that master, their parents: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

They are to do so with all people equally: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?”

We learn to offer our time and possessions: “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” These turn into habits built on trust in God: “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. …For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

We thereby empower our mind to have dominion over our body. James taught: “…a perfect man [is] able to keep his whole body in check.” So too Peter: “He who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” And True Father: “Before trying to gain dominion over the world, gain dominion over yourself.”

Jesus articulated the highest standard—the heart’s dominion over the eyes.

Jesus articulated the highest standard—the heart’s dominion over the eyes in the arena of man-woman love: “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Sexual purity is the final goal of the brother-sister realm of heart. It is rooted in the son honoring his mother, and it leads to the daughter cherishing her father.

Own the rules.

References: Luke 12:35-37, 42-44; Mark 10:43-44; Matthew 5:46-47; 5:40-42; Matthew 6:25, 32; James 3:2; Peter 4:1; Mt 5:27-28.

Editor’s Note: Post has been revised to clarify content, no new content has been added. Only changes to syntax and tone. Not Substance. 

1 COMMENT

  1. “Heart dominion over the eyes.” That’s an absolutely amazing reiteration of Jesus’ words / admonishment … do not look at women lustfully. The Perfect expression for the High Noon era.

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