MANY Bible students, through a literal interpretation of the text, "Give, and it shall be given unto you. . . For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again," have regarded these words of the Master simply as an assurance that if we use just weight and are fair in our outward dealings with our fellow men, we shall receive the same fair treatment in return. To the student of Christian Science who is constantly seeking the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures, the Master's words have a much deeper and more far-reaching significance, one that pertains to one's mental attitude rather than material things. The metaphysical import is perhaps most clearly indicated by Matthew, where the Master's statement is closely connected with mental processes in these words: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
A dictionary definition of the word "mete" is "measure"; and again, "a standard of measurement." The passage referred to may therefore be rendered: With what measure we measure, it shall be measured to us; or, With what standard of measurement or gauge we measure, it shall be measured to us. We are all more or less familiar with the expression taking a man's measure," indicating that someone is making an inventory or appraisal of another's capacities and characteristics. Indeed, we all are making such measurements constantly in our daily contacts with our fellow men; and in accordance with the standard we hold in our thinking and use in making these appraisals so is it measured to us. Do we base our measurement of another on the belief that he is a material personality, a combination of Spirit and matter? Then it is measured to us likewise, and we shall be apt to experience the vicissitudes of our mistakenly accepted human concept, together with its misery and pain, want and woe.
Do we think of the universe and in our measurement believe that it is material, controlled by so-called laws of atomic, magnetic, and molecular forces? Then our false concept is so measured to us. Do we in our contacts with our fellow man measure with an overcritical gauge his acts and motives or his personal idiosyncracies? Then our judgment is measured to us, and despite our well-meant intentions we ourselves may, perhaps unconsciously, present similar unlovely characteristics; for with the setting up of ourselves as judges of others we run into the danger of self-justification, and this tends to blind us to our own shortcomings. If we persistently voice criticism of the shortcomings of others, it is a clear sign that we have not grasped the higher understanding of man's true status. On pages 46 and 47 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," after explaining how Jesus' students had been "roused to an enlarged understanding of divine Science," Mrs. Eddy states that "they no longer measured man by material sense."
Now, on the other hand, if as a result of our understanding of divine Science we use as our standard of measurement or gauge the measuring rod of divine Principle, it is, in accordance with divine law, so measured to us. If in our measurement of our fellow men we are guided by the understanding that man is spiritual, the image and likeness of God, good, that all men have one Father, one Mind, and because of this in reality reflect or express only goodness and love, and furthermore that any circumstances that offend or irritate do so only because of our own misapprehension of the true status of man, then these same circumstances will lessen and finally cease to appear. And our truer concept shall be measured to us again, and we shall find the rough spots in our life-experience being softened and our daily experiences growing more and more harmonious. If in our measurement of the universe we declare and know that it is spiritual, the realm of divine Mind, where all is harmonious and good, controlled by the perpetually perfect law of divine intelligence, and where nothing destructive or conflicting can enter or exist, then our concept is measured to us and we shall be freed from destruction or calamities; if these seem to approach us, we shall be borne up, protected, and carried through the trial by ever present divine Love.
Every waking moment we are measuring or gauging the things, events, and suggestions that come into our experience. How important, then, that we seek to develop the ability understandingly to use the measure that is true and in accordance with divine law, in order that it may to our safety, and to our profit, be measured to us again.
