The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule…Misunderstood

The vast majority of people who know the golden rule do not properly understand it…but many do not even know it anymore.

What is the Golden Rule?

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” or some variation would be the usual response.

Without raising your hands, how many of us think that the so-called golden rule is an instruction or command given by Jesus? Probably most.

But things break down when we ask, or are asked, to apply the instruction. We are generally left restating it. Can’t we usually find a way to apply the instruction we receive from Jesus? Doesn’t His instruction generally support multiple, related applications?

It is almost as though this instruction isn’t actually instruction.

Let’s take a moment to actually read it.

Matthew 7:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Two quick questions:

Do we have a rule about “therefore”?

Do we understand that “therefore” makes this an application of instruction, not the instruction itself?

Like I said, most people who know the golden rule do not understand it. Us included.

We do not to diminish the importance or impact of the golden rule. If we could grasp and apply the application, our world would improve. But we need to see and know that there is instruction that precedes the application and that instruction is necessary to power and propel the application beyond our usual lip-service. That instruction begins in Matthew 7:1.

Don’t Be Judgmental, Matthew 7:1-6

Matthew 7:1–6 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 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? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 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.

As long as we’re debunking biblical myths this morning, let’s keep that rolling: This does not mean what people often say it does. Most people who quote this do so to avoid criticism, censorship, and consequences relative to their actions. It is a statement of their belief that God has given them cart blanche to do whatever they want without any concern for the ramifications of their behavior and we—as God’s followers—need to get on board with God’s program of permission.

That is just stupid.

So, engaging our brains, let us ask what it does mean.

Judge Understood, 7:1a

What Judge Does Mean

The Gospel according to Matthew 1: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (King James Version) S. The Warning about Judging and Criticizing Others, 7:1–6

judge means to criticize, condemn, censor. It is fault-finding; it is being picky. It is the habit of censorious and carping criticism.

In other words, judge applies to a bigger swath of our common conversations than we should be comfortable with. We do this. A lot!

What Judge Does Not Mean

It is not the moral judgments that we must sometimes make

It is not the specific value judgments that we must sometimes make

It is not the careful discernment that we must sometimes exercise

It is not the loving correction that we must sometimes engage

There are plenty of times and ways in which we should judge. Ironically, we are usually so busy judging in ways that we should not that we do not judge in the ways that we should.

Judge Reciprocated, 7:1b-2

You will be judged as you judge others

Break the cycle!

Judge Examined, 7:3-4

They hyperbole is designed to get our attention.

Notice the questions behind the hyperbole. Why? (3) How? (4)

Judge Condemned, 7:5

Hypocrite! Jesus isn’t playing!

We should judge ourselves first.

We should judge others rightly.

Discernment Required, 7:6

We sometimes skip this verse because it is confusing and seems out of context. It is neither.

It reiterates that we do need to judge rightly.

Dogs are rabid, they rip, tear, destroy, and devour. We should not extend what is holy to them. Yes, that means there are some people with whom we should not even share the Gospel.

Pigs live in much and mire trampling under foot, losing and destroying everything around them. We should not give them things that are valuable to us.

Once the pendulum swings away from giving everyone license and exercising some discernment, it is easy for it to swing to far turning us into stingy people. Jesus know this about us and does not want this for us. So He pushes the pendulum back toward the center.

Do Be Generous, Matthew 7:7-11

Matthew 7:7–11 NKJV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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!

God is generous with all people, 7:7-8

We are generous with some people, 7:9-10

Our generosity is a reflection of God’s…but it should be a better reflection, 7:11

Now that we have received instruction—don’t judge and do be genorous—we are ready for Jesus to make an application.

Apply the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12

Matthew 7:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

If you want people to not judge you, you must not judge them. If you want people to be generous with you, you must be generous with them.

In every way, and at all times, treat people the way you want to be treated. It’s not hard to understand. It’s just hard to do.

Our fallen nature is quick to judge and slow to give. And yet we expect other people to be slow to judge and quick to give. Why?

The Golden Rule pays great dividends but it comes at a cost. If we are unwilling to pay its cost, we should not expect to receive its dividends.

Conclusion

So, how do we apply an application? We learn its underlying instruction and then we live without criticism and with generosity…both of which are contrary to our nature.