The Golden Rule

Introduction:

More silly things are said about the Bible than about any other book. Things such as:

“I like Christ’s teaching better than Paul’s because Christ is so positive.”

“The Sermon on the Mount is such a nice ethic to live by.”

“Just live your life by the rules of Christ and you will make it for sure.”

These and many other statements are silly, and we will see why.

I. Connection Preceding

A. Prohibition: “Judge not” (7:1)

B. Reasons

1. That ye be not judged

2. That you not set the standard of your own judgment

3. That you not get involved in the incongruous

C. Exception: we are not to degrade people without facts, but we are to carefully exercise discernment

II. Help Proffered

A. In the face of impossibility

1. We are called upon for the ultimately difficult (1–6)

2. We tend to shrink back from such responsibility

B. Meaning

1. Promise of help (7)

2. Reinforcement (8)

3. Illustration (9–11)

C. Expansion

1. Moves over into the general realm of prayer

2. Says significant things

3. An important lesson

III. Principle Provided (12)

A. What it says

1. “Therefore”: because you have help available

2. “All things whatsoever”: deals with every area of life

3. “You would”: your desires

B. What it means

1. What you want men to do unto you, do unto them

2. This applies in all areas of life

3. This is a summary of the law and the prophets

C. What it implies

1. A positive standard

2. A difficult task

Conclusion:

Instead of being a nice, soft ethic, the Sermon on the Mount becomes a demanding taskmaster. We cannot live up to it. It takes the power of God to enable us to keep it.

Charles R. Wood, Sermon Outlines on the Sermon on the Mount (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1985), 51–52.