The Golden Rule

Introduction:

Read ;

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

“The Golden Rule” is another one of those teachings of Jesus that has gained fame throughout the Western world, and there are few who haven’t heard it or don’t know what it means

William Barclay says “The golden Rule is the Everest of ethical teaching.

Most if not all of the major world religions have a statement similar to Jesus golden rule.

Confucionism:

Tsze-Kung asked him: ‘Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?’ Confucius said: ‘Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.’

Buddhism:

All men tremble at the rod, all men fear death;

Putting oneself in the place of others, kill not, nor cause to kill.

All men tremble at the rod, unto all men life is dear;

Doing as one would be done by, kill not nor cause to kill.

Theme: 4 “Golden ” questions.

Islam:

Theme: 4 “Golden ” questions.

By Abu Amina Elias / 26 Feb 2013 The golden rule, or the ethics of reciprocity, is an Islamic moral principle which calls upon people to treat others the way they would like to be treated. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, the golden rule is defined as: Any form of the dictum: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In some form this is found in almost all religions and ethical systems. [Blackburn, Simon. "Golden Rule."]

How important is “The Golden Rule”?

a. for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

*Faithlife commentary:

Jesus later makes a similar statement saying the Law and the Prophets can be summarized by two commandments—to love God completely, and to love your neighbor as yourself (22:37–40).

The New International Version Chapter 22

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ i 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ j 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Leviticus 19:18

Leviticus 19:18

The New International Version Chapter 19

18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

LMartin lloyd jones : In other words this is a summary of the law and the prophets. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the whole purpose of the law and the prophets. To treat others as yourself fulfills the law and the prophets.

Let me approach this idea from a differant angle.

Question; what do JGodand beauty pageant contestants have in common?

Answer; they both want peace:

God’s purpose in everything he does is to restore order to his creation. In & 2 we fing an order and peaceful relationaships between God 7 hunabs and between humans. From ch. 3 on we find disorder, enmity and strife, hid from God, pointed fingers at each other. Murdered out of jealousy, etc.

god believes that if we love our neighbors as ourselves, treat others the way we want to be treated it will go along way to restoring order and peace. husbands and Wives. Parents and children, siblings, co-workers, employers and employees, neighborhoods, democrats and republicans, red and yellow black and white, even ducks and beavers.

The golden rule is a BIG DEAL!!!

2. What are the limits of “The Golden Rule”?

That was the lawyer’s question in luke 10.

The New International Version Chapter 10

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesu told a story we call “The good samaritan and basically said everyperson is your neighbor.

In today’s text: matthew 7:12 Jesus says:

in everything, do to others

Jesus kind of leaves it wide open.

But Jesus, You don’e know these people. Jesus let me tell you about these people. Jesus l;ook at what they have done. Jesus your asking an awful lot.

Father forgive them, for they don’t know what their doing.

Well, if we must,

3. What is the trick to practicing “This Golden Rule”?

First, let’s consider a question: Why do people admire the “Golden rule but not practice it. Why are their troubles and disputes, between mations, races, neighbors, families, need i go on.Why is ther any disput or quarrelin? Why do we hear of two people not speaking to each other or even looking art each other. why is their jealousy and backbiting and other things so true of life?

SELF at the Center (Picture)

We are self centered. We are resentful of what is said about us and how we are treated but we can’t get past ourselves to consider that everyone else feels the same way.

So we move around in our little self centered bubble like bumper cars or worse yet a distruction dirby.

It’s been this way a long time.

remember the serpents proposal to EVE,

YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.

Picture of God in the center replaced by self in the center.

When are world view is self centered we lose perspective and become protective.

The trick is allowing god to get back in the center of our world and he wil help us have a clear perspective of ourselves in relationship to others.

BUT HOW?

4. How can I become “A Golden Ruler”?

1) Start with God.

a. Recognize god’s power

In the beginningGgod...

: The earth is the lord’s and all it contains. The world and thosem who dwell in it.

The New International Version Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

English Standard Version Psalm 23

1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2  He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3  He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

English Standard Version Psalm 46

1  God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3  though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

English Standard Version Psalm 46

10  “Be still, and know that I am God.

Whe

Job was known as a righteous man all his life. but when he looked But things changed for him when he truly saw God as God.

Job 42:5-6

English Standard Version Chapter 42

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

6  therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

The New International Version Chapter 42

My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

The New International Version Chapter 42

My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

b. Read God’s word

Romans 3:20 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

J.B. Phillips

God’s word is the straight edge that shows us how crooked we really are.

2) When God is in the center we see ourselves as he sees us

saw God

The New International Version Chapter 3

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Isaiah’s experience

Isaiah 6:1–6 ESV

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

Isaiah 6:1-6In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

When God is in the center we see ourselves as he sees us

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Romans 3:23

Isaiah 6:1–6 ESV

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The New International Version Chapter 3

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

3)When we see ourselves as God sees us we realize that others are just like us. Imperfect people in need of love, compassion and forgiveness.

The New International Version Chapter 3

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Back to the text

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,

Isaiah 6:1-6

Conclusion:

English Standard Version Chapter 3

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Golden Rule of Jesus (Matthew 7:12 Contd)

And yet it is just that new attitude which makes life beautiful. Jane Stoddart quotes an incident from the life of the nineteenth-century statesman W. H. Smith. ‘When Smith was at the War Office, his private secretary, Mr Fleetwood Wilson, noticed that at the end of a week’s work, when his chief was preparing to leave for Greenlands on a Saturday afternoon, he used to pack a despatch-box with the papers he required to take with him, and carry it himself on his journey. Mr Wilson remarked that Mr Smith would save himself much trouble if he did as was the practice of other ministers—leave the papers to be put in an office “pouch” and sent by post. Mr Smith looked rather ashamed for a moment, and then, looking up at his secretary, said: “Well, my dear Wilson, the fact is this: our postman who brings the letters from Henley has plenty to carry. I watched him one morning coming up the approach with my heavy pouch in addition to his usual load, and I determined to save him as much as I could.” ’ An action like that shows a certain attitude to others. It is the attitude which believes that we should treat one another not as the law allows, but as love demands.

Conclusion:

important, limits, practicing, become