The Golden Rule

Intro:

AG: TS: Today we look at another very well-known and often misused passage. When you say the words, “Golden Rule” most people who have been in the US very long have heard of it. Many can even quote it.

Cynics substitute statements like “He who has the gold, rules” or “Do unto others before they do unto you” for the words of Jesus.

However, most most cannot practice nor explain it.

Example: I see many rationalize their mistreatment of others who have wronged them by using the golden rule. They say, “I am just fulfilling their wishes to be treated this way, since this is how they treated me.”

The Golden Rule is not about serving as judge and jury of the behavior of others. It IS about our behavior. It is ultimately a very practical illustration of what Jesus meant when He called us to love others.

MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary

Versions of the “Golden Rule” existed before Christ, in the rabbinic writings and even in Hinduism and Buddhism. All of them cast the rule as a negative command, such as Rabbi Hillel’s version, “What is hateful to yourself do not to someone else.” Jesus made it a positive command, enriching its meaning and underscoring that this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of the ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus is calling us to a higher standard. V. 13 makes that clear and is part of the context of the Golden Rule.

Jesus is calling us to a higher standard. V. 13 makes that clear and is part of the context of the Golden Rule.

RS:

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Golden Rule

The negatives of the law are fulfilled in obedience to the positive.

The negatives of the law (you shall not steal, kill, or covet) are fulfilled in obedience to the positive command to “Love others as you love yourself”.

Matthew 5:21 ESV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

Matthew 19:19 ESV

Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:39 ESV

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Romans 13:9 ESV

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we love our neighbor as we should, we won’t even come close to the negatives:

adultery, murder, theft, and coveting aren’t love!

How can I murder one I love?

Why would I ever steal from one I love like I love myself?

It is about treating them, as I want to be treated in the same circumstance.

We stand in their shoes and treat them as we would want.

It is easy for most of us to explain what we want and what we would want in any circumstance.

It is in our own interest.

It comes naturally to us.

It should come as naturally to treat others that way as well.

Why is is difficult to live the Golden Rule?

The natural man has a hard time putting others ahead of themselves.

John 3:3–5 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Consider what Paul said in 2 Timothy

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2 Timothy 3:2–5 ESV

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

It is hard to put others ahead of ourselves if we are in the midst of that list.

In the flesh, it may well be impossible!

Christ gives us a new nature and makes the Golden Rule attainable.

Titus 3:3–8 ESV

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

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Romans 7:24–25 ESV

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

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The regeneration and renewal of the Spirit makes a permanent change.

We may now devote ourselves to good works

He gives us the ability to live as we should.

We see others through His eyes.

We can respond in love to their needs, instead of being self absorbed.

We have a Spirit given empathy

3. Love for Man and Love for God cannot be separated.

Why keep the golden rule?

1. You must be born into God’s Family: a true Child of God.

Jesus commands it.

2. You are then able to be an obedient and Child.

This is a direct command from our Lord.

Treat others as you want to be treated.

There is no wiggle room.

We have no way out.

Our behavior reflects God to the world.

4. You are only able to Love others out of gratitude for the FATHER’S Great Love in Christ for you. (, )

The old saying should be true, “Like father like child.”

When we live for Him, others see Him in us.

As God seeks the lost, so must we.

This does not mean that all will hear, believe, and obey the gospel.

We are as ones who cast the dragnet into the sea.

Jesus used a fisherman’s net as an illustration, it gathers up all kinds of fish.

God will sort out the clean and the unclean.

We are to make disciples of those around us.

How does it look when we follow the Golden Rule?

Speak the truth

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

We should desire others speak truth to us.

Thus we should speak truth to them.

God’s truth

First, The Gospel

The Gospel

All need to hear the good news

All need to be saved and they can only do that through the power of the gospel.

Next, the Word

God’s word is the foundation of our lives.

All need to hear the word

Forgive

Matthew 6:12 ESV

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us as we forgive others.”

Already, He was illustrating the Golden Rule.

Love

Matthew 5:44–46 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

What could be a greater example of love than to love our enemies.

We want to be loved.

Give love!

Conclusion:

Yes, the Golden Rule is an important guiding principle for how a disciple of Jesus lives. But let us never forget, it isn’t the sum total of truth nor is it God’s plan of redemption.

The golden rule should govern our attitudes toward others and we are to practice it in every area of life.