The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12

At end of Beethoven’s life (beginning 19th C)—unknown musician made a small alteration to the construction of harpsichord that would change the whole development of music in the Western World.

The harpsichord (instrument what most music was written for) was quite limited. There is no dynamics (piano can be played softly or loudly). Strings of a harpsichord are plucked by a small hook (like fingers on a harp). The change that was made was to replace the hook with hammer. Instead of plucking, the string was struck which greatly enhanced the dynamic range of the instrument (our modern day pianos). 19th and 20th century composers became quite adept at utilizing this new feature (Chopin, Brahms, Schumman, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky).

This is the kind of change introduced by Christ into the realm of ethics. The Golden Rule is the most universally praised saying of Jesus. Has been called “The Everest of all Ethical Teaching.”

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary x. Summary of Jesus’ Ethic (7:12)

This ‘Golden Rule’ (the Emperor Alexander Severus reputedly had it written in gold on his wall—not a bad example to follow!)

What are “ethics”? “Morality?”

Ethics for a Brave New World Ethics and Morality

Thus, to act ethically or morally means to act in accord with accepted rules of conduct which cover moral (as opposed to non-moral) matters. To have ethics or a morality is to hold a set of beliefs about that which is good and evil, commanded and forbidden. To “do” ethics or moral philosophy is to reflect on such issues as the meaning of terms such as “good” and “ought” and the method of justifying ethical rules.

Ethics for a Brave New World Ethics and Morality

Thus, to act ethically or morally means to act in accord with accepted rules of conduct which cover moral (as opposed to non-moral) matters. To have ethics or a morality is to hold a set of beliefs about that which is good and evil, commanded and forbidden. To “do” ethics or moral philosophy is to reflect on such issues as the meaning of terms such as “good” and “ought” and the method of justifying ethical rules.

Ethics for a Brave New World Ethics and Morality

Morals or morality may refer simply to the specific set of norms or rules by which people should live.1

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount 4. Our Attitude to All Men (12)

Much has been made by various commentators of the fact that the Golden Rule is found in a similar—but always negative—form elsewhere. Confucius, for example, is credited with having said, ‘Do not to others what you would not wish done to yourself;’ and the Stoics had an almost identical maxim. In the Old Testament Apocrypha we find: ‘Do not do to anyone what you yourself would hate,’3 and this, it seems, is what the famous Rabbi Hillel quoted in c. 20 BC when asked by a would-be proselyte to teach him the whole law while standing on one leg. His rival Rabbi Shammai had been unable or unwilling to answer, and had driven the enquirer away, but Rabbi Hillel said: ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else. This is the whole law; all the rest is only commentary.’

Matthew, vols. 1-4 (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary) God’s Purpose for His Children Demands It

An ancient Greek king named Nicocles wrote, “Do not do to others the things which make you angry when you experience them at the hands of other people.” The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “What you avoid suffering yourself, do not afflict on others.” The Stoics promoted the principle, “What you do not want to be done to you, do not do to anyone else.”

Its a small change but no one ever stated the positive: Mt 7:12 ““In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

(The Extent of Principle, The Manner of Principle, The Summary of Principle) (Rom 13:8-9; Gal 5:14; Mt 22:39-40)

Impossible Standard

Why would Christ emphasize this principle?

What is the standard?

Very possible for a person to obey laws insofar as they do not injure another person (driving a car, obeying the law, paying bills, etc…)

The negative form of the rule involves nothing more than not doing certain things; it means refraining from certain actions. It is never very difficult not to do things. That we must not do injury to other people is not a specially religious principle; it is rather a legal principle.

We must actively do to others what we would have them do to us, a new principle enters into life, and a new attitude to our fellow-men. It is one thing to say, "I must not injure people; I must not do to them what I would object to their doing to me." That, the law can compel us to do. It is quite another thing to say, "I must go out of my way to help other people and to be kind to them, as I would wish them to help and to be kind to me." That, only love can compel us to do.

The Standard Condemns

The reason then Jesus explains the principle goes back to much of why He preached the sermon to begin with. It is the Lord’s condemnation of human nature and all human goodness which always fall woefully short of God’s standard (straightedge; children drawing a line freehand).

Romans 3:20 NASB95

because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

If someone could keep the Golden Rule he could step into heaven and join God on His throne. But if a man cannot keep it he must join the rest of humanity in lostness and admit he has fallen short of the glory of God.

Why is the Law given?

Gal 3:19-26; (To make sin known showing need for a savior, to imprison everything under sin, to point to the savior, hold conscience captive until coming of the savior)

Here is Jesus then saying the principle reveals our inadequacy but also to set forth the standard that God is directing all believers toward.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones “after all, the law was not meant to be praised, it was meant to be practiced. The Lord did not preach the SOM in order that you and I might comment upon it, but in order that we might carry it out.”

How can we carry it out?

can’t until there is new life

Then the process of HS sanctifying

Christ is making us perfect:

When I was a child I often had a toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain for that night and let me get sleep. But I did not go to my mother—at least, not till the pain became very bad. And the reason I did not go was this. I did not doubt she would give me the aspirin; but I knew she would also do something else. I knew she would take me to the dentist next morning. I could not get what I wanted out of her without getting something more, which I did not want. I wanted immediate relief from pain; but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right. And I knew those dentists; I knew they started fiddling about with all sorts of other teeth which had not yet begun to ache. They would not let sleeping dogs lie. If you gave them an inch, they took and ell.”

“Now, if I may put it that way, Our Lord is like the dentists. If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell. Dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some one particular sin which they are ashamed of ...or which is obviously spoiling daily life... Well, He will cure it all right: but He will not stop there. That may be all you asked; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment.     That is why He warned people to ‘count the cost’ before becoming Christians. ‘Make no mistake,’ He says, ‘if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect— until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with me.”

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

We can take a good step in the direction Christ is taking us by going back to the Golden Rule and putting it into practice thru HS.