"THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT"

The Golden Rule (Mt 7:12)

INTRODUCTION
  1. We come now to verse 12, where we find the "GOLDEN RULE"...
  2. This "rule" serves as a perfect summary of the kind of righteousness the kingdom of heaven expects in respect to MAN'S RELATION TO MAN

[But what is the "golden rule"? Was Jesus teaching anything new or original by what He stated? Well, in a way it was something new...]

  1. THE "GOLDEN RULE" VERSUS THE "SILVER RULES"
    1. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE JESUS WAS SIMPLY REPEATING WHAT OTHERS HAD ALREADY TAUGHT; FOR EXAMPLE...
      1. The HINDU religion taught:
        This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain. The Mahabharata
      2. The BUDDHIST religion taught:
        Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. Udana-Varga
      3. The JEWISH traditions taught:
        What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. The Talmud>
      4. The MUSLIM religion taught:
        No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Hadith
      5. The BAHA'I faith teaches:
        He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil. The Book of Certitude
      6. And Yet Some Other Sources:
        Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others. Isocrates 436-338 BCE
        "Tzu-kung asked, 'Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one's life?' The Master said, 'It is perhaps the word "shu". Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire'" Analects, 15.24
    2. BUT JESUS' "RULE" WAS POSITIVE, WHILE MOST OF THE ABOVE ARE NOT...
      1. Jesus' "rule" requires you to do something favorably to others, while the others only prohibit you from doing something unfavorably to others!
        1. Jesus -> Do unto others what you want them to do to you
        2. Others - > Don't do to others what you don't want done to you
      2. With the others, all that is required is that you don't harm other people; with Jesus, what is required is that you show kindness to others
      3. Jesus' rule is truly the GOLDEN rule, the others are SILVER rules (of value, yes, but not as much as "gold")

      [The only exception appears to be that found in Hadith (the traditions of Islam); but then, some of Islam is admittedly based upon what Jesus taught 600 years before Mohammed.

      So what Jesus taught was something new compared to what "uninspired" teachers had taught prior.

      But in another sense it was nothing new; rather, in a simple and easy to remember statement, Jesus gives us...]

  2. A GUIDELINE FOR RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT TOWARDS OTHERS
    1. THAT WAS IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS!
      1. Just as we have seen in the rest of Jesus' teachings (cf. Mt 5:21-48)
      2. This one "rule" summarizes what the Law and the Prophets were all about
      3. Just as the commandment "Love your neighbor as yourself" summed up the Law according to Paul - Ro 13:8-10
    2. A SORT OF "POCKET KNIFE" OR "CARPENTER'S RULE"...
      1. That is, something that is always ready to be used
      2. For example, even in an emergency, when there is no time to consult a friend, teacher, or book for advice, the "golden rule" can be guide for proper conduct
      3. Treat others as you would be treated, and it is unlikely you will ever do the wrong thing
CONCLUSION
  1. Even in this way, we find that Jesus did not come to "destroy" the Law, but to fulfill it in every way, including summarizing its righteousness in ways easy for us to understand and apply!
  2. Throughout the first twelve verses of Matthew 7, then, there is a continuous theme: the righteousness of the kingdom in regards to man's dealings with man
  3. And what are the basic points?
    1. Be careful in your judgment of others
    2. Persevere in looking to God for help in making proper discernment
    3. In your treatment of others, treat them like you want to be treated

In our next (and last) study, we will consider the final section of the Sermon On The Mount: THE EXHORTATION TO ENTER THE KINGDOM - Mt 7:13-27