The Golden Rule Matthew 7.12 #1 There's enough to be drawn out of this one verse alone to give us far more than a whole sermon's worth. In fact, there's enough in this one verse to keep us busy for the rest of our lives. This one verse alone - if it were only faithfully obeyed by all people - would lead to the end of all wars, the end all conflicts and personal fights, and the transformation of this world into a paradise of peace and harmony. You may have noticed that all this hasn't happened yet. And this leads me to say something even further about this verse. Because we find that we cannot but fall far short of what it commands us, it alone is enough to drive every single one of us to a place of complete humility before a holy God. This verse is enough to move us to cry out to God for the forgiveness and saving grace He has provided at the cross of Jesus, and to bring us to a place of utter dependency upon His grace and mercy. The problem is that most of us are so used to this very remarkable verse of Scripture that we don't even notice just what an earth-shaking command it contains!

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #2 The name “Golden Rule” has been applied to this passage by man…but it is the right description of it. It is our standard of conduct…a high standard…to which we almost never attain. It is His commandment; Matthew 28.20 “teaching them to observe all things…” Some have said Jesus is only setting straight the abuses of the Law of Moses for the Jews. But notice the “But I say unto you” statements all through this Sermon on the Mount. It is His authority that is being asserted here, not Moses’.

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #3 The “Therefore” points us back to His previous statements: Matthew 7.7-11 We are encouraged to ask, see and knock, and God will give us good things. Primarily speaking of the kingdom of heaven and the salvation God has wrought in Christ…but also: We ask for good things and He gives. We ask for the wrong things and He gives something else. We ask for things for the wrong reasons and He says “no.” James 4.3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” The popular song of some years ago…“Thank God for unanswered prayers” God gives us what is for our good…and that’s the way we would want Him to be. The Golden Rule commands us to imitate that goodness, to be like God.

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #4 The “Therefore” points us even further back to His statement on judging others: Matthew 7.1-6 We wouldn’t want others judging us harshly. We wouldn’t want others judging us hypocritically. We wouldn’t want others using us to make themselves look good. So why would we do that to someone else?

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #5 But the “therefore” goes back even further than that. Notice how our verse ends: “For this is the Law and the Prophets” (a phrase used to refer to all the OT) He begins this sermon with blessings on those who are of the character to receive His teachings. Matt. 5.2-12 He states plainly that He has not come to destroy the Law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. Matt. 5.17

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #6 But the “therefore” goes back to include His treatment of things contained in the Law. Murder – Matthew 5.21-30 Adultery – Matthew 5.31-32 False vows, let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.” Matthew 5.33-37 Revenge – Matthew 5.38-42 Love your neighbor but hate your enemy? – Matthew 5.43-48 Giving to the poor – Matthew 6.1-4 Forgiving others – Matthew 6.12, 14-15 Hypocritical behavior – Matthew 6.16-18 Desire for things of this world – Matthew 6.19-24 (works against the golden rule) Worry – Matthew 6.25-34 (hinders our giving to others)

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 7.12 #7 But notice that the Lord says “this is the Law and the Prophets,” He did not say, “this is the gospel.” Matthew 22.35-40 “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.“ How do we begin to obey this Golden Rule? It begins with God… To love Him is to want to please Him. Without faith, this is impossible. Heb. 11.6 Without holiness, we will not see Him. Heb. 12.14 Holiness comes by faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His gospel. The Golden Rule cannot save us from our sins. It is in place to teach us what is expected of us and give us a rule of thumb by which to live… But only after we have obeyed the gospel of Christ.

The Golden Rule Matthew 7.12 END