Matthew 7:12: The Golden Rule

Script

Jon: The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of the teachings of Jesus. And the main body of the sermon is all about living in right relationship with God and others, what he calls a "greater righteousness." (Matthew 5:17-7:12)

In the third block of teachings, Jesus focuses on right relationships. (Matthew 6:19-7:12) This section has three parts.

Tim: And Jesus' final words here are some of his most famous, and they're full of wisdom.

Jon: "So then everything you desire that people do to you, so also you do to them." (Matthew 7:12) Right. This is the Golden Rule as it's been called. Like if I want people to treat me with generosity, I should first show them the generosity that I desire.

Tim: Exactly. All of us want others to treat us right and with fairness and justice.

Jon: So don't wait for others to do it first. Take that desire and extend it to others.

Tim: Yes, create the relational environment that you wished existed in the world, starting with the people that you're around every day.

Jon: Okay, but what if someone doesn't deserve it?

Tim: Well, Jesus says that is not really for us to judge. In fact, remember how this is a concluding thought to a series of teachings about difficult relationships. And in that first teaching, Jesus said:

Jon: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." (Matthew 7:1)

Tim: So God is the ultimate judge who can see our desires and our motives, and he will judge with fairness. So leave the judgment of what someone deserves to God.

Jon: Okay. These two teachings kind of work together. First, I recognize that I'm not qualified to condemn anyone, and then I treat people the way I would want to be treated if I were in their situation.

Tim: Exactly. And doing both of those things over the long haul will create a web of relationships that is built on a foundation of generosity and love.

Now, let's go back and finish looking at the conclusion.

Jon: The Golden Rule ends with the line: "For this is the Torah and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

Tim: So remember, the phrase "Torah and Prophets" refers to the Hebrew Bible. Jesus is summarizing how the wisdom of Scripture expresses God's desire that humans live in right relationship with each other, loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Jon: So all of the laws in the Bible and the stories and the poems, they're all about this?

Tim: Yes, we are created as God's images and partners in overseeing the world, and we do that best when we love each other. This is what the Hebrew Scriptures are all about. (See Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14)

Jon: People living in right relationship with God and others.

Tim: That's it. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is inviting us to participate in bringing these ideals of righteousness and love into reality. And in doing this, we bring the whole biblical story to its fulfillment.