Today, we go over The Golden Rule.
Matthew 7:12 ESV “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
This passage acts as a supporting pillar for all other teachings by Jesus Christ, because it serves as a lense to see the rest of the teachings of Christ through.
For example earlier in this chapter he says in matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
And then in matthew 7:4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?”
How many of us would want to be judged, by a person who is doing just as much or far worse than what they accuse us of?
Matthew 6 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.”
How many of us would want to deal with a person who clearly just wants attention?
Matthew 5: 21-24 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e] of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
How many of us would want to hold onto anger?
Matthew 27-28 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
How many women, would want to be objectified and molested inside the minds of people they don't know?
The answer to all of these, unless your a very strange person, is NONE. SO treat others the way you would want to be treated.
This is the primary lesson in both the old testament and the new testament. Jesus holds this as the fulfillment of the law, but why?
If you truly deeply care for God and others, you will naturally want to obey the law. You wouldn't use it as a way to get what you wanted, but you would truly find fulfillment and joy when obeying the old testament laws and Jesus’ teachings.
Not only that, but if you truly cared for people, you wouldn't lust after them as if they were yours to do what you please. If you cared about someone, you wouldn't get angry with them, you would try and find peace, and forgive, and ask for forgiveness. If you truly trusted God you wouldn't worry, because you would know he provides for you, and looks after you, and helps you grow.
For both secular, and orthodox practical applications, we turn to the book Ethics and the Golden Rule (New York and London: Routledge, 2013)
The following information is taken from the webpage http://www.harryhiker.com/stories.htm
The two monkeys
(The monkey and the fish)
People differ and the golden rule needs to respect this; so ask: "Am I now
willing that if I were in the same situation then this be done to me?"
There once lived a monkey and a fish. The monkey followed the golden rule, always trying to treat others as he wanted to be treated. But he sometimes applied the golden rule foolishly. Now one day a big flood came. As the threatening waters rose, the foolish monkey climbed a tree to safety. Then he looked down and saw a fish struggling in the water. He thought, "I wanted to be lifted from the water." So he reached down and grabbed the fish from the water, lifting him to safety on a high branch. Of course that didn't work. The fish died.
Kita, who lived on the same island, was a wise golden-rule monkey. She learned that fish die when taken from water. When the flood came, she considered taking a fish from the water. But she imagined herself in his situation. She asked, "Am I now willing that if I were in the same situation as the fish, then I be taken from the water?" She answered, "Gosh no: this would kill me!" So she left the fish in the water.
The foolish monkey applied the golden rule literally: treat others as you want to be treated. He wanted to be taken from the water, so he took the fish from the water. He didn't consider how fish and monkeys differ. Being taken from the water saves a monkey but kills a fish.
Kita was much wiser. When Kita considered taking the fish from the water, she tried to know the situation of the fish (who had different likes, dislikes, and needs). She imagined being in the fish's exact place and having this same thing done to her. She tested her consistency by asking: "Am I now willing that if I were in the same situation as the fish, then I be taken from the water?" Finally, she acted on the golden rule (leaving the fish in the water).
"Kita" is also an acronym for some main elements in using the golden rule wisely:
Know: "How would my action affect others?"
Imagine: "What would it be like to have this done to me in the same situation?"
Test for consistency: "Am I now willing that if I were in the same situation then this be done to me?"
Act toward others only as you're willing to be treated in the same situation.
"The monkey and the fish" is a popular story from Africa (Tanzania).
Chapter 1 has other stories that illustrate points about golden-rule reasoning. A story about squirrels teaches that we sometimes need to act against what others want; the golden rule lets us discipline baby squirrel (for his own good) as long as we're willing that we be disciplined in a like situation. Frazzled Frannie teaches that we needn't ignore our own interests; the golden rule lets us say no to unreasonable requests of others, so long as we're willing that others say no to us in a like situation. Pre-law Lucy teaches that the golden rule needs to be applied to third parties too. And two further stories teach that, for the golden rule to lead reliably to right action, it has to be combined with knowledge and imagination; Electra applies the golden rule foolishly because she gets her facts wrong, and Rich must work hard at knowledge and imagination to apply the golden rule adequately to his complex coal-mine business.
Further chapters also have pedagogically useful stories. In the world-religions chapter, for example, Hillel (Jewish) teaches that life's complexities shouldn't blind us to what's most important, the Good Samaritan (Christian) teaches us to apply the golden rule even to those we've been taught to hate.
In Luke 10:35-37, we see the story of the good samaritan.
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
So now you, the reader, go and do likewise :)
Thanks for reading :)
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I love you all, and have a Merry Christmas :)