Do unto others…
The “Golden Rule”… We know it from Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and flashy posters and flannelgraphs. Oh, and from Scripture. Luke records it this way (as translated by the ESV): “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31 ESV)
But, what does this mean? Is it more than a Christian slogan? Can it really affect the way we live?
Apparently Jesus (and Luke) thought so.
According to Luke, this is the way Jesus defined and explained this statement:
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36 ESV)
You could keep going (and keep reading, if you so desire), but I think that gets the point across. The “Golden Rule” is much, much more than “Be kind to people.”
What do you think?
i try and get my youth group to think about this from the opposite standpoint too. that the way in which they are treating people must obviously be the way that they themselves want to be treated. It seems like we use the GR when we want something good in a situation, but in reality we are always doing the rule – either we are doing good at it or sucking at it.
Jay,
Thanks for the comment. It’s interesting that I usually hear the Gold Rule in terms of loving and doing for those we like. But, Jesus spoke it in the context of love and doing for those who hate us, who are our enemies.
-Alan