THE GOLDEN RULE

MATTHEW 7:1

A. "THEREFORE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM; FOR THIS IS THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS"
  1. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are:
    1. The essence of the law and the prophets
    2. They testify of Him - John 5:39
  2. Christ Himself is:
    1. A reflection of manifestation of His Father; "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" - Heb. 1:3; John 14:9
    2. He taught what He had seen and heard of His Father - John 5:19,30; 8:40
  3. The words of our opening text are:
    1. A summation of the teaching of Moses and the prophets
    2. They are the sum of the second great commandment of the law - "Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself" - Matt. 22:39 B. THE GOLDEN RULE
  4. Gold is considered:
    1. A very precious metal
    2. A substance of great value in the commercial world - is used in many appliances
  5. Men speak of the rule of moral relationship set down by the Son of Man:
    1. As "the golden rule" because in the words of moral relationship between men, the highest and indisputable concept of morality is expressed
    2. All moral men see that the human self is the first and primary concern of every rational human being
  6. It must be noted:
    1. That our Lord places the emphasis on that little word "do" - "Whatsoever ye would that men should "do" to you, "do" ye even so to them"
    2. That puts morality into the right perspective, for God seeks deeds and not words only - James 1:22; Rom. 2:13; Luke 11:28
    3. Historians tell us that some ancient Sages taught similar concepts of life - but never practiced them C. THE GOLDEN RULE IN THEORY AND IN PRACTICE
  7. The theory of "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets"
    1. Is readily accepted by all moral men because it touches upon the important concept men have of themselves
    2. Even men of high morality readily concede that the human "self" is the apple of the eye, the focal point of man's being
    3. Men will seek to shield and serve their "selves" regardless of the cost - their thoughts and actions will ever be to serve "self"
    4. Love, as expressed by men, centers in "self". "Self" receives all tender affections and high esteem
  8. The Golden Rule requires:
    1. That we apply the theory of the golden rule in practice - "do"
    2. Treat others as we want them to treat us - give others the same consideration that we wish them to give us; Examples: Abraham practiced the golden rule in his relationship with his nephew - Gen. 13:8-9, but Lot failed to follow the example of his uncle - Gen. 13:10-11. The Samaritan practiced the golden rule on the man that had fallen victim to the thieves - Luke 10:33-35; but the priest and the Levite failed to carry out the golden rule - Luke 10:31-32. The lord of certain debtors practiced the golden rule - Matt. 18:27; but the debtor failed to practice that rule - Matt. 18:28-30
  9. Think, dear friends, what our human relationship would be like:
    1. If the theory of the golden rule would be practiced by us as professed believers in Christ
    2. What an impression the gospel of Christ would make upon a doubting world
    3. But let us think further; how can we claim to be sons and daughters of God, and not seek to practice the golden rule in our relationship to others
  10. Surely the ethics of the golden rule will be practiced by the redeemed on the New Earth:
    1. But what the redeemed do there
    2. We must do here


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