Following the Golden Rule
Treat others the way you want to be treated
In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NET)
How should you treat other people? Jesus answered that with what has come to be known as the Golden Rule — treat others the way you want them to treat you. This “rule” was not unique to Jesus. Most ethical systems throughout history have had something similar, although often expressed negatively–don’t do something to someone else you don’t want them to do to you.
But Jesus went beyond just teaching His disciples (Matthew 5:1–2) how they should treat each other. He told them they would fulfill the law and the prophets if they did this. The law and prophets have much to say about how we should treat each other. Six of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12–17) deal with human relationships. And the rest of the law expands on that.
Follow one simple rule
But in the Golden Rule, we are given a summary of the ethical commands of the law and the prophets. I don’t need a checklist of things I should or should not do. I just need to follow one simple rule. And when I do, I will have met the ethical requirements of the law and the prophets. Although, admittedly, this is often easier said than done.
Jesus expressed this same thing later when asked about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37–40). He answered that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all we are and our neighbors as ourselves. That all of the law and prophets rest on these two commands.
How do we love our neighbor as we do ourselves? By treating them the way we want them to treat us. Do that, and you have fulfilled the ethical requirements of the law.
