Is the Golden Rule in the Bible?

In our culture today, there are a lot of sayings that attributed as being in the Bible, but are not.  For example, you will not find any of the following as God’s Word in the Bible: money is the root of all evil; God helps those who help themselves; and follower your heart or be true to yourself. 

 

However, is the Golden Rule in the Bible?  Actually, the Golden Rule predates the Bible stated negatively.  However, for the first time, Jesus stated what we know as the Golden Rule, in Luke 6:31:

 

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

 

Normally, we say, “Do unto others as you want other to do unto you.”  Therefore, let’s look closer at the Golden Rule and how it applies to our lives.

 

Last Sunday, we saw multitudes coming to Jesus for healing.  While in His presence, Jesus preached to them the Beatitudes of Luke 6: blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are those who weep; and blessed are those who are hated for being a follower of Christ. 

 

Jesus then followed those beatitudes with four woes.  Woe are the rich.  Woe are the full.  Woe are those who laugh, and woe are those who are spoke of well.  Of course, all of these beatitudes and woes need to be understood in context. 

 

 

1. The Explanation of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:31

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

 

As I said previously, the Golden Rule predates the Bible.  However, Jesus was the first to state it positively. 

 

Also, please understand that it is not treat others how they treat you.  That is an eye for an eye, and we will talk more about that in a moment. 

 

The Golden Rule for the lips of Jesus is to treat others the way you want to be treated.  Also found in Matthew 7:12, Jesus said:

 

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

 

 

2. The Illustrations of the Golden Rule, Luke 6:27-30

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

 

To be clear, the golden rule is unnatural.  It is unnatural to love your enemies.  However, that is what Jesus has called His followers to.  He has called us to unnatural deeds, unnatural words, and unnatural prayers.

 

As for deeds, do good to those who hate you.  As for words, bless those who curse you.  As for prayers, pray for those maliciously use you and take advantage of you. 

 

Furthermore, in verse 29, when it comes to your means and your resources and how God has blessed you, give and give and give. 

 

Again, the behavior is not normal.  It is not natural.  It is abnormal and unnatural.

 

I mentioned an eye for an eye a moment ago.  That was the standard for the Old Testament Law.  The Latin is Lex Talionis.  That means the punishment should match or fit the crime.

 

In other words, it is the law of revenge or retaliation.  Brother and sisters, while that was the standard for the Old Testament Law, Jesus Christ offers us a higher law, a higher standard.  That is the Golden Rule. 

 

And Jesus knew what He was talking about.  He wasn’t just offering an opinion.  He spoke absolute truth, and lest you think Jesus doesn’t know your situation or hasn’t walked in your shoes, remember the Thursday night of Passion Week.

 

John 13:1-5, 1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

 

John 13:21-27, 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.  23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.  25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”  26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

 

On the very night that Judas betrayed Him, Jesus washed Judas’ feet.  He did unto Judas what He wanted Judas to do unto Him.

 

I have tried to practice this in my own life, and I can tell you, it works.  Consider Thera Lou Adams.

 

3. The Justification for the Golden Rule, Luke 6:32-36

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

 

Being obedient to our Lord Jesus should be all the motivation we need.  However, He also gave more reasons to live out the Golden Rule here in Luke 6:32-6.

 

First, to not do so is how the lost world acts.  Lost people love those that love them.  Lost people do good to those who are good to them.  Lost people lend money to those they know will repay them.  Be different than the world.

 

Second, to live out the Golden Rule will be rewarded.  Our reward is that we will be known as children of God.  Obeying the Golden Rule doesn’t make us children of God, but it proves that we are such.

 

Third and finally, live out the Golden Rule because that is how God loves you.  Be merciful just as your Heavenly Father has been merciful to you.

 

 

Conclusion

We live in such a divided world today.  We have drawn so many lines in the sand.  It seems we are at odds with someone all the time.

 

We are divided over our Presidential Choice between President Biden and President Trump.  We are divided on whether Ukraine and Israel or just Ukraine needs any more financial support from our country.  We are divided over the war in Israel and who deserves that land, and that conflict has made its way to our soil and our college campus.  

 

We are so divided.  Yet, Jesus calls us to a higher standard.  He calls us to the Golden Rule.  Do unto others as we want others to do to us.  Love our enemies.

 

And if we think we can’t, remember Romans 5:5. 

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

The love of God has been put in your heart by the Holy Spirit. If it hasn’t, are you saved?