Is The Golden Rule Biblical?

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."

We hear this all the time. They used to teach this in our Public Schools. I was taught this in Sunday School when I was a kid. But is it actually Biblical? The answer is yes. Although it has indeed been contributed to various persons throughout history, it is very much a Biblical teaching. However, this is not all there is to it. Lets look at the entire principle.

First, in.....

Leviticus 19:

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Jesus Himself taught us this also..He said..

Matthew 7:

12 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.

And in...

Luke 6:

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Then when discussing the Greatest of all the Commandments of God, Jesus tells us that this one can sum up all seven Commandments, following the number one, Love God with all your heart, and put Him first, in all things, in your life.

Matthew 22:

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

So why is this so important? It is really a simple concept. If you love some as you love yourself, you will not do anything negative to them. Paul puts it this way...

Romans 13:

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Makes sense. Does it not? If you love someone, you are not going to cheat on them. Or cheat on them with the one they love. You are not going to steal from them. You are not going to look at the things they got and say, I will take it away from them and I will have it. You obviously are not going to murder them.

Whenever you treat another the way you would want to be treated, you are fulfilling seven out of the Ten Commandments. Love will keep you from violating them. When you practice this Biblical Principle, you will also find that others will love you back. Another Biblical Principle that applies here is that you always reap what you sow.

But this is not where this Principle stops. Now let's look at the first passage again..

Leviticus 19:

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

"Nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people." Many Churches have taken this passage and twisted it around to say this. "Love your own kind." In other words, don't worry about the guy up the street. He is not one of us. He is not your Neighbour. No you are to only love those that are like you. Those that think as you. Look as you. Act like you. That's who your Neighbour is. But that is not true. Jesus answers this question directly.. "Who is my neighbour?"

Luke 10:

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

You see, anyone can be your Neighbour. Or rather, YOU could become anyone's Neighbour. By feeding someone who is hungry, you have laid a seed. Now when you may become hungry, there will be someone to feed you. When assist anyone with their needs, you are insuring that when you are in need, someone will be there for you.

I have experience this first hand. I'm always the one sending out Prayers and Well wishes when needed. I never expect anything in return. Then one day, I needed others to Pray for my Mother who was facing serious Medical Issues. I was so humbled when I saw the MASS of people willing to stand up for my Mom. To be honest, I was a bit embarrassed at the level of support I got. I was uncomfortable with all these people coming together for ME. But this is the way it works. Treat others as you would like to be treated, and, they will.

But that is still not the end of the message. You see, Jesus took it a step farther. As a Child of God, you need to do the same for your enemies as well.

Matthew 5:

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In...

Luke 6:

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Then Paul puts it this way..

Romans 12:

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

This concept is what we will be discussing next time. You cannot achieve Love through hate. It is simply not possible. But if you hate those that hate you, what do you get? If you fight evil with evil, you become evil. Jesus tells us that we need to love our enemies. Forgive them. Love them. Do not sink to their level. Bless them. Why? Because by doing so, you may very well convert them. Your enemy may very well become your friend.

If not? Well, when you follow God's plan for these situations, what you are doing is remaining right. Remaining just. You take the situation out of your hands and put it into God's. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."{Romans 12:19} It is your Command to Love. Let God deal with those that hate you.

So you see, the Golden Rule, is very much a Biblical Principle. However, it has more to do with you, than those of whom you are to be treating. It is all about you living an Anointed Life and showing others how as a Child of God, you can have a peace, even in the face of Hate and Evil, that is indescribable. "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." Is commonsense. Is logical. Is Biblical. And a Commandment from God Himself to His Children.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!