Sermon for Sunday, May 25th, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Old Testament Reading:
[Lev 19:9-18 ESV] 9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. 11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. 13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. 15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. 17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
New Testament Reading:
[Gal 5:13-15 ESV] 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
[much better than utilitarianism]
Gospel Reading:
[Luk 6:27-36 ESV] 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit 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 benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 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. 35 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. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Sermon Text:
[Mat 7:12 ESV] 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Introduction
My earliest ethical training as a small consisted of two phrases.
1) Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
I’m glad that’s not in the Bible. It’s got some problems.
And,
2) Do unto others as you wish they would do unto you.
Now, if you are going to abide by one precept, let it be this second one, called the “GOLDEN Rule” for “THIS is the Law and the Prophets.”
We’ll see later on that there area many applications from this single rule. In fact, DA Carson says of it: “This [verse] provides a powerful yet flexible maxim that helps us decide moral issues in a thousand cases without the need for multiplied case law.”
If “love your neighbor as yourself” isn’t completely clear to us, we have more guidance here in Christ’s saying: “do unto others as you wish they’d do unto you.” So it is applicable in EVERY relationship you have; from coworkers and neighbors to family and friends. Do unto them as you’d want them to do unto you. That is the Golden Rule.
I. Why is it called the Golden Rule?
But why is it called the Golden Rule? Our ESV Bible even gives that as a heading, “The Golden Rule.” But the text never says anything about gold. In fact, nowhere in the Bible does it use the term “Golden Rule.” Yet, that is what we call this verse.
Some say that it is called the Golden Rule because the 3rd century AD Roman Emperor Alexander Severus wrote the words of this verse on his throne room wall IN GOLD.
But this seems to be apocryphal. While Severus likely did indeed write the Golden Rule in gold on his wall, no one seems to have used the term “The Golden Rule” for Matthew 7:12 until much much later. The earliest known usage of the term “The Golden Rule” is from a couple English preachers in 1604. [Anglicans Charles Gibbon and Thomas Jackson]
Anyways, however the phrase “the Golden Rule” was settled upon, it is an instructive one. For one, it stuck. Phrases that stick are often very good phrases. And the idea of a “Golden” Rule is is to emphasize its importance, and certainly this rule is of great importance – it is, after all, “all of the law and prophets.”
II. The Golden Rule Summarizes the Law and Prophets
What this means — that the Golden Rule is “the Law and the Prophets” — is that it is a shorthand for “all of the Old Testament.” Naturally, not every verse says as much, but when we summarize the Old Testament ethical commands of God, the result is the Golden Rule. One verse in particular often mentioned being similar to the Golden Rule is Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”
This has a connection with what Jesus said previously in the Sermon on the Mount. Back in Matthew 5:17 he said that he has no intention of casting aside law and prophets. He said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Now, he reiterates “the Law and the Prophets” with the shorthand summary “do unto others as you want done unto you.”
Thou shalt not murder, because you don’t want to be murdered.
Thou shalt not steal, because you don’t want to be stolen from.
Thou shalt not commit adultery, because you don’t want your spouse to be unfaithful to you.
There have been criticisms of the Golden Rule from various non-Christian philosophers. They say, it is a problem because the idea of what “we want done to ourselves” is not stable. Maybe my preferences change over the course of my life; or preferences vary from person to person. And this is an interesting point from the philosophers, but they are missing the big picture that no normal sane person wants to be murdered, stolen from, like to, etc. Rather than seeing any limits of the Golden Rule, we should see it as a great summary of the Old Testament ethical teachings; that we may quickly apply it to whatever situation we find ourselves in. How do I deal with another person in some complex situation; well, ask, “how would I want someone to address me in the same situation?”
It is a little bit like the adage “walk a mile in another person’s shoes.” Both this shoe-walking and the Golden Rule have us to consider others.
But note that it is also for your own good. It is not a sacrifice of self, because by acting in such a way you hope also that others will act that way in YOUR direction. Society would function very well if all would follow the Golden Rule.
III. The Golden Rule is Better than the Silver Rule.
Now this “Golden Rule” is far better than the “Silver Rule.”
The “Silver Rule” is a lesser ethical teaching. And outside of the Bible it is what you will generally find.
What is sometimes called “The Silver Rule” is similar to the Golden Rule, but not quite as good.
It is a negative rule: “DON’T do to others what you DON’T want done to you.”
This negative version is quite common in various ancient cultures and religions.
It was given in a negative form by various Ancient Greeks:
Thales: Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.
Isocrates: Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it.
Plato: To injure anyone is never just anywhere.
And also by Romans, Egyptians, and the Chinese.
For example, the Roman Seneca said “Expect from others what you did to them.”
And the Chinese Confucius said “What you do not with for yourself do not do to others.
The negative version is also found in Jewish literature:
Tobit 4:16: Do to no one what you yourself dislike.
And in Ancient Indian writings:
One should never do something to others that one would regard as an injury to one’s own self. In brief, this is dharma. Anything else is succumbing to desire. — Mahābhārata 13.113.8.
But the GOLDEN RULE is the POSITIVE versions. And as, D. A. Carson notes, “Apparently only Jesus phrased the rule positively.” And Carson says: “Thus stated, it is certainly more telling than its negative counterpart, for it speaks against sins of omission as well as sins of commission.”
Jesus goes positive: DO unto others what you want DONE to you.
This is a call to action. It is not just a Buddhism passivity, or an avoiding of causing any harm. This is a call to do positive good in the world.
And this is a call needed very much today.
I think a great problem in our modern society is the tendency to “hole up” and look out for yourself and perhaps your immediate family.
Indeed, when difficulty arises, we are not respond in kind. That is how the world works. We are not of the world.
Jesus says more broadly “do unto OTHERS.” Actually go out and do good things. It is not just the silver rule we are to follow, but the golden rule. We are called to that great morality and perfect way of Christ; to do good in the world.
There are lots of implications and applications from this verse. Perhaps more so than most any other verse.
Application 1: Living, not Saving.
This is more of a note or a comment, than an implication.
That is, it is important to note that the golden rule is how a Christian lives, not how a person is saved.
It is our goal to treat others as we wish to be treated, but being sinners this doesn’t always happen, and we need to rely on Christ for our salvation, not look to our own works or abilities.
So if you are discouraged by the Golden Rule, because you see how far off from it you are, know that that is a good thing — you recognize your sin. Now, look to Christ for salvation; trust in his obedience for your sake. And THEN, because of Christ, go forth in joy living out the Golden Rule each day.
Application 2: Against Slavery
Then, we have a true application.
The Golden Rule is Against Slavery.
Everyone is familiar naturally with some of the history of slavery in our nation. And you likely know also that slavery was practiced in most, if not every part of the world throughout much of history. It is even mentioned in the Bible in a number of places.
Of course the Israelites themselves were slaves in Egypt.
Then, in the New Testament, twice we read, “Slaves, obey your masters.” [Eph 6:5 and Col 3:22]
The simple EXISTENCE of slavery in the Bible made it difficult for many, even in the Southern Presbyterian Church, to want to do away with the practice.
But in those New Testament verses we never find a promotion of slavery, we merely find what the slaves attitude is to be IF he is enslaved. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ.” And do so “fearing the Lord.”
Now, we find with the Golden Rule a moral teaching that is squarely at odds with slavery.
“whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
You want to be free, free your slaves.
You want not to be enslaved, make a law against slavery.
It is no wonder that a large proportion of the abolitionists, seeking to end slavery, were Christian.
In fact, if it is OK to quote wikipedia, I found it noting this: “Although some Enlightenment philosophers opposed slavery, it was Christian activists, attracted by strong religious elements, who initiated and organized an abolitionist movement.”
And that really is putting the Golden Rule in affect; DOING something that you’d want others to do for you.
Application 3: Against Monasticism
Then, we see that the Golden Rule is against monasticism and asceticism. These are those ancient ideas of secluding oneself away in a cloister or a cave in an attempt to get away from the evil of the world.
But, how can you be doing ANYTHING for others if you are a hermit in a cave, or a monk in a walled-off monastery. Of course, you could pray and you could make copies of the Bible, but you can do little else if you don’t interact with other people.
We must understand that a person is not holier by secluding themselves away, but we are called to go out into the world while not being of the world.
So you might have noticed, there are no monasteries in Protestantism. Now Lutheran monasteries, or Presbyterian monasteries, or Baptist monasteries. Though it is difficult, we go out into the world with the Gospel.
Application 4: A Call to Action
Well, Slavery and Monasticism aren’t exactly modern-day issues that regularly affect you.
But those are just 2 of many applications of this passage.
You could (and should) also apply the Golden Rule to EVERY relationship you have. It is a good broad rule to put into action.
And, considering that difference between the Golden Rule (of doing) and the lesser Silver Rule (of just avoiding harm), we ought to learn this application:
“Be Active in your Christian Life, not just passive.”
So we have a call to action.
We are to look for some way to be active in our Christian lives, not just “NOT SINNING” but realizing that the truly good thing is to seek out and DO good things.
We ought to ask ourselves regularly “How can I do something for another person that I would be glad to have done for me.”
Here’s some ideas that have come into my own life in recent times:
– Changing someones flat tire.
– Jumping someones dead car battery.
– Letting someone borrow a tool that you.
– Visiting someone in a nursing home.
– Giving a gift (of homemade food) to someone.
– Asking how you can pray for someone.
– Listening to someone.
Application 5: Call to Evangelism
One final application.
Since the Golden Rule is a call to action, it is also a call to evangelism.
Now, I’ve been blessed much lately thinking about that line just a bit ago in Matthew: do not give what is holy to the dogs and do not throw pearls before swine. That places a limit on our evangelistic attempts so that we don’t burn ourselves out speaking to hardened sinners, but reminds us like Jesus reminded his disciples “if you go to a certain town and they don’t accept the Gospel, leave and shake the dust off of your feet.”
Yet, on the other side of evangelism is that we should have a great desire for many to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
You would want someone to bring the Gospel to you,
so bring the Gospel to others.
If you truly love others, you will tell them the great news of the Gospel.
You would want that good news as well.
For, we are all dying in sin, and our only hope is Jesus Christ.
But the good news is that Jesus Christ was perfectly righteous; he obeyed the Golden Rule, he obeyed the Law and the Prophets, and on the cross paid the penalty due to sinners. We are commanded then to believe the true that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead. And we are commanded to declare that truth to the nations. And the Golden Rule backs us in that venture.
It is not enough to be passive, but we must be active for the Gospel.
Conclusion
So let us live out the Golden Rule. In our looking to ACT to bless others, as we look to Jesus Christ who’s actions have saved all His people.
Let us pray.