A Golden Promise and the Golden Rule

Our heavenly Father will correct our prayer, and give us, not what we ignorantly seek, but what we really need. The promise to give what we ask is here explained, and set in its true light. This is a gracious correction of the folly which would read the Lord’s words in the most literal sense, and make us dream that every whim of ours had only to put on the dress of prayer in order to its realization. Our prayers go to heaven in a Revised Version. It would be a terrible thing if God always gave us all we asked for. Our heavenly Father himself “knows how to give” far better than we know how to ask. (Exposition, 42)

Matthew 7:12

Though it may not appear to be the case at first glance, we have seen that verse 12 is intimately connected to verses 7-11. John Piper again is helpful when he says,

The word so [“therefore,” CSB] at the beginning of verse 12 implies three things: 1) that you can’t live the Golden Rule—treat others the way you would like to be treated—without experiencing the truth of verses 7-11—that is, without the deep confidence that your Father will give you every good thing you really need; 2) that if you really experience the truth of verses 7-11—the assurance that your heavenly Father meets all your real needs—you will have the inner freedom and impulse to live the Golden Rule: to do the good to others that you would like them to do for you; and 3) that the reason the Golden Rule fulfills the law and prophets is that it assumes the love of verse 12 is all flowing from faith in the work of Jesus Christ to ransom us by his blood and secure for us God’s mercy and everlasting Fatherhood.

All of that is implied in the word so—1) if you really treasure your heavenly Father who meets all your needs by only giving you what is good for you, then you can live for others; 2) if you really treasure your heavenly Father who meets all your needs by only giving you what is good for you, then you will live for others; and 3) if your living for others flows from trusting in your Father through the Messiah, Jesus, who paid your ransom and forgave your sins, then this kind of life fulfills all that the law and the prophets were aiming at. (“Spring”; emphasis original)

Quarles provides an amazing and largely unknown insight concerning verse 12 and the Golden Rule. He points out that the name “dates to at least as early as the end of the Middle Ages” (Sermon, 306). Further, and surprisingly, he notes, contrary to popular opinion, this name was not inspired by the preciousness of this important moral principle. This name relates to accounts claiming that the Emperor Alexander Gospel, 145, cited in Quarles, Sermon, 306)

While this may be true as to its origin, there is certainly a golden quality to this rule that has made it one of the most memorable and quoted verses in all of God’s inerrant Word. We can see three essential components to the verse.

“Therefore” connects verse 12 to verses 7-11. The Golden Rule must flow out of the golden promise. Jesus begins by saying, “Whatever you want others to do for you.” “Whatever” is comprehensive. There are no exceptions. Also, Jesus is stating a well-known principle in the positive instead of the negative. The negative form was the more common. For example, Rabbi Hillel said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow creatures” (cited in Carson, Sermon, 112). Jesus turns the principle around and raises it to a higher and more proactive level. Carson is right:

Jesus gives the positive form of this rule, and the difference between the two forms is profound. For example, the negative form would teach behavior like this: If you do not enjoy being robbed, don’t rob others. If you do not like being cursed, don’t curse others. If you do not enjoy being hated, don’t hate others. If you do not care to be clubbed over the head, don’t club others over the head. However, the positive form teaches behavior like this: If you enjoy being loved, love others. If you like to receive things, give to others. If you like being appreciated, appreciate others. The positive form is thus far more searching than its negative counterpart. Here there is no permission to withdraw into a world where I offend no one, but accomplish no positive good either. What would you like done to you? What would you really like? Then, do that to others. Duplicate both the quality of these things, and their quantity—“in everything.” (Sermon, 112)

Jesus says what you would like others to do for you, “do also the same for them.” Look inward, and then move outward in action. Recognize that it will always be a challenge to love those who are different from you. Put this in a cultural and ethnic context for the purpose of application.

Would I want to be made fun of because of the way I look? Would I want to be shunned by others? Would I want to be talked down to as an inferior? Would I want to never be invited over for dinner? Would I want to never be considered for a job I’m qualified for? Would I approve if people didn’t want to be my neighbor? Would I approve if no one would consider me for a home loan though my credit is good? Would I approve if I was never considered for a promotion at work though I am qualified for it? (Piper, “Spring”)

These are probing and important questions. And this verse gives a powerful principle that cannot leave you the same. We should ask our good heavenly Father to give us the ability to live out the Golden Rule in a true and authentic fashion.

The phrase “the Law and the Prophets” is a shorthand way of referring to the whole of the Old Testament. It strategically appears three times in Matthew’s Gospel:

“The point,” as Quarles says, “is that verse 12 is the summation of the essence of the character God required of His people in the Old Testament” (verse that we cannot help but gaze at for our joy and our edification. He writes,

This is the sum of the Decalogue, the Pentateuch, and the whole sacred Word. Oh, that all men acted on it, and then there would be no slavery, no war, no sweating, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love! What a kingdom is this which has such a law! This is The Christian Code. This is the condensation of all that is right and generous. We adore the King out of whose mouth and heart such a law could flow. This one rule is a proof of the divinity of our holy religion. The universal practice of it by all who call themselves Christians would carry conviction to Jew, Turk, and infidel, with greater speed and certainty than all the apologies and arguments which the wit or piety of men could produce.

Lord, teach it to me! Write it on the fleshly tablets of my renewed heart! Write it out in full in my life! (Exposition, 43)

These verses speak powerfully to our hearts because they powerfully show us Jesus. No one ever prayed to the Father so persistently and expectantly as did our Lord. He never stopped talking to his Father. He never stopped trusting his Father. He knew more intimately than anyone that he is a good Father. And no one ever loved like Jesus. No one! Friend or foe, his love was a river of compassion, grace, and mercy. Look to Jesus and his love for sinners like you and me to see the Golden Rule in real life. There will be no disappointment. He is that good. He is that wonderful.