Title: Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)
Contents
“Therefore, in whatever way you would like others to treat you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” These are the words of Jesus to his disciples. Of course, these words are also spoken to us today.
The words Law and Prophets refer to the Old Testament we have now. At that time, there was only the Old Testament, so the Law refers to the Pentateuch and the rest can be seen as the Prophets.
Other people in the past have said something similar to this saying. But it goes a bit. Some say, “If you don't want me to do something, don't do it to others,” or “If you think it's harmful to me, don't do it to others.” These words make it seem like the attitude of a good person not to harm others. But the truth is, it is a very passive attitude.
Jesus speaks of a positive attitude. He said, “What you want others to do to you, do to them first.” That's a very positive thing to say. An attitude of not harming others or not doing things that others don't like means that you just have to stand still.
There are people who harm others, and there are people who only harm others, and such people should not exist in the world. That's why they're thrown into prison and sometimes even executed. However, there are some people who do not give anything to others and do not give any benefit. If there is a person who does not care about others, it is such a person. But even if there is such a person, it is enough without it. It is like a person living alone on a deserted island.
What Jesus wants us to do is to actively live to benefit others. It is said that keeping this golden rule is the righteous life of the saints. As we become accustomed to living in the United States, we tend not to interfere, nor to interfere with other people's affairs. At least, it feels like a comfortable life for one person. But our Lord does not want us to remain in that life.
Let's look for some meanings in this golden rule. It tells how, to whom, and what to do to live a successful life.
1. How? These words of Jesus have the meaning of ‘doing good to others first’. It is easy for us to think that if others are kind to me first, then I should be kind, if they praise others, they will praise me too, and if they love others, they should love me too.
The words of Jesus are, “If you have a heart to receive, give first.” If you want to be praised, I will praise you first. If you want to be loved, you have to love first. I can't remember who said it, but an adult scolds a child who knows why he doesn't say hello. Isn't that correct? Someone called a friend's house, and the child said Hello! I did. Change Daddy! I said, no father! answered. I was so daring I wondered who you were! Who are you in answer? that it did.
If you want to be greeted, teach while greeting, if you want to hear words of respect, you have to teach using respectful language. will be What Jesus said to us is that if you have a heart to be loved, you must first love and receive love. If you want to be respected, you must first earn respect by respecting it.
2. Whom? Also, the emphasis in today's verse is to treat “others” first. The word “nam” refers to the object of fellowship and relationship.
Our life is a life of relationships, and it can be said that the value of that life is determined by how and with whom we relate.
It would be a bit disrespectful to call God a man, but as the person I have to deal with, he is a man. Your destiny is determined by what kind of relationship you have with that God. When God created all things, especially humans, He said that He made them in His own image. He made human beings the object of close communion with God. And they planted the Garden of Eden, made them live there, and sometimes had time to fellowship with each other. This is the original human appearance.
When man obeys God's will, God grants him abundant life, but when he disobeys, he is on his own path to unhappiness. What is obedience? Humans treat God as God. To glorify, to praise, to give thanks for grace. What is disobedience? It is not treating God as God, but bringing it down. forgetting it. It is to serve idols. It is living my way. How I treat God determines who I become.
Another important thing in our life is how I relate to others. There are people who have no choice, and there are people who have a choice. Parents, children, brothers and sisters are “men” that I have not chosen and have an unbreakable relationship from birth to death. However, there are people whom you have met through friendships or business, or people you can relate to frequently because you live in the same workplace, the same church, or in the same neighborhood. Whether you have a choice, a choice, any relationship you have, you can have a good relationship or a bad relationship. A person with good relationships can be called a happy person, and a person with a bad relationship can be called an unhappy person.
3. In today's sermon, “Whatever you would like to be treated, treat others as you would like them to be treated.” Anything means everything, no exceptions. In any case, there are no conditions attached and I have to treat others first.
But, you're talking about something specific. The Lord said to do it “as you would like others to treat you.” What is it? You will definitely want something good.
What do I want my parents to do for me? What do I want my children to do for me? What would you like my brother or sister to do for me? What do I want my wife, husband, and friend to do? You can expect this from this person, and that from that person. Jesus said to do what you want and want first.
What do you expect from others with whom I relate? There may be countless numbers, but according to research conducted by psychologists, human desires can be classified into three main categories.
(1) First, people want everyone to know themselves. I want you to understand my situation, understand my situation, and understand my problems.
We want to meet with someone who understands every aspect of who we are, who knows our strengths, who understands and covers our weaknesses, and who listens to us all. Have you ever met such a person? If you want to meet such a person, you must first become such a person. Rather than revealing the faults of others, rather than laughing at the mistakes of others, becoming a person who truly understands is to become a person of true love.
I will treat and understand others the way I want to be treated and understood.
(2) The next thing people want is to have patience with me and wait for me. I can't stand it and ask the other person to be patient. I am asking you not to evaluate my words or actions too quickly, but to wait.
What children want from their parents is also to wait. When someone tells me that they are disappointed, they may feel a bit strange. It's really frustrating when you turn your back on saying you can't take it any longer.
We hope that we will be patient with each other for a long time. Please be patient for a long time. The prodigal father is a man who endured for a long time. This is the long-awaited father. When the prodigal son returned, the father who waited patiently welcomed him with genuine joy. He became the father of other children by accepting them without asking about the past.
Your brother couldn't stand it. He could not forgive his younger brother for wasting his fortune and debauchery, and by treating him as a useless human being, the good relationship he had built up with his father also got into trouble.
We want the other person to wait for me, but I don't know how to wait for me. If I want that person to wait and be patient with me, I have to be patient first.
(3) People want to be respected and to be recognized. I want my existence to be acknowledged. Knowing that you lack many things, you want yourself to be respected.
Before we can be recognized and respected by others, we must first be able to acknowledge and respect the existence of others. It is in vain if you want to be respected for yourself while ignoring the rest. If you want to be recognized, you have to acknowledge others as much as you want to be recognized. You don't know how wonderful and grateful it is to recognize someone else's Ina. Because it gives me joy in life. We all want recognition from others. If so, that's the first thing I admit. Treating others the way you would like to be treated.